Get to Know Breeders’ Cup Sprint contender Nakatomi, who spends his days living in a tobacco barn at Keeneland and his offseason in the caring hands of his beloved pre-teen friend Elle-Marie Galvin.
The 7-year-old Firing Line gelding is right at home at Keeneland, host of this year’s Breeders’ Cup, compiling a career record of five wins and two seconds in eight starts at the Lexington track for trainer Wesley Ward. Nakatomi enters the World Championships off a last-to-first win in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes.
Jose Ortiz already has one Eclipse Award as Outstanding Jockey, and he’s on track to win another during a banner 2026 season highlighted by his first win in the Kentucky Derby (brother Irad Jr. finished second).
