Belmont Stakes 2023: National Treasure has final drill

Preakness winner National Treasure put together his final serious preparations for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes with a five-furlong breeze Monday over the Belmont Park main track.

Under sunny skies and a temperature in the 60s, National Treasure was among the first horses to visit the track after the renovation break. With exercise rider Erick Garcia aboard, the son of Quality Road went five furlongs in 59.55 seconds over the fast main track before galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.20 and seven furlongs in 1:25.20.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, National Treasure now has worked twice over Big Sandy after breezing a half-mile in 50.62 seconds Tuesday.

Baffert’s chief assistant Jimmy Barnes was on hand for the work and expressed satisfaction with the move.

“He worked very well this morning,” Barnes said. “It’s a big track, and you can find yourself lost out there. Erick did an excellent job working him, and now we’re just waiting for the race.”

Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, National Treasure was fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) before to his Preakness conquest.

A debut maiden winner in September at Del Mar, National Treasure finished a respective second and third in the American Pharoah at Santa Anita and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, both Grade 1 events.

He was a $500,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale and is out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Treasure.