It seems like National treasures will seek a first-of-its-kind achievement at Saratoga Race Track.
After winning the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), the premier race for older racehorses at last month’s Belmont Stakes Festival at Spa, the four-year-old winner of that event is aiming for an unprecedented double, with his sights set on the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) on August 3, the premier race for older racehorses at the Saratoga Summer Trials.
“The plan is to run the Whitney if he continues to do well,” trainer Bob Baffert said by phone from his California base. “He’s a horse that’s improving and getting better. He’s done really well over the Met Mile. He’s settled in well. The Whitney is a very prestigious race and we all want to run the big races.”
Winner of the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1), National Treasure won by 6 1/4 lengths in the Met Mile on June 8 at Spa. Ranked No. 1 in the NTRA Top 10 poll, the horse started the year with a win in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) on January 27.
Winner of four of 13 starts, son of Quality Road raised $5,372,000 for the group of owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.
Baffert said he also intends to send the Grade 1 winner Prince of Monaco on August 24, the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds at Saratoga and may also send a couple of New York-bred 2-year-olds to Spa.
Prince of Monaco, son of Speightstown owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan and Tom Ryan, finished second in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) on June 8 at Saratoga.
Baffert, a nine-time winner of the Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Parkalso said he will not have a starter in the Grade 1 3-year-old event on July 20.
He said his two prospects for the 1 1/8 mile race, Muth And Parenting may need more time before starting next time.
Muth, a multiple Grade 1 winner for Zedan Racing Stables, was the favorite for this year’s Preakness but fell ill and missed the race. The son of good magic His most recent start was a win in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on March 30.
“He’s coming back strong. The road sickness knocked him down, but he’s getting back to his old self. Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t perfect. He just missed the start at Haskell. If I had another week, it might have been different,” Baffert said.
The parents of Gandharvi, a son of Align won both of his starts, winning the Affirmed Stakes on June 9 Santa Anita Park in his most recent race.
“We were aiming for it but I missed a big job because he had a virus and I didn’t want him to rush into a race like Haskell. If it had been a week later I could have done it,” Baffert said. “Haskell is a good race on a good track and we were looking forward to it, but things happen.”
