Because of a foot issue, classic winner National Treasure will not run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar, according to an Oct. 25 report from Daily Racing Form.
National Treasure, who won the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) and this year’s Metropolitan Handicap (G1), had been pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile by his connections of trainer Bob Baffert and owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. The Met Mile win garnered National Treasure a fees-paid berth in the Dirt Mile.
Last year National Treasure finished a close second in the Dirt Mile won by eventual Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish . He most recently finished a close second to Subsanador in the California Crown Stakes (G1) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park. The 4-year-old son of Quality Road started the year with a victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Baffert told DRF that no decision has been made whether National Treasure will race again or be retired to stud. Spendthrift Farm has previously announced that it will stand National Treasure when he is retired from racing.
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