National Treasure Back Training Post San Felipe Scratch

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National Treasure Back Training Post San Felipe Scratch
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
National Treasure in the paddock before his third-place finish in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland

Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect National Treasure , scratched from the March 4 San Felipe Stakes (G3) due to a sore foot, is "back on track," according to a social media post from a representative of his ownership group.

Tom Ryan, managing partner in SF Racing, tweeted a video of the 3-year-old Quality Road   colt jogging alongside a pony at Santa Anita Park and provided a short update.

"Great to have National Treasure back on track (at Santa Anita) for the last few days," he tweeted March 10. "(Trainer Tim Yakteen) has been very pleased with the progress he's made. Looking to get him back on the work tab when this latest weather system clears out."

Santa Anita canceled racing Friday due to rain, which is forecast to continue through mid-morning March 11.

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A first-out winner last summer at Del Mar, National Treasure hit the board in three consecutive graded stakes for then-trainer Bob Baffert. The colt was second in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) and third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall before showing in the Jan. 8 Sham Stakes (G3). He races for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.

National Treasure is 30-1 odds on the morning line in the latest Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opened Friday for wagering and closes March 12.

In advance of Friday's storm, Yakteen oversaw workouts from two other talented former Baffert trainees March 9 at Santa Anita. Reincarnate, owned by the same partners as National Treasure, worked a half-mile in :47 4/5, while Zedan Racing Stables' Arabian Knight went six furlongs in 1:13 3/5, both on a fast track.

"Both horses worked great this morning," Yakteen informed Santa Anita Park publicity via text message. "Very routine and very happy."

In the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Arabian Knight is the 10-1 third choice on the morning line behind only Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Forte  for trainer Todd Pletcher and fellow Yakteen trainee Practical Move . Reincarnate is listed at 30-1.

Arabian Knight wins the Southwest Stakes on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Oaklawn Park
Photo: Coady Photography
Arabian Knight wins the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Reincarnate, a son of Good Magic   with a 2-3-1 record in six starts, won the Sham Stakes in January before a troubled third-place finish in the Feb. 25 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.

Yakteen is expected to send at least one of the 3-year-olds he trains to Oaklawn for the April 1 Arkansas Derby (G1), with Reincarnate being a candidate at this early juncture. Others, such as Arabian Knight and Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., and Roger Beasley's Practical Move, winner of the San Felipe for Yakteen, may await the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at the trainer's home track.

National Treasure, Reincarnate, and Arabian Knight were among a group of 3-year-olds sent to Yakteen in early February to pursue the Kentucky Derby, owing to Churchill Downs Inc.'s ban of Baffert from racing horses at its tracks through early July and from Baffert's starters earning qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Practical Move has been in Yakteen's care since the Practical Joke   colt began racing in 2022.

The latter is the 8-1 second choice on the morning line in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.