Nakatomi (inner) revised Durante in deep piece to overcome a neck. (Courtney Snow/Beyond the Wire)
Ponsland Ticket to $ 2 million Cygames Fokers’ Cup Sprint (G1)
Keeneland Release
Lexington, Ky. – The third time was the charm for Nakatomi In the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix while he revised Durante in deep stretch to overcome a neck.
Runner-up in the race in the last two years, Nakatomi earned a costs for paid berth for the $ 2 million cygames Fokers’ Cup Sprint (G1) on 1 November.
Trained by Wesley Ward and driven by Irad Ortiz Jr., Nakatomi completed the 6 Furlongs on a fast main track in 1: 09.93.
Durante took the lead from the gate, but was quickly overtaken by Skelly, who led the field of six by fractions from: 22.19 and: 45.08 when Nakatomi raced at the back of the field. Durante took over on the three-sixted pole, while Nakatomi started his widest of all who brought him to the thread.
Nakatomi, graduated in Keeneland, is a 6-year-old cultivated Kentucky-bred son of Firing Line from the flatter mare Applelicious. Now a double winner of the deployment, Nakatomi improved his record to 24-7-4-7 and he increased his income to $ 1,970,926.
Nakatomi was sent away as a favorite and returned $ 5.20, $ 4.16 and $ 2.92. Durante, driven by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $ 11.92 and $ 6.72 and finished 3 lengths for Whathatchatalkinabout, who paid $ 4.40 to show under Emisael Jaramillo.
It was another neck back to here Mi Song with World Record and Skelly next in order.
Racing continues on Saturday on autumn stars with an 11-race program that starts at 1 p.m. and with five graded stakes, three of them degree 1s.
Quotes from the $ 400,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) in Keeneland
Wesley Ward (Trainer of Winner Nakatomi and third place Finisher Whathatchatalkinabout): “This is his (Nakatomi’s) Home Court. That’s what I’ve bone 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 child or on his 6 h Come through on the Big Stage here at Keeneland on a big day (Jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) Red A Great Race.
About or Nakatomi to the Cygames Fokers’ Cup Sprint goes (G1): “Absolute.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (winning rider): “It was perfect. He broke good, much better than the last time I rode it on Saratoga (when the third in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt-G2 July 19, July 19, July 19), so I was happy with that. I didn’t want to use him early. I think he is the type of horse that has a good pace. I, and I didn’t want to chase anyone.
Fergus Galvin (representing the winning co-owner Qatar Racing): “It is really incredible, real. (Trainer) Wesley (Ward) and his team have done great work. I mean, he is a 6-year-old, and you have a step or two in mind, but Wesley had him today at Concertpitch (Jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, a fantastic ride, and (fellow-owner) and (fellow? Wesley and his crew.
David Jacobson (owner-trainer of Second Durante): “I am very happy. He is like 20-1 and nobody had some confidence, but I did.”
“(The Breeders’ Cup) is always a thought.”
Tyler Gaffalione (rider of Durante): “He ran so well that it is a pity that we were unable to do the job. No fault of his own mistake. He broke alert, put himself in the game, traveled great everywhere and he really shot home for us. Hind on the winner.”
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