The veteran sprinter Nakatomi, whose only previous stakes win occurred nearly three years ago, wore down speedy favorite Skelly to land the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday.
Enjoy a ground-saving trip in second down the backside as Skelly set a pace of :22.20 and :44.95, Nakatomi was tipped out by jockey Tyler Gaffalione at the top of the stretch and steadily wore down the long-time leader. The winning margin was 1 1/2 lengths, with Nakatomi completing six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.97.
“He’s really coming into his own,” winning trainer Wesley Ward said. “We only run him a few times a year as I try to give my horses winters off and this guy is a really special horse to be around.”
Owned by Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay, Nakatomi paid $9.30. Skelly held second by three parts of a length over Twisted Ride, the 34-1 longest shot on the board. Baby Yoda finished fourth and was followed by My Buddy B and Subrogate.
Winner on debut in one Keeneland’s early-season “baby races” going 4 1/2 furlongs in April 2021, Nakatomi later placed in the Saratoga Special (G2) and capped his juvenile campaign by winning the Bowman’s Mill S., also at Keeneland.
All of Nakatomi’s subsequent wins until the Vanderbilt occurred in allowances, though he showed enough quality to place in the Tom Fool H. (G3), Maryland Sprint (G3), Phoenix (G2), and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) last season, the latter only two lengths adrift of dual champion Elite Power. He preceded Saturday’s win with thirds in the Pelican S. at Tampa Bay Downs and Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan.
Return trips to the Phoenix at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which will be held at Del Mar, are Nakatomi’s fall targets, Ward said.
“I’d really like to win the Phoenix, which is opening day at Keeneland and gives him good spacing,” he said. “From there, we have to wheel right back to the Breeders’ Cup, but at least we go from his home track and then we ship out to California.”
A five-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Firing Line, Nakatomi was produced by Applelicious, a daughter of Flatter. Bred by Arnold Zetcher and Crestwood Farm, he was last sold for $205,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale.
“He went through the sale last year and I said, ‘You’ve got to buy this horse.’ Sheikh Fahad [Al Thani, Qatar Racing] stayed in for his half and he bought out the other partners, so I’m just elated my great friend Alex Cole [racing manager for the Hays] came in for me, otherwise I wouldn’t be standing here today,” Ward said.
