National Treasure

National Treasure was victorious in his career debut race on Sept. 3, 2022, when he won a 6 1/2 furlong 2-year-old maiden race in wire-to-wire fashion by 1 1/2 lengths.

In his second start, National Treasure attempted to step up against graded stakes competition in the Grade 1 $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 8.  Sent off that day as the 9.80-1 second third choice in a field of eight horses, National Treasure ran a solid effort to finish a clear second, but ultimately was no match for runaway winning stable-mate Cave Rock, who was the 2-5 favorite. National Treasure chased Cave Rock throughout and finished 5 1/2 lengths behind. Still, he was clearly second best, finishing 3 1/2 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher, Hejazi.

National Treasure made his third career start in the Grade 1, $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance where he finished a respectable but non-threatening third behind the winner, Forte, and the runner-up, stablemate Cave Rock.

National Treasure opened his 3-year-old season with a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Jan. 8, 2023, at Santa Anita Park. After missing his next scheduled start in the San Felipe Stakes, National Treasure next raced in the Grade 1 $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 8, where he finished fourth.

National Treasure made his next start in the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes on May 20, 2023, at Pimlico, and National Treasure was victorious in the second jewel of the 2023 Triple Crown in wire-to-wire fashion. National Treasure set a slow :48.4 and 1:13.2 pace atop a seven-horse field under jockey John Velazquez and won a thrilling stretch battle when confronted by rallying Blazing Sevens in the stretch to prevail by a head for trainer Bob Baffert in a time of 1:55.12. 

National Treasure's next three starts were unremarkable, including a sixth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, a fifth-place finish in the Travers Stakes, ad a fourth-place finish in the Awesome Again Stakes. Following that trio of defeats, instead of stretching back out to the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic, National Treasure was instead shortened up to one mile to enter the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile for his final start of 2023 on Nov. 4at Santa Anita where he would face Cody's Wish. In a gallant effort in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, National Treasure tried to lead every step of the way but was confronted in the stretch by Cody's Wish and came out on the wrong end of a nose photo finish. National Treasure settled for second and Cody's Wish would go on to be named Horse of the Year for 2023.

National Treasure wasted no time getting back on the track against top-caliber competition when he made his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 1 $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27, 2024. In the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup, National Treasure battled Hoist the Gold up on the pace for much of the race until wresting control away from that rival at the top of the stretch. National Treasure then dug in through the stretch and held off a late run by closer Senor Buscador to earn the victory by a neck.

Subsequently, National Treasure shipped to Saudi Arabia for the running of the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 24 and finished fourth.

National Treasure returned stateside for his next race and added to his growing list of important career victories when he was victorious in the Grade 1 $1 million Metropolitan Mile Handicap, which was run at Saratoga Race Course on June 8. Sent off as the 6-5 favorite on the tote board in a field of six in the Met Mile, National Treasure went right to the front and dueled for the lead with Hoist the Gold until disposing of that challenger in the stretch and drawing off to a convincing 6 1/4-length victory in 1:35.12.

National Treasure followed up his Met Mile triumph with a sub-par sixth-place finish over a muddy track in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3. He rebounded positively in his next start but was narrowly beaten by a head when finishing second in the Grade 1 $1 million California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 28. That turned out to be National Treasure’s final career start as he was retired to stud due to a foot issue and missed the Breeders’ Cup. His career was capped off with an Eclipse Award as champion older dirt male of 2024.

National Treasure was bred in Kentucky by the sire Quality Road out of the mare Treasure by Medaglia d'Oro.