Breeders' Cup: Foot issue will keep National Treasure out of Dirt Mile
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DEL MAR, Calif. -- National Treasure, the only older dirt male with two Grade 1 wins this year, will not run in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 2, his connections said Friday.
Trainer Bob Baffert said that National Treasure has been dealing with foot issues since his runner-up finish in the Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 and he hasn’t had time to train him properly for a race of this magnitude. National Treasure has not had a workout since the California Crown. Baffert was hoping to work him on Saturday at Santa Anita, but has canceled that move.
“We need more time, so we’re not going to enter him,” Baffert said. “Unfortunately, it’s all about timing. He’s been good to us.”
National Treasure, the 2023 Preakness winner, won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January and the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga in June. Since then, he finished sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga in August and, most recently, was second, beaten a head by Subsanador, in the Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita.
Baffert said no decision has been made whether National Treasure will race again or be retired to stud. He is going to stand at Spendthrift when he is done racing.
National Treasure was the lukewarm 4-1 favorite on the early Dirt Mile morning-line set by Brad Free of Daily Racing Form.
Baffert said Fort Bragg, who was also pre-entered in the Dirt Mile, is scheduled to run Sunday instead at Santa Anita. Baffert will run the 3-year-old Muth in the Dirt Mile.
National Treasure’s defection from the Dirt Mile, means that Skippylongstocking will definitely run in that race, and not the Breeders’ Cup Classic for which he was also pre-entered. He will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Dirt Mile, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.
With Skippylongstocking now confirmed for the Dirt Mile, that enables Pyrenees to make the field for the Classic. He will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. Rattle N Roll needs one more defection to crack into the Classic line-up. He is entered in the Fayette Stakes Saturday at Keeneland.
The Dirt Mile, which had 19 pre-entrants, could go with 14 or fewer. Derma Sotogake and Senor Buscador are both going to run in the Classic. Dr. Venkman has first preference in the Sprint. Pipeline is possible for the Dirt Mile or he will be trained up to the Grade 2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 7.
National Treasure is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. If he is retired, National Treasure will do so with a record of 4-3-2 from 15 starts and earnings of $5,578,000.
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