Always knocking at the door, Nakatomi broke down the hinges July 27 to win his first grade 1 in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Campaigned by Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay, Nakatomi ran down favored Skelly for a decisive score under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. The 5-year-old son of Firing Line, making his first start since a third-place showing in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in March, completed the six furlongs in 1:09.97.
Breaking from post 1 under Tyler Gaffalione, Nakatomi stayed along the rail, letting Skelly establish a two-length lead up the backstretch of the six-furlong race. Once again struggling out of the gate and breaking from the far outside post 6, Skelly nonetheless was able to make the lead, and through early fractions of :22.20 and :44.95, Skelly held an uncontested lead, with none of the other expected speed horses challenging him.
Nakatomi began his challenge heading into the far turn, and by the time they hit the eighth pole, he had eliminated Skelly's lead, getting to his rival's outside and coasting past the odds-on favorite to win by 1 1/2 lengths.
Trained by Wesley Ward, Nakatomi returned $9.30 for a $2 win ticket.
NAKATOMI makes a huge comeback with a win in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) with @Tyler_Gaff aboard for trainer Wesley Ward and owner @Qatar_Racing. pic.twitter.com/QmvUYGY3p8
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) July 27, 2024
Skelly held on for second over longshot Twisted Ride in third. Baby Yoda, My Buddy B, and Subrogate completed the order of finish.
With the Vanderbilt win, Nakatomi passed the $1 million mark in earnings. Winless since last summer at Saratoga, the always-competitive gelding has compiled a record of 6-2-6 in 18 starts.
Bred in Kentucky by Arnold Zetcher and Crestwood Farm, Nakatomi is out of the Flatter mare Applelicious and is a full brother to Mainline, who ended a 17-race career with $118,492 in earnings. Sold as a weanling in the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $18,000 to Keith Johns, the chestnut gelding brought $25,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, purchased by Marc Detampel, who campaigned him in partnership until July 2023, when Qatar Racing, who had been one of Nakatomi's co-owners, and Hay bought him for $205,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Horses of Racing Age Sale.
"He went through the sale last year and I said, 'You've got to buy this horse," said Ward. "Sheikh Fahad (Al Thani, Qatar Racing) stayed in for his half and he bought out the other partners, so I'm just elated that my great friend Alex Cole (racing manager for the Hays) came in for me, otherwise I wouldn't be standing here today. I can't thank Jim Hay and Alex and Fergus Galvin and Sheikh Fahad enough for leaving me with the horse because it really paid off for everybody today, especially me."
"This is fantastic," said Sheikh Fahad on the Fox broadcast of the race. "We always thought he was a grade 1 horse. He was sharper than usual today, and Tyler gave him a great ride. I wish we had a hundred of him."
Ward is contemplating the $350,000 Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 4 for Nakatomi's next start, with the Breeders' Cup the longer-term goal.
