Seventh of eight sprinters as the field neared the Keeneland stretch in the $368,238 Phoenix Stakes (G2) Oct. 2, Nakatomi found another gear, passing six horses through the final quarter-mile to score a repeat victory in America's oldest stakes race with 174 runnings.
His rally mirrored his success last year, though the margin of victory was greater Friday. Blowing past horses up the inside, he outran runner-up Little Thunder by a length, compared to a neck victory over Durante in the 2025 renewal.
Pacesetting Mad House settled for third and favored Verifire ran seventh.
Hymn, winner of the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course this summer, was scratched, as were Viking and C K Wonder.
Closing behind splits of :21.67 and :44.68 set by Mad House under pressure from eventual fourth-place finisher Booth, Nakatomi completed 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.93, the exact same time he posted in the 2025 race. He paid $6.64 for a $2 win wager.
Irad Ortiz Jr. rode the winner, as he did last year. Friday's opening-day card at Keeneland marked the first time Ortiz had ridden since incurring seven small fractures in his left foot during a prerace incident at Saratoga.
"I felt like I had horse every step of the way, was traveling so good," he said. "I won on him last year. He came from last to first. So I tried to have the same plan, and it worked out beautiful."
As for his return, "I'm happy to be back, too, and it feels good to be here in the winner's circle," he added.
Nakatomi, a 7-year-old gelding, scored for the first time in three races this year. He is now 8-4-7 in 28 starts with earnings of almost $2.3 million. He has won at least one race each year since he began racing as a juvenile in 2021.
He currently races for owners Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay. They bought him for $205,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale.
Arnold Zetcher and Crestwood Farm bred him in Kentucky out of the Flatter mare Applelicious.
Trainer Wesley Ward credited the winter time off Nakatomi receives each year at Hunter Valley Farm as key to Nakatomi's longevity.
"He comes back fresh in the spring," the trainer said. "He's still winning."
With the Phoenix part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, Nakatomi earned a paid, automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland, Ward's base for training. Nakatomi is 5-2-0 in eight races on the Keeneland main track.
Ward said he would consult with Nakatomi's ownership before committing to the Breeders' Cup. He has run in the Breeders' Cup Sprint three times, finishing third in 2023, sixth in 2024, and ninth in 2025. Santa Anita Park hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2023 before it was staged at Del Mar the last two years.
Video
