National Treasure Outlasts Senor Buscador in Pegasus

As the sun began to set and darkness slowly crept in at Gulfstream Park, there was one clear sight as the horses barreled through the stretch: National Treasure  digging down deep to edge a closing Senor Buscador  under the wire.

The memorable sight saw 2-1 favorite and 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) hero National Treasure battling the lovable underdog in the eighth running of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27. The problem for Senor Buscador was that National Treasure again proved to be a fighter in the final furlong. The 4-year-old son of Quality Road   had already showcased to the world his tremendous will to win with his gritty Preakness score last spring and his heartbreaking nose defeat to Horse of the Year Cody's Wish   in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Look National Treasure in the eye, and be prepared for a fight.

Reaching for the wire, National Treasure prevailed by a neck.

"He's a gutty little horse and that's the way he wants to run," Bob Baffert's longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes said after the race. "We knew it was going to be a hot pace but he stepped up. He had been running against good horses. We knew how good he was."

A quick pace indeed it was. Out of the gate, National Treasure, as usual, sprinted to the early advantage. He was soon joined by front-running Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) victor Hoist the Gold , who was stretching beyond a mile for the first time since last February. Flavien Prat, instead of engaging in a speed duel, sat just back with National Treasure as Hoist the Gold traversed through splits of :23.18, :46.32, and 1:11.21.

"I knew they were flying but when I saw :23 and change I said 'well that's manageable.' Good horses, they keep running," Baffert said after clinching his third Pegasus title following Arrogate in 2017 and Mucho Gusto  in 2020.

National Treasure joined Hoist the Gold midway through the turn, took over, and never relented. He clocked 1:50.51 for the nine furlongs, earning his second grade 1 victory and putting his earnings over the $3 million mark.

"This colt, what he did today, sitting off a horse, he showed us a new dimension," said part-owner Tom Ryan of SF Racing. "Bob has already said whatever he's done at 2, he'll do more at 3, and there'll be a lot more at 4. So we're feeling pretty good right now."

Senor Buscador, who ran one of his finest career performances in defeat, was second, 4 1/2 lengths ahead of 34-1 shot Crupi . Senor Buscador and Crupi were in eleventh and twelfth positions, respectively, during the first half of the race.

Second choice First Mission , out to win the first Pegasus for the mighty Godolphin outfit, raced in mid-pack early but faded to ninth.

Venerable millionaire Skippylongstocking  was in contention early but eventually was eased and pulled up by jockey Tyler Gaffalione around the final turn. The colt walked off the track and was reportedly OK back at the barn, according to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

National Treasure, bred in Kentucky by Peter Blum Thoroughbreds and out of the Medaglia d'Oro   mare Treasure, was purchased by the partners for $500,000 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling auction in 2021.

The partnership, frequently referred to as the Avengers, is composed of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.

"It's a great partnership," Masterson said. "The guys in this partnership have a great attitude. I'm just glad to be a part of it. I've had a lot of serious horses. The thing different is I raced them myself. In this, racing with these guys is so much fun. It's a joy to be there with them and watch these horses race and watch them win."

Ryan had indicated to BloodHorse earlier in the week that major targets like the Feb. 24 Saudi Cup (G1) or March 30 Dubai World Cup (G1) could be on the radar for National Treasure. While the colt already collected a major stallion-making race in capturing the Pegasus, he also appears an ideal candidate for another stud-churning gem, the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in New York.

Wherever the colt runs next, he figures to be a force in the older male division.

National Treasure is by Lane's End stallion Quality Road, the sire of 15 individual grade 1 winners. Quality Road is also represented by Kentucky Derby (G1) contender and Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Track Phantom  thus far into 2024. Quality Road stands the 2024 breeding season for a fee of $200,000.