Nakatomi's experience against tough rivals points him out in Saratoga Special
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If it’s true you can tell the quality of an individual by the company he keeps, one would have to like the chances of Nakatomi in Saturday’s $200,000 Saratoga Special. The Grade 2 Saratoga Special drew a full and extremely competitive field of a dozen juveniles going 6 1/2 furlongs.
The Saratoga Special is the second of three graded stakes for 2-year-olds here each summer, preceded by the Grade 3 Sanford and folowed by the Grade 1 Hopeful on closing day, Sept. 6.
Nakatomi launched his career winning a 4 1/2-furlong maiden dash over a sloppy track at Keeneland by 2 1/4 lengths over stablemate Happy Soul. All Happy Soul has done since is win her next two starts by a combined margin of 23 lengths, including the Astoria Stakes by 11 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park on June 3.
Trainer Wesley Ward said Nakatomi was originally scheduled to come back in the Tremont at Belmont off his big maiden tally before being rerouted to the Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes at Ascot in England instead. Nakatomi finished eighth in a field of 15 in the Norfolk.
“There’s always the allure of Ascot,” Ward said. “This particular guy has dirt pedigree, but we worked him a couple of times on the grass at Keeneland and he turned in two pretty good works, so we decided to give it the old college try. Unfortunately he didn’t breeze as well on the turf once we got him over there, but at that point we were committed to Plan A, and he really didn’t run a terrible race. About what we expected.”
Nakatomi has trained well over the main track at both Keeneland and Saratoga since getting back to the U.S. He was not one of the original nominees to the Saratoga Special and had to be supplemented into the race. Javier Castellano will ride Nakatomi, who breaks from the rail.
“He’s ready to go and there’s nowhere else to race him, so we decided to put him in here,” said Ward. “Unfortunately he drew the rail, which is always an issue for me, especially in 6 1/2-furlong races. I think we’ll probably tell Javier to wrap up after the start, try to sit and get outside. Historically, though, I’ve had more bad experiences than good ones breaking from the rail in these types of races.”
There are five undefeated horses in the Saratoga Special, including Stolen Base, who rallied to a 1 1/4-length victory going 5 1/2 furlongs here on July 23 in his only start. The race was for horses who sold or had their reserve not attained for $45,000 or less in their most recent sale. His 71 Beyer Speed Figure that day is the third highest of any member of the Special lineup.
“He certainly didn’t disappoint us in his first race – he ran to his morning workouts,” said trainer Mike Maker. “He was very professional, and although it was an auction race, I really liked the way he ran. I’ve always felt he was a horse who’d stretch out, so I think we have a big chance on Saturday.”
Double Thunder is perfect in two starts, jumping up off a modest maiden win at Monmouth Park to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs on June 26. Todd Pletcher sends out Double Thunder and Midnight Worker, who pulled out a game neck victory in his lone outing, a six-furlong maiden special weight dash here three weeks ago.
Trainer Steve Asmussen will send out Gunite and Red Run. Gunite adds blinkers despite coming off a maiden win June 26 at Churchill Downs where he eanred a 73 Beyer Figure. Red Run won at first asking but was never a serious factor while forced to race very wide turning for home in the Bashford Manor.
Doctor Jeff earned a 78 Beyer for his 2 1/4-length victory in his only start, which came last month at Belmont Park, and may be the quickest early on in this lineup under Joel Rosario for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Double Jeff likely to be prompted early by Glacial, who was prominent throughout before finishing a tiring third in the Bashford Manor.