It was a moment of confirmation for Nakatomi as he ran quickly across the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead Skeleton in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Championship (G1) at Saratoga Race Track July 27.
Despite struggling against some of the best sprinters of his era, such as Grade 1 winners Elite Power , Vron is selected , Gunite And Taiba The five-year-old gelding held his ground but still wanted to win the overall.
That honor came at the highest level on Saturday when the first step on his belt was ranked No. 1.
“He’s a tough horse, it’s great to see him get that,” said Crestwood Farm’s Marc McLean, who bred the horse with Arnold Zetcher. “It’s a big event whenever you breed a Grade 1 winner, so we’re delighted.”
Prior to his win at Vanderbilt, Nakatomi had been knocking on the door several times. His six finishes included third places in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and the 2024 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).
“We thought he was a good guy, he was always there and consistent,” Zetcher said. “As a foal, I’m not sure we could say he would be a Grade 1 winner, but he’s certainly shown what he’s capable of.”
Another milestone that came from Nakatomi’s victory was providing his father, Shooting line with his first Grade 1 winner. Raced by Zetcher throughout his career, the son of 2010 Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Lineage of David entered the stud at Crestwood in 2017 but was recently sold for breeding for the 2024 season in the Philippines at Cool Summer Farm.
Shooting Range at Crestwood Farm
“It’s a shame he couldn’t stay,” McLean said. “He’s had some quality runners, and this just shows he’s got it.”
In addition to Nakatomi, Firing Line is also the father of six award-winning and three ranked award-winning Valentine’s Day Price A horse bred in New York earned $891,600.
“He had a lot of winners, but not at the highest level. We thought it was time to move,” Zetcher said. “We looked at the farm in the Philippines, it seemed like a really good operation, so we felt comfortable making the move.”
Firing Line is out of first class Blues Sisters of Hold for Gold. The 2015 Sunland Derby (G3) winner, Firing Line is best known for his many battles with multiple Grade 1 winner Dortmund and his runner-up performance to Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
“(Firing Line) is an incredibly handsome, incredibly fast horse,” said Ben McElroy, who represented Zetcher when they bought Firing Line at the Keeneland April 2014 2-year-old in training sale for $240,000. “From the first time (trainer) Simon (Callaghan) got Firing Line on, he was outstanding all the way.”
McElroy met Zetcher through a chance encounter with Callaghan in a hotel lobby during the Ocala Breeders’ 2-year-old-in-training dog auction in the spring of 2013. Callaghan told McElroy to let him know if he saw anything at the auction.
“I said, ‘There’s a mare in the second book that I’ll show you tomorrow morning, I think she’s the best horse in the sale,’” McElroy recalled. “Luckily, we bought her and she ended up being the Fashion Plate.”
They bought Fashion disc for $340,000 on behalf of Zetcher, who was partnered with Michael Tabor. Fashion Plate would become a double Grade 1 winner, earning $471,250 and selling at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale for $1.2 million.
Zetcher, McElroy and Callaghan’s success continued with Firing Line and after his career ended, they contracted with Pope McLean’s Crestwood Farm to breed the stallion in Kentucky.
“We were interested in Firing Line because we had a strong connection with the lady’s family,” said Marc McLean. “Ben was able to bring us in with Arnold and it’s been a great relationship. Some great horses have come out of that partnership.”
One of the mares McElroy chose to work with was Nakatomi’s dam. Delicious Apple a daughter of Flatter who had no wins. However, McElroy saw potential in combining her pedigree with Firing Line.
“I bought three or four mares just to support Firing Line… some mares that we thought would suit him physically,” McElroy said. “She’s a nice Flatter mare. The AP Indy line, we thought she would suit Firing Line.”
Ben McElroy
Applelicious’s dam Annie’s Apple won 13 times, winning the 1998 Alyssa Handicap at Beulah Park. In addition to Applelicious, she sired a Maria’s Mon mare named KD’s Shady Lady, who finished second in the 2004 Tempted Stakes (G3) and earned $113,014.
KD’s Shady Lady will produce 2013 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) winner Lady Fifty and the winners were Bella Conchita, Lady Fifty Two and Forestry Steel.
“If you look at the Nakatomi family, they’re actually a pretty good family,” McElroy said. “(Nakatomi’s success) didn’t come out of nowhere.”
Zetcher has seen much success with homebred horses, including a Grade 1 win by Gabby’s Golden Girl and Midnight Interlude. However, raising Firing Line horses at the ranch began a period of transition for the owner and his wife, Ellen.
“That’s when we were thinking about moving away from the racing side and just focusing on the breeding side,” Zetcher said. “We were planning on selling all the foals, we weren’t planning on keeping any.”
Zetcher and Crestwood sold Nakatomi for $18,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale as a weanling. The year before at the same auction, they sold Nakatomi’s full brother, Mainstream for $55,000. Mainline won 5 of his 17 starts for a prize of $118,492.
While he misses the feeling of being in the winner’s circle, Zetcher still enjoys watching the success of the horses he has bred.
Arnold Zetcher
“When you breed them, it’s always exciting to see them run and be successful,” Zetcher said. “It’s exciting to see them run from a distance. We know the owner (Qatar Racing), we’ve worked with them on a horse. I’m delighted they have him and I think Wesley Ward is a fantastic trainer. It’s been fantastic.”
Zetcher, who lives in California, still enjoys spending a day at the races and is looking forward to seeing Nakatomi at the Breeders’ Cup later this fall at Del Mar.
“That was really cool,” Zetcher said.
