National Treasure may have won only two races in 2024, but he surely rose to the occasion at the right time.
Through victories in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), National Treasure was named champion older dirt male Jan. 23 at the 54th annual Eclipse Awards dinner.
A classic winner at 3, National Treasure added to the long list of Eclipse Award winners trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
In a five-race 4-year-old campaign in 2024, aside from the wins in the Pegasus and Met Mile, the son of Quality Road was second by a head in the California Crown Stakes (G1); fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1); and sixth on a muddy track in the Whitney Stakes (G1).
"National Treasure was a 2-year-old who showed promise (when third) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He fought hard to win the Preakness Stakes and was unlucky when he could not hold off Cody's Wish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile," said SF Racing and SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan, the managing partner of the group that owns the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner. "His defining moments came in the Pegasus and the Met Mile. A rare triple grade 1 winner, he demonstrated precocity and matured into a force with age. His win in the Met Mile remains one of my favorite days. He was emphatic that day and no one was beating him."
National Treasure, who has earned $5,578,000 in his career, is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. The son of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Treasure was bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds and was bought for $500,000 from the Bridie Harrison consignment at Fasig-Tipton's 2021 The Saratoga Sale.
After a nose loss to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Baffert brought National Treasure to the $2,932,700 Pegasus, where the speedy bay colt turned aside a late bid by Senor Buscador to win by a neck.
Following a fourth in the Saudi Cup, National Treasure turned in the most dominant performance of his 15-race career. A 7-5 favorite in the Met Mile, he led throughout and pulled away with ease in the stretch to post a lopsided 6 1/4-length victory on the historic first Belmont Stakes (G1) day at Saratoga Race Course.
In what was intended a prep for a return trip to the Breeders' Cup Mile, National Treasure led for most of the way in the California Crown but was collared in the final strides and settled for a runner-up finish by a head.
He came out of that race with a minor foot bruise and was retired to become a stallion at Spendthrift Farm. He will stand his first season at stud this year.
