Nakatomi Preps for Dubai Return in GP Sprint

Grade 1 winner Nakatomi , unraced since a sixth-place effort in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), kicks off his 6-year-old campaign for trainer Wesley Ward in the Feb. 22 $140,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes.

Nakatomi completed his best year yet in 2024, scoring a 1 1/2-length victory in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and placing third in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1). The son of Firing Line  is targeting a return trip to Meydan Racecourse for the April 5 Shaheen, heading the American nominations for the lucrative sprint along with Breeders’ Cup victor Straight No Chaser .

This year, the Shaheen serves as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re in race for the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar.

“He’s doing great,” Ward said of Nakatomi, who fired off four straight bullet works at Payson Park Training Center before an easy four-furlong work Feb. 17 in :51 3/5. “We wanted to get a prep into him for Dubai, which is where we’re aiming again this year. He’s been invited to the Golden Shaheen, so we’re going to go. His owner, Sheikh Fahad, is right there and Jim Hay and his wife Fitri winter every year in Dubai, so they’re looking forward to having him run back.”

Junior Alvarado has the call on Nakatomi.

Leading Gulfstream Park trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will send out a quartet of runners to thwart Nakatomi’s season debut, led by multiple stakes winner Comedy Town .

Lea Farms’ Super Chow , a three-time graded stakes winner in 2024, is cross-entered in the Gulfstream Park Sprint and the Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs the same day.