National Treasure scratched from San Felipe with foot injury

ARCADIA, Calif. – An untimely foot issue will prevent National Treasure from starting in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, racing manager Tom Ryan confirmed Saturday morning.

National Treasure, third in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and third in his 2023 debut in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes, was the 3-1 program favorite in the San Felipe. The race would have been his first start since moving from trainer Bob Baffert to Tim Yakteen.

“He’s going to come out,” Ryan said. “He’s a little tender on a quarter, and the horse comes first.”

Ryan said the issue became evident Saturday morning. The timing could not have been worse. National Treasure has zero qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby; he would have earned 50 points by winning the San Felipe. Ryan and Yakteen are hopeful National Treasure can recover quickly from the setback.

“That’s the hope, that we’ll come up with a game plan and reroute him,” Ryan said. “It’s just really unfortunate timing.”

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National Treasure emerged last year as one of the top 2-year-olds in the country while trained by Baffert. He won his career debut, finished second in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes, and third in the BC Juvenile. In his first start this season, National Treasure finished a troubled third behind Newgate and Reincarnate in the Sham.

A son of Quality Road, National Treasure is owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables. National Treasure has won one race and $300,000 from four starts, and entered the weekend ranked among the top candidates for the Kentucky Derby.

Following the scratch of National Treasure, favoritism in the San Felipe could go to Hejazi, a Grade 1-placed colt stretching back out from a smashing maiden sprint win. Others in the race-6 San Felipe include impressive maiden winner Skinner, romping debut winner Geaux Rocket Ride, and Grade 2-pladed comebacker Fort Bragg.

- additional reporting by David Grening

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