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National Treasure Returns to Work Tab Ahead of Belmont

Bob Baffert stablemate Reincarnate looks toward the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (G1).

National Treasure breezes May 30 at Belmont Park

National Treasure breezes May 30 at Belmont Park

Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan's Preakness Stakes (G1) winner National Treasure worked a half-mile solo May 30 at Belmont Park in preparation for the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1).

With Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez up for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, the Quality Road  colt was caught by NYRA clockers in a swift opening split of :23 2/5 before hitting the wire through a half-mile in :50.62.

Velazquez had National Treasure under a hold down the lane before letting the talented bay gallop out strong.

"I wanted to jog him to the mile pole and start him galloping nice and easy. He got pretty strong on the bridle, so I kept him on the outside and Bob told me when I get to the four and a half, just drop him in and try to go 49," Velazquez said. "He picked it up pretty quick. I slowed him down as best I could and down the lane I just held him together. Going past the sixteenth pole, I gave him his head and let him gallop out."

National Treasure added blinkers in the Preakness May 20 at Pimlico Race Course, which he won in dramatic fashion after a prolonged stretch duel with grade 1 winner Blazing Sevens to his outside.

Velazquez, who won the Belmont with Rags to Riches (2007) and Union Rags  (2012), said he expects National Treasure should be able to handle the stretch out to 12 furlongs in the "Test of the Champion."

"After the races, he always gallops out really strong. I just hope that he can put it together," Velazquez said. "The whole thing with him is he gets a little spotty. We put blinkers on him and he's been pretty good with them. Hopefully, he stays like that."

Tom Ryan, managing partner of SF Racing, was on hand to watch the breeze and said Velazquez was pleased with the work.

"He said he was getting over the track very well, which is most important," Ryan said. "He said that it's good to get a horse acclimated to the track."

Ryan said a win in the Belmont Stakes would be significant as he looks to build National Treasure's resume as a potential stallion.

"I think it's very important. A race like the Belmont is very important when pairing it with a race like the Preakness," he said. "I think a standalone Belmont definitely has value on a resume, but when you put two classics on your resume, it's pretty hard to top, isn't it?"

Meanwhile, stablemate Reincarnate will skip the Belmont, with the ultimate objective being the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

May 4, 2023: Reincarnate...Rick Samuels/The Blood-Horse
Photo: Rick Samuels
Reincarnate training May 4 at Churchill Downs

The now Baffert-trained son of Good Magic  was most recently 13th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) for Tim Yakteen, who trained him through his last three starts. He was third in Oaklawn Park's Rebel Stakes (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1).

Reincarnate is campaigned by the same ownership as National Treasure.

"He'll redirect to the Travers. It'll fit him well and will give him some time to fill up again out of the Derby," Ryan said. "It feels like he's getting bigger and stronger with time. We all want everything to happen tomorrow, but if you're patient with these horses and give them the chance to be able to be what they can be, it's amazing how they can repay you."

Ryan said he was unsure as to when or if Reincarnate would race leading up to the Travers.

This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.