By Stefanie Grimm
When the partnership of Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay went to $205,000 to secure Nakatomi (Firing Line) as a 4-year-old at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2023, they were picking up a gelding who was graded stakes placed at Pimlico, Aqueduct and Saratoga. But he entered the sale's ring having last seen the winner's circle at Keeneland in Nov. 2022 and clearly needing to take a step forward for trainer Wesley Ward.
Well that purchase quickly provided dividends with Nakatomi giving the partnership a win just six days later at the Spa, setting a course which ultimately led to a victory in the GI Alfrd G. Vanderbilt Handicap and now, with his win in Friday's GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes, a third trip to the Breeders' Cup to contest the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Making his fourth start of the year as the 8-5 favorite, Nakatomi was surely pleased to line up against a field that lacked the star power of both Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) and Mullikin (Violence), rivals who had defeated in one-two order in his last two starts.
Drawn towards the outside of this six-horse field, the more favored half of the Ward entry broke in no hurry as Durante (Distorted Humor) hustled up from his inside gate to lead. A headstrong Skelly (Practical Joke), who missed the break entirely, rushed up the rail to assert command while the favorite was content to trail the field on the run into the far turn. Skelly opened up a gap through the opening quarter in :22.19 and led the sextet past the eighth pole but quickly tired as the calvary charged at him with a furlong to run. Durante got first jump and stuck a head in front but Nakatomi, switched outside by Irad Ortiz Jr., was charging hard down the outside. The pair dueled briefly but the race favorite was a head better on the line with his 5-1 stablemate Whatchatalkinabout (Dialed In) winning a three-way photo for the trifecta.
“This is his (Nakatomi's) home court,” said Ward. “That's what I've been saying about him. By the end of this week, he knew he was running. You could just tell the change in his demeanor. He was kind of on his toes, bouncing around–he's six but he was acting like he's three. It was good to have him come through on the big stage here at Keeneland on a big day. (Jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) rode a great race. I think the key to keeping these (older horses), having a little longevity, is they go over to Fergus Galvin's farm, and actually his daughter rides him before he comes in, so that makes this even more special.”
Galvin, who was on site representing Qatar Racing, added: “It's incredible, really. (Trainer) Wesley (Ward) and his team have done an amazing job. I mean, he's a 6-year-old, and you have in the back of your mind if he's maybe losing a step or two, but Wesley had him at concert pitch today. (Jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) gave him a fantastic ride, unbelievable. On behalf of Sheikh Fahad (Al Thani of Qatar Racing) and Jim and (co-owner Mrs.) Fitri Hay, just a big thanks to Wesley and his crew. They're over the moon, they really are.”
This was the first Phoenix win for both Irad Ortiz Jr. and Wesley Ward who trained both the first and third-place finishers Friday.
Pedigree Note:
One of four stakes winners for Firing Line, Nakatomi is out of a placed first dam who has seen her fair share of the sale's ring, most recently passing through the Keeneland November stand for $50,000 last year to Hunter Valley Farm. Broodmare sire Flatter has produced the dams of 44 stakes winners including the likes of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' and MGISW Taiba (Gun Runner). Of three foals to make the track, two have been winners with Nakatomi joined by his now 7-year-old full-sister Mainline who earned six figures for Brittany Russell and George Sharp before selling at FTKNOV last year for $140,000 carrying to Authentic. Applelicious is herself a half-sister to the dams of GI Clement L. Hirsch winner Lady of Fifty (After Market) and GSW Visually (Enticed). She has a yearling Prince of War colt named Scratch My Itch and received a marked uptick in stallion quality for 2026, visiting both Not This Time and McKinzie.
🚀 NAKATOMI ($5.20) and @iradortiz RUN THEM DOWN!!
The 6YO gelding got up in the $400,000 Phoenix Stakes (G2) at @keenelandracing! The Wesley Ward trainee takes the @LanesEndFarms @BreedersCup Challenge Series Race for owner @Qatar_Racing & Mrs. Fitriani Hay. pic.twitter.com/JmB1KDeiPq
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 3, 2025
Friday, Keeneland
STOLL KEENON OGDEN PHOENIX S.-GII, $390,125, Keeneland, 10-3, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.93, ft.
1–NAKATOMI, 121, g, 6, by Firing Line
1st Dam: Applelicious, by Flatter
2nd Dam: Annie's Apple, by Shawklit Won
3rd Dam: Maid for Steele, by Rare Performer
($18,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $25,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $205,000
4yo '23 FTKHRA). O-Qatar Racing LLC and Mrs. Fitriani Hay;
B-Arnold Zetcher LLC & Crestwood Farm (KY); T-Wesley A.
Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $244,900. Lifetime Record: GISW-USA,
MG1SP-UAE, 24-7-4-7, $1,970,926. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Durante, 121, g, 6, Distorted Humor–Seahawk Girl,
by Pioneerof the Nile. ($60,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $130,000 2yo
'21 OBSMAR). O/T-David Jacobson; B-William Humphries &
Altair Farms LLC (KY). $79,000.
3–Whatchatalkinabout, 121, g, 4, Dialed In–Super Savvy,
by Super Saver. ($38,000 RNA Ylg '22 FTKFEB; $82,000 Ylg '22
FTKOCT). O-Ice Wine Stable; B-Newtownanner Stud Farm (NY);
T-Wesley A. Ward. $29,625.
Margins: NK, 3, NK. Odds: 1.60, 17.47, 5.87.
Also Ran: Here Mi Song, World Record, Skelly. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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