Spendthrift acquires breeding rights to National Treasure

National Treasure, the 2023 Preakness Stakes winner who took last Saturday’s Pegasus World Cup in his most recent start, will have a future as a stallion at Spendthrift Farm.

The farm announced Thursday that it had acquired the breeding rights to National Treasure, a 4-year-old son of Quality Road who races for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. A next start has yet to be determined for the colt, who remains in training with Bob Baffert.

“National Treasure is the kind of stallion prospect we all look for because he possesses every quality that excites you about his potential to become an important sire,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said in a press release. “He was precocious enough to place in a very good Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he’s an American classic winner at 3, and now a leading older horse at 4.

"National Treasure is fast, has tremendous heart, and he’s a very good-looking colt with exceptional sire power and pedigree. We are thrilled to partner with the ‘Avengers’ team on his future stallion career, and we wish them the best of luck on what could be a special year ahead for National Treasure.”

In addition to his Grade 1 victories in the Preakness and Pegasus World Cup, National Treasure has finished on the board in three other top-level events. That includes a second, beaten a nose by subsequent Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish, in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last November. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 107 for that effort and ran a 105 winning the Pegasus.

“National Treasure is an exceptional colt, and his tenacity and appetite for racing are immense,” SF Racing’s Tom Ryan said. “Winning the Preakness was epic, and his performance in the Breeders’ Cup, where he laid his body on the line against the Horse of the Year, showed that we have a serious horse on our hands.

“He’s a beautiful, streamlined specimen,” Ryan added. “We think breeders will love him, and his pedigree is well-rounded and deep, giving him a chance to become a household name for Spendthrift. We are extremely proud of him.”

National Treasure was the first winner of a Triple Crown race for sire Quality Road, whose sons at stud include the well-regarded young City of Light, sire of champion juvenile Fierceness. National Treasure, a half-brother to stakes winner Ultimate and Grade 1-placed Pirate, has Grade 1 winners Leofric, Telling, and Well Chosen in the first few generations of his family. From a prolific family, National Treasure traces directly back to Igual, dam of Triple Crown winner Assault.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.