National Treasure, the three-time Grade I-winning son of Quality Road, has been retired from racing and will take up residence at Eric & Tamara Gustavson's Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he will stand stud in 2025 for an introductory fee of $40,000 S&N, according to a post on the farm's website.
A classic winner of the GI Preakness Stakes and victor in this year's GI Pegasus World Cup and GI Metropolitan Handicap, National Treasure is now available for inspection by appointment. Spendthrift acquired the breeding rights to the colt, which was announced back in early February.
“National Treasure comes to Spendthrift with the credentials to become an important sire, and we are very excited for him to enter the next chapter in his already tremendous career,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “This horse was precocious enough to place in a very competitive Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he's an American classic winner at three, and he was one of the top older horses this year with wins in premier races like the Pegasus World Cup and the Met Mile. National Treasure was fast, possessed tremendous grit, and is an exceptionally good-looking colt with outstanding sire power and pedigree–a truly special package.”
Trained by Bob Baffert, National Treasure was scheduled to make his final start in last Saturday's GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. However, he came out of last month's runner-up effort in the GI California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita with a minor foot bruise, which ultimately forced him to miss the Dirt Mile.
National Treasure in the Met Mile at the Spa | Sarah Andrew
“National Treasure was one of the most consistent and reliable horses I have ever worked with,” said SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan. “In addition to his elite race record–competing in 13 Grade I races over 28 months–he completed 75 published workouts in California, demonstrating an insatiable appetite for training. His physical makeup contributed to his longevity: he is very streamlined–almost light–but possesses great power and efficient motion with a high cruising speed. It's unfortunate that we missed the chance for a third Breeders' Cup appearance due to the bruised foot. It was just bad timing. We are very proud that he will now begin his stallion career at the famed Spendthrift Farm.”
The $500,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale began his career at two with a successful unveiling. The juvenile later finished as the runner-up in the GI American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita before traveling to Keeneland where he ran third behind champion 2-year-old Forte (Violence) in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
As a 3-year-old, National Treasure became Quality Road's first classic winner, when he scored in the Preakness. He concluded his sophomore season with a loss by a nose to Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
To kick off his final season of racing, National Treasure delivered in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park and on the Belmont Stakes undercard the 4-year-old took home the Met Mile at Saratoga.
An earner of $5,578,000, National Treasure was campaigned by owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Bred by Peter Blum, the 4-year-old colt is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Treasure.
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