National Treasure dominates Metropolitan Handicap

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After National Treasure returned from Saudi Arabia following a fourth-place finish in the $20 million Saudi Cup in February, trainer Bob Baffert was uncertain where he would next run the 4-year-old colt.

A few weeks ago, National Treasure helped formulate the plan for his Hall of Fame trainer.

“A couple of weeks ago he tipped me off, I’m back, put me in coach, I want to play,” Baffert said by phone from Southern California. “His last two works were off the charts.”

So, Baffert selected the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap and on Saturday, at Saratoga, National Treasure delivered an off-the-charts performance, putting away a pace challenge from Hoist the Gold in upper stretch and drawing clear to a 6 1/4-length victory over Post Time. It was a neck to Hoist the Gold, who was a neck better than Castle Chaos.

White Abarrio, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, disappointed for a second straight race, finishing fifth. Blazing Sevens, beaten a head by National Treasure in last year’s Preakness, finished last.

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The victory was just the fourth from 13 starts for National Treasure, but the resume includes the Preakness, the Pegasus World Cup and the Met Mile.

“When he’s on, he’s on,” Baffert said. “He’s always been a good horse.”

National Treasure finished fourth, but beaten only 1 1/4 lengths by Senor Buscador, in the Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles. That day, National Treasure chased the pace.

On Saturday, National Treasure under Flavien Prat was the pace. Breaking from post 2, Prat sent National Treasure to the front, where he was confronted by Hoist the Gold, the Grade 2 Cigar Mile winner, ridden by John Velaquez.

The two dueled through a quarter in 23.52 seconds, a half-mile in 45.75 and six furlongs in 1:09.34. But in upper stretch, Hoist the Gold couldn’t keep up. National Treasure opened up a five-length margin in midstretch and won handily.

“His speed is his weapon, he’s more effective when you just let him run,” Baffert said.

National Treasure, a son of Quality Road owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson and Stonestreet Stables, covered the mile in 1:35.12 and returned $4.70 as the favorite. National Treasure was given a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The first part I had to keep him engaged, but once I got down the backside it felt like I was going to get away from Johnny and after that, when I tightened my rein, he just went on,” Prat said.

Post Time, making his first start in a Grade 1 after wins in eight of his first 10 starts, ran a credible race to win a three-horse battle for second, a result that thrilled his trainer Brittany Russell.

“We are over the moon, I’m so excited, he ran big, National Treasure ran a huge race,” Russell said. “To run second behind him, that’s success for us.”

White Abarrio won the Grade 1 Whitney here last year and trainer Rick Dutrow thought coming back to Saratoga would enable the horse to bounce back from his 10th-place finish in the Saudi Cup. White Abarrio was third early, but offered nothing when the real running started.

“I was happy where I was, they went a little fast in front of me, I was about four or five lengths off of them,” Ortiz said. “I felt great going to the half-mile, I start picking it up, but I can’t catch any of them to be honest. He just didn’t fire today.”

National Treasure will ship back to California in the coming days and Baffert will plot out a course of action - perhaps the Grade 1 Whitney here on Aug. 3.

“He tells me when he’s ready,” Baffert said. “He lets me know.”

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