National Treasure (USA)
March 17, 2020 – Living
Quality Road (USA) x Treasure (USA), by Medaglia d’Oro (USA)
Family 4-c
March 17, 2020 – Living
Quality Road (USA) x Treasure (USA), by Medaglia d’Oro (USA)
Family 4-c
Born on St. Patrick’s Day, National Treasure had his own measure of luck. He was gifted with front-running speed and used it to score three Grade 1 wins during his racing career. The leading son of four-time Grade 1 winner and important American sire Quality Road, he is now a young stallion at historic Spendthrift Farm.
Race record
15 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$5,578,000
2022:
2023:
2024:
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the 2023 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 14 pounds below highweighted Equinox (the Japanese Horse of the Year) and 3 pounds below the top dirt male, 2023 American Horse of the Year Cody's Wish.
Rated at 121 pounds in the Mile category on the 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 7 pounds below overall highweight Laurel River (winner of the Dubai World Cup, UAE-G1) and 4 pounds below top dirt male Sierra Leone, winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1).
As an individual
A rather light-framed bay horse, National Treasure had an efficient running action. His racing career ended after a foot bruise caused him to miss the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
As a stallion
National Treasure is entering stud in 2025 in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, National Treasure was bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds. A US$500,000 purchase from the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, he was owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. He was trained by Bob Baffert. He is slated to enter stud in Kentucky in 2025 at Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
National Treasure is inbred 5x5x5 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer, 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat, and 5x5 to 1968 English Horse of the Year Sir Ivor. He is a half brother to stakes winner Ultimate (by Speightstown).
Treasure, the dam of National Treasure, is a half sister to listed stakes winners Inspired (by Unbridled’s Song) and Initiation (by Deputy Minister). The latter mare is the second dam of 2023 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Elysian Field. Treasure is also a half sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Silver City (by Unbridled’s Song) and to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Elope (by Gone West).
Treasure and her siblings are out of stakes-placed Proposal (by Mt. Livermore), a full sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Multiple Choice. Produced from the Storm Bird mare Lady of Choice, Proposal is also a half sister to Lemon Lady (by Lemon Drop Kid), dam of 2020 Belgian champion miler Barbados Bob (by Speightstown) and listed juvenile stakes winner Lemon Juice (by Johannesburg) and second dam of 2016 Spanish champion 2-year-old filly Fuenteesteis and Grade 3 winner Major General. In addition, Proposal is a half sister to Lady Godiva (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of 2018 Clark Handicap (USA-G1) winner Leofric (by Candy Ride). The family traces back to Igual, dam of 1946 American Triple Crown winner Assault.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of National Treasure winning the 2024 Metropolitan Handicap can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfppXpF-Gjc.
Fun facts
Last updated: December 12, 2024
Race record
15 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$5,578,000
2022:
- 2nd American Pharoah Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
2023:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (USA-G1, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Sham Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Santa Anita)
2024:
- Won Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Baccarat (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd California Crown Stakes Presented by SirDavis American Whiskey (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the 2023 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 14 pounds below highweighted Equinox (the Japanese Horse of the Year) and 3 pounds below the top dirt male, 2023 American Horse of the Year Cody's Wish.
Rated at 121 pounds in the Mile category on the 2024 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 7 pounds below overall highweight Laurel River (winner of the Dubai World Cup, UAE-G1) and 4 pounds below top dirt male Sierra Leone, winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1).
As an individual
A rather light-framed bay horse, National Treasure had an efficient running action. His racing career ended after a foot bruise caused him to miss the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
As a stallion
National Treasure is entering stud in 2025 in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, National Treasure was bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds. A US$500,000 purchase from the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, he was owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. He was trained by Bob Baffert. He is slated to enter stud in Kentucky in 2025 at Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
National Treasure is inbred 5x5x5 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer, 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat, and 5x5 to 1968 English Horse of the Year Sir Ivor. He is a half brother to stakes winner Ultimate (by Speightstown).
Treasure, the dam of National Treasure, is a half sister to listed stakes winners Inspired (by Unbridled’s Song) and Initiation (by Deputy Minister). The latter mare is the second dam of 2023 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Elysian Field. Treasure is also a half sister to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Silver City (by Unbridled’s Song) and to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Elope (by Gone West).
Treasure and her siblings are out of stakes-placed Proposal (by Mt. Livermore), a full sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Multiple Choice. Produced from the Storm Bird mare Lady of Choice, Proposal is also a half sister to Lemon Lady (by Lemon Drop Kid), dam of 2020 Belgian champion miler Barbados Bob (by Speightstown) and listed juvenile stakes winner Lemon Juice (by Johannesburg) and second dam of 2016 Spanish champion 2-year-old filly Fuenteesteis and Grade 3 winner Major General. In addition, Proposal is a half sister to Lady Godiva (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of 2018 Clark Handicap (USA-G1) winner Leofric (by Candy Ride). The family traces back to Igual, dam of 1946 American Triple Crown winner Assault.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of National Treasure winning the 2024 Metropolitan Handicap can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfppXpF-Gjc.
Fun facts
- National Treasure is actually the second American graded stakes winner to bear that name. The first was a 1993 mare by Recusant out of Ivory Treasure (by Sir Ivor) that won the 1998 Beaugay Handicap (USA-G3) but died of complications of foaling in 2005.
Last updated: December 12, 2024