This time, National Treasure held on.
Unable to turn back Cody’s Wish in a dramatic Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) finish two months ago, National Treasure staved off closer Senor Buscador and won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
National Treasure, 0-for-4 since winning the Preakness (G1) in May, gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his third win in eight editions of the Pegasus World Cup. Baffert’s other wins came with Arrogate in 2017 and Mucho Gusto in 2020
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Prat conceded the lead to Hoist the Gold and jockey John Velazquez through the backstretch by a slim margin as the pacesetter posted fractions of 46.20 seconds for a half mile and 1:11.21 for 6 furlongs. Given his cue on the turn for home, National Treasure powered to the lead and withstood Senor Buscador’s bid for the upset by a neck.
“It’s amazing,’’ Sol Kumin of co-owner Madaket Stables, said. “The Breeders’ Cup (Dirt Mile) was a tough loss (by a nose) but to have him come here and win … He’s very brave. When it’s (go) time, he’s always on point.”
Longshot Crupi was a distant third, followed by Hoist the Gold, O’Connor, Il Miracolo, Dynamic One, Nimitz Class, First Mission, Trademark, and Grand Aspen. Skippylongstocking was pulled up during the race and was vanned off.
The winning time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.51.
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Jimmy Barnes, Baffert’s longtime assistant, said all he could think about was the pace (usually, it’s National Treasure on the lead).
The other partners are SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. A son of Quality Road, National Treasure was purchased for $500,000.
National Treasure’s Meteoric Rise: A $1,719,000 Pegasus Payday and Beyond
With a $1,719,000 Pegasus payday, National Treasure’s career earnings more than doubled to $3,322,000. His record is 11-3-2-2, with nine of his starts coming in Grade 1 races. National Treasure came into the race as the only Grade 1 winner in the field.
Next up could be the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) next month.
Junior Alvarado, who rode Senor Buscador, said: “It’s very hard to come from way back on this track. I was happy when he was picking it up and I’m excited. But I could feel the last sixteenth of a mile he was getting tired from making that huge run from the back. My horse ran his eyeballs out. He gave me a helluva run.”