Nakatomi towers over rivals in G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.

By Christian Abdo —-

Janet Napolitano Photo
Nakatomi towers over rivals in G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Nakatomi had not raced since the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in March at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai but he did not let that stop him in Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Wesley Ward, the 5-year-old Firing Line gelding notched his first Grade 1 score in his fourth attempt, most recently finishing third after an awkward start in the aforementioned Golden Shaheen. He entered today being multiple graded stakes-placed, including a third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Santa Anita Park.

Ward was pleased to keep training Nakatomi after he was purchased for $205,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. He selected Nakatomi as a yearling before his purchase of $25,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale and he’s been in the barn since.

“He’s really coming into his own. He’s a lightly raced 5-year-old. 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,” said Ward. “I picked him out as a yearling and to have him since a yearling until now and win a Grade 1 and be with him nearly every day just makes it ever so special.”

Piloted by Tyler Gaffalione, Nakatomi broke alertly from post 1 and vied for command with Twisted Ride to his outside. After a couple of strides, the dual graded stakes-winner Skelly swept to the front under Ricardo Santana, Jr., from the outermost post 6. He led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.20 seconds over the fast main track.

Down the backside and into the turn, the post-time favorite Skelly widened his margin to three lengths as Nakatomi assumed a clear second by two lengths over Subrogate and Twisted Ride, who were head-and-head as the half-mile elapsed in 44.95.

The runaway Skelly held his uncontested advantage through the turn as Gaffalione asked Nakatomi to pick it up from second position. At the quarter-pole, Skelly appeared poised to give Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen a record-extending fifth Vanderbilt triumph, but Nakatomi was starting to kick to life at the top of the lane.

Skelly’s lead shrunk to just one length at the stretch call, and Santana, Jr. desperately asked his 10-for-16 charge to battle on. After five-eighths in 57.03, Nakatomi was on even terms to the outside of Skelly with all of the momentum.

Gaffalione said there was never any doubt about going by the classy pacesetter.

“He [Nakatomi] had control of the race at that point. I didn’t want to give my horse any excuse and I felt like I had the horse to go get him, so I just wanted to give him a clear path,” Gaffalione said.

Nakatomi kicked by at once to a comfortable 1 1/2-length victory over Skelly in a final time of 1:09.97.

The Kendrick Carmouche-piloted Twisted Ride, the 34-1 longest price on the board trained by Michael Moore, gained mild ground to finish three-quarter-lengths back for third, with 4 1/4 lengths back to Baby Yoda rounding out the superfecta.

My Buddy B and Subrogate completed the order of finish.

Gaffalione, who was aboard Nakatomi for a fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu in December 2022 at Santa Anita, said the horse was a deserving Grade 1-winner.

“This win feels amazing, I am just so thrilled for this horse. He tries so hard every time,” said Gaffalione. “We have just been a little bit unlucky in the past, but he finally got his Grade 1 today.”

Ward said he will consider a potential start for Nakatomi in the Grade 2 Phoenix on October 4 at Keeneland as a bridge to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar. Nakatomi was a close second to Hoist the Gold in last year’s edition of the six-furlong sprint.

“I’d really like to win the Phoenix which is Opening Day at Keeneland and gives him good spacing,” Ward 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.”

Santana, Jr., said he had no excuses after his pacesetting runner-up finish.

“He had a good trip. The best horse won,” Santana, Jr. concluded.

Carmouche was impressed with Twisted Ride’s effort for third today in his first Grade 1 race.

“He tried his best. These are good horses up in here, but he’s a hard knocker and I thought if I left him alone off the lead and made a run at them, he’ll give me a good kick. He stayed steady all the way around there and that’s a good race for a horse like him,” Carmouche said. “I’m proud for the owners that they gave him a shot to run against these horses.”

Bred in Kentucky by Arnold Zetcher and Crestwood Farm, Nakatomi is out of the Flatter mare Applelicious. He banked $192,500 in victory while improving his record to 18-6-2-6 and returning $9.30 for a $2 win bet. The win puts him above the $1 million mark in earnings.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green in Race 9.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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