After securing runner-up honors in the past two editions of the Phoenix Stakes (G2), Nakatomi will try to land top honors when he starts in the six-furlong sprint Oct. 3 at Keeneland.
Trainer Wesley Ward, who has finished atop the trainer standings by wins seven times in the spring and once in the fall since 2012, is looking forward to Friday's opening day card that will feature the Phoenix and two other graded stakes. While Nakatomi hasn't landed top honors in the Phoenix, he's run well both times—finishing second to Hoist the Gold in 2023 and runner-up to Federal Judge last year.
Ward thinks the 6-year-old Firing Line gelding again will be on his game Friday.
"He'll have the home-court advantage," Ward said of Nakatomi, who has worked a half-dozen times at Keeneland since Aug. 22—earning the bullet in two of those moves. "I do think he's in a comfort zone here, just like all my horses.
"They've trained here since they were yearlings so I think they just kind of step it up a notch here; just like any home team in any sport."
Along with those two runner-up finishes in the Phoenix, Nakatomi boasts three wins at Keeneland among his six career starts at the Lexington track. While he'll be looking to end a five-race skid dating back to his July 2024 victory in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1), he already has delivered another top effort this year—finishing second by a neck in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).
Currently campaigned by Qatar Racing and Fitriani Hay, Nakatomi has twice placed in the Golden Shaheen and in 2023 ran third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). With a 6-4-7 record from 23 starts, he has earned $1,726,026 during his five-season career. On Friday, Nakatomi will be making his first start since finishing third in this year's edition of the Vanderbilt July 19 at Saratoga Race Course.
"The good thing is he's had a little bit of a break from his last start to this one, and he's freshened," Ward said "He's had some nice breezes on his home track. He got a good post (No. 5), and he's got a great rider (Irad Ortiz Jr.)."
Ward also has entered this year's John A. Nerud Stakes (G3) winner Whatchatalkinabout in Friday's expected field of six 3-year-olds and older. The New York-bred son of Dialed In enters off a close runner-up finish in an open allowance-optional claiming race at Saratoga.
"He has that graded stakes win and numbers-wise I would say he's probably better than any horse in the field," Ward said. "Numbers don't always matter when you line them all up in a race, but he's probably the fastest horse in the race. That doesn't mean he'll win but he's training well and coming into the races well—also on his home court."
The Phoenix is a Breeders' Cup Challenge series race, offering the winner a fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
Keeneland, Friday, October 3, 2025, Race 7Entries: Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Durante (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 121 David Jacobson - 2 Whatchatalkinabout (NY) Emisael Jaramillo 121 Wesley A. Ward - 3 Skelly (KY) Luis Saez 121 Steven M. Asmussen - 4 World Record (KY) Flavien Prat 121 Rodolphe Brisset - 5 Nakatomi (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 121 Wesley A. Ward - 6 Here Mi Song (KY) Edgar Morales 121 William Stinson, Jr. -
