It was a second of validation for Nakatomi as he streaked throughout the wire 1 1/2 lengths forward of Skelly within the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course July 27.
Regardless of tussling with among the greatest sprinters in his period, like grade 1 winners Elite Energy , The Chosen Vron , Gunite , and Taiba , the 5-year-old gelding has held his personal however nonetheless sought a graded victory himself.
That honor got here within the highest type Saturday as the primary graded notch on his belt was a grade 1.
“He’d been a hard-knocking horse, it is good to see him get it,” stated Marc McLean of Crestwood Farm, who co-bred the horse with Arnold Zetcher. “It is an enormous deal any time you breed a grade 1 winner, so we’re thrilled.”
Previous to his Vanderbilt victory, Nakatomi had been knocking on the door on many events. His six graded placings included thirds within the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1) and the 2024 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).
“We thought he was a superb one, he is all the time been up there and constant,” Zetcher stated. “As a foal, I am unsure we’d have stated he can be a grade 1 winner, however he positive confirmed his stuff.”
One other milestone that got here out of Nakatomi’s victory was offering his sire, Firing Line , together with his first grade 1 winner. Raced by Zetcher all through his profession, the son of 2010 Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Line of David entered stud at Crestwood in 2017 however was not too long ago bought to face the 2024 season in The Philippines at Cool Summer time Farm.
Firing Line at Crestwood Farm
“It is a disgrace he wasn’t in a position to stick round,” McLean stated. “He did have some high-quality runners, and this simply reveals that he did.”
Along with Nakatomi, Firing Line can also be the sire of six-time stakes winner and three-time graded stakes positioned Venti Valentine , a New York-bred that has earned $891,600.
“He had numerous winners, however not on the prime ranges. We thought it was time to maneuver on,” Zetcher stated. “We did analysis on the farm in The Philippines, it seemed like a very good operation so we had been snug making the transfer.”
Firing Line is out of the grade 1-placed winner Sister Lady Blues , by Maintain for Gold. Winner of the 2015 Sunland Derby (G3), Firing Line is most identified for his a number of battles towards a number of grade 1 winner Dortmund and his runner-up efficiency to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah within the Kentucky Derby (G1).
“(Firing Line) is an especially handsome horse, an especially quick horse,” stated Ben McElroy, who was agent for Zetcher after they bought Firing Line on the 2014 Keeneland April 2-year-olds in Coaching Sale for $240,000. “Proper from the primary time (coach) Simon (Callaghan) breezed Firing Line, he confirmed brilliance the entire manner alongside.”
McElroy met Zetcher because of an opportunity run-in with Callaghan in a resort foyer through the 2013 Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching. Callaghan instructed McElroy to let him know if he noticed something on the sale.
“I stated, ‘There is a filly within the second guide that I am going to present you tomorrow morning, I believe she’s one of the best horse within the sale,'” McElroy recalled. “Fortunate sufficient, we purchased her and he or she ended up being Style Plate.”
They bought Style Plate for $340,000 on behalf of Zetcher, who partnered with Michael Tabor. Style Plate would develop into a twin grade 1 winner, earn $471,250, and be bought on the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Blended Sale for $1.2 million.
Zetcher, McElroy, and Callaghan’s success continued with Firing Line and, as soon as his profession got here to an in depth, they made the cope with Pope McLean’s Crestwood Farm to face the stallion in Kentucky.
“We had proven curiosity in Firing Line as a result of we had such a connection to the feminine household,” stated Marc McLean. “Ben was in a position to get us concerned with Arnold and it was a fantastic relationship. A pair good horses got here out of that partnership.”
One of many mares that McElroy picked out for the partnership was Nakatomi’s dam Applelicious , a winless daughter of Flatter. Nevertheless, McElroy noticed potential in matching her pedigree with Firing Line’s.
“I purchased three or 4 mares particularly simply to help Firing Line…some mares we thought would swimsuit him bodily,” McElroy stated. “She was a handsome Flatter mare. The A. P. Indy line, we thought it could go effectively with Firing Line.”
Ben McElroy
Applelicious’ dam Annie’s Apple was a 13-time winner who received the 1998 Alyssa Handicap at Beulah Park. Along with Applelicious, she produced a Maria’s Mon filly named Okay.D.’s Shady Woman, who was second within the 2004 Tempted Stakes (G3) and earned $113,014.
Okay. D.’s Shady Woman would produce 2013 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) winner Woman of Fifty and stakes winners Bella Conchita, Woman Fifty Two, and Forestry Metal.
“When you have a look at Nakatomi’s household, it is truly a reasonably good household,” McElroy stated. “(Nakatomi’s success) did not come out of skinny air.”
Zetcher has seen a lot success with homebreds, together with grade 1 victories by Gabby’s Golden Gal and Midnight Interlude. Nevertheless, standing Firing Line at stud started a transition interval for the proprietor and his spouse Ellen.
“It was at a time after we had been pondering of shifting away from the racing half and simply staying on the breeding half,” Zetcher stated. “We had been planning to promote all of the foals, we weren’t planning on conserving any.”
Zetcher and Crestwood bought Nakatomi for $18,000 on the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Inventory Sale as a weanling. The earlier 12 months on the similar sale, they bought Nakatomi’s full brother, Mainline , for $55,000. Mainline has received 5 of 17 begins for earnings of $118,492.
Though he misses going to the winner’s circle, Zetcher nonetheless enjoys following the success of the horses he is bred.
Arnold Zetcher
“While you breed them, it is all the time very thrilling to see them run and be very profitable,” Zetcher stated. “He is been enjoyable to observe from afar. We do know the proprietor (Qatar Racing), we partnered on a horse with them. I am glad they’ve him and I believe Wesley Ward is a terrific coach. It is cool throughout.”
Zetcher, who lives in California, nonetheless enjoys taking in a day on the races and is trying ahead to presumably seeing Nakatomi within the Breeders’ Cup later this fall at Del Mar.
“That will be actually neat,” Zetcher stated.
