How to bet With, and Against, National Treasure in the Pegasus World Cup

Preakness S. (G1) winner #7 National Treasure (9-5) is the morning-line choice for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Trained by Bob Baffert, the four-year-old capped a fine sophomore season with a brave nose defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and will be an imposing figure in this lucrative tilt with something resembling his most recent try. 

National Treasure – With 

• $10 exacta 7 with 6,8,12 ($30)
• $1 trifecta 7 with 6,8,12 with all ($30)

National Treasure – Against

• $.50-cent trifecta 6,8,12 with 6,7,8,12 with all ($45)
• $.10-cent superfecta 6,8,12 with 6,8,12 with 6,7,8,12 with all ($10.80)

The bay son of Quality Road has ample early speed and has been training like a colt ready to fire his best shot on Saturday. He figures to be sent hard from the break and to lead the way in the early stages with Flavien Prat in the stirrups. 

I will give a big chance to the late-running #6 Senor Buscador (20-1) in the race at huge odds. Trained by Todd Fincher, the six-year-old had a solid 2023 campaign and is coming up to his first local appearance in good order with four solid morning drills on the course leading up to Saturday. By Mineshaft, the Kentucky bred doesn’t possess the ideal running style to thrive at this locale in general, but I expect a fast early tempo that will aid his chance from off the pace with Junior Alvarado taking the reins aboard the Grade-2 victor. 

Brad Cox’s #8 First Mission (7-2) has been first or second in each of his five lifetime outings to date, including a game second in the Clark S. (G2) at Churchill Downs in his 2023 finale. The Godolphin homebred is a nose shy from being 4-for-4 in route races overall, and the four-year-old has a lot of room for improvement going forward being so lightly raced. He has been working in swift fashion in advance of his seasonal debut, and the colt will always be in range with Luis Saez in the irons. 

#12 Skippylongstocking (8-1), one of two in the field for conditioner Saffie Joseph, was unplaced in the race last season but has gotten better in preparation for a run in the contest this campaign. The five-year-old son of Exaggerator was a clear third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last time out, and getting more ground to work with on Saturday will be to his benefit. The five-year-old bay is a three-time winner on the surface who closed 2023 in fine form, and he is a threat with a slight move forward under the guidance of Tyler Gaffalione.