With an authoritative victory in a historic edition of the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap June 8 at Saratoga Race Course, National Treasure moved to the front of the class of the handicap division and gave his large group of owners something to celebrate.“It’s special,” said one of those co-owners with a Saratoga Springs residence, Jack Wolf, who watched his royal blue and yellow silks on winning jockey Flavien Prat carried to a 6 ¼-length victory Saturday. “I’m too proud.”
After winning the Preakness Stakes in 2023 and finishing a narrow second to Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, National Treasure appears to have taken a step forward this year. The son of Quality Road opened his 4-year-old season with a narrow victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Baccarat, finished fourth in the Saudi Cup, and then registered a knockout performance Saturday on the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets undercard in his racing return to the United States.
As the Met Mile is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win & You’re In” race to the Dirt Mile, National Treasure has earned a fees-paid entry back to the 2024 edition Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
In the Met Mile, National Treasure broke well and seized the lead while pressed by two-time Grade 2 winner Hoist the Gold through solid early fractions, running a half-mile in :45.75.
Coming out of the far turn, National Treasure, the 1.35-1 favorite, flashed a gear that none of his rivals could match, opening up a five-length lead in a flash. He cruised to the wire thereafter, completing the mile in 1:35.12.
“Once I got down the backside it felt like I was going to be able to get away from (Hoist the Gold),” Prat said. “Then after that, when I tightened my rein, he just went on. He has always shown talent. One thing about him is he always shows up and runs his race. It was a great run today.”
National Treasure co-owner Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables said as good as National Treasure was last spring when winning the Preakness, he believes the classic winner has taken things to another level this year. He thinks that improvement began to show itself in the Dirt Mile against Cody’s Wish.“That performance in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile to lose by a nose was outstanding,” said Kumin after landing his first Met Mile win. “Then obviously to come back and win the Pegasus then run well overseas. To just have him come back on a big day with a big crowd and win pretty convincingly. I think a mile is his jam.”