Video: After works, Baffert says his 3 are good to go to N.Y.
National Treasure, Imagination and Prince of Monaco will leave for New York on Sunday to compete in next weekend’s Belmont Stakes racing festival, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Saturday morning after observing the trio work over the last two days.
On Saturday, Prince of Monaco fired a bullet when working six furlongs from the gate in 1:11.20. National Treasure went four furlongs in 48.20 seconds. On Friday, Imagination also earned a bullet when drilling six furlongs in 1:11.40.
“All three look good. They’ll leave tomorrow,” Baffert said Saturday.
Imagination and Prince of Monaco are slated to run in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs next Saturday at Saratoga. National Treasure is bound for the Met Mile (G1), also Saturday.
National Treasure, winner of last year’s Preakness, has not raced since a fourth-place effort in the Saudi Cup (G1) on Feb. 24. Before that he won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 27 in his 4-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park.
Imagination will be back in action three weeks after finishing seventh in the Preakness at Pimlico on May 18. He previously was second by a neck in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 6.
Prince of Monaco has been off since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Santa Anita. The Speightstown colt has worked nine times since April 7 for his comeback. Before the Breeders’ Cup, Prince of Monaco won the Del Mar Futurity (G1).
Most of the Belmont Stakes card, including the Woody Stephens, will be drawn Sunday. The Met Mile and the Belmont Stakes will be drawn Monday.