National Treasure to go in Saudi Cup

National Treasure, the brilliant winner of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, is scheduled to have his next start in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 24 in Saudi Arabia.

Tom Ryan, racing manager of co-owner SF Racing, confirmed the plans Thursday.

National Treasure, who is scheduled to be flown to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, is one of four leading American hopes for the Saudi Cup along with White Abarrio, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November in his most recent start, Saudi Crown, winner of the Louisiana Stakes in his last, and Senor Buscador, who was a game second in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup.

The field also is expected to include the Japanese colt Derma Sotogake, who was second to White Abarrio in the BC Classic. Derma Sotogake has been based in Japan over the winter.

National Treasure, trained by Bob Baffert, was a game second to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish in the BC Dirt Mile in November. In the Pegasus World Cup at 1 1/8 miles, National Treasure stalked a hot pace, took the lead in early stretch, and was fully extended to win by a neck over Senor Buscador.

“We wanted to see how he came out of the race,” Ryan said Thursday. “The horse is always going to tell you. All the indicators are right.

“He came out of his Breeders’ Cup in great shape. He trained into the Pegasus without a flaw.”

The Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race, is run at about 1 1/8 miles on dirt around one turn.

“It’s a long way to go,” Ryan said. “We wouldn’t go if Bob and his entire team didn’t feel good about it.”

National Treasure, a 4-year-old colt by Quality Road, has won 3 of 11 starts and earned $3,322,000 for the massive partnership of SF Racing, Madaket Stable, Starlight Racing, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stable, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.

Last May, National Treasure won the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico by leading throughout. The Pegasus World Cup was the first time that National Treasure won without setting the pace.

“He’s a gritty horse,” Ryan said. “He’s able to carry his speed a long, long way. He was able to sit off the pace in the last race. He got to the wire pretty strong.”