A Gelding, a Girl, and a Tobacco Barn: Get to Know Breeders’ Cup Sprint Contender Nakatomi

10.26.2026

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. 

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