Photo:

Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

National Treasure, the three-time Grade 1-winning son of Quality Road, has been retired from racing and will take up residence at Eric and Tamara Gustavson’s Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky., where he will stand stud in 2025 for an introductory fee of $40,000 standing and nursing.

National Treasure, a classic winner of the Preakness Stakes and victor in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup and Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in 2024, is available for inspection by appointment.

“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,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said. “This horse was precocious enough to place in a very competitive Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he’s an American classic winner at 3, 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 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar, where he figured to be one of the biggest favorites in this year’s world championships event. But he came out of last month’s narrow runner-up effort in the California Crown Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita with a minor foot bruise, which forced him to miss the Dirt Mile.

“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 1 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.”

National Treasure, a $500,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, began his career at 2 with a debut victory at 6 1/2 furlongs, defeating Grade 1 winner Practical Move at Del Mar. He later finished second to Cave Rock in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita before traveling to Keeneland, where he ran a solid third behind the more experienced 2-year-old champion Forte in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

As a 3-year-old, National Treasure became Quality Road’s first classic winner, claiming victory in the Preakness at Pimlico, defeating Kentucky Derby winner Mage. He concluded his sophomore season with a narrow loss by a nose to horse of the year Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, earning a 107 Beyer for his effort.

National Treasure carried that momentum into 2024, establishing himself as one of the top older horses in training with a victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream, earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. In the spring, he delivered a dominant 6 1/4-length victory in the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap 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.