Nakatomi Looking to Rebound in Maryland Sprint

Nakatomi  looks to get back into the winner's circle May 20 in the $100,000 Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness Day.

The 4-year-old son of Firing Line   hasn't seen victory since an allowance optional claiming triumph at Keeneland as part of Breeders' Cup weekend in 2022. Just as important would be earning his first-ever graded stakes win after five tries in North America. Nakatomi also has an eighth-place finish in the 2021 Norfolk Stakes (G2), a group 2 contest on the turf at Ascot Racecourse. 

Since that last victory, it has been a series of what-could-have-been results. After a 5 1/4-length, fourth-place disappointment in the Malibu Stakes (G1), the next two times out saw early drama potentially undo promising finishes. 

First, in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, Nakatomi brushed with a competitor out of the gate, and despite a late push to the wire he came up short by 1 3/4 lengths in third. 

It was a similar song in the Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. 

Despite being on a track that had served him well with three wins in as many tries, Nakatomi again bumped with a rival out of the gate. And like the time before, a late surge wasn't enough. He settled for fourth, 2 1/2 lengths off the lead.

This will be Nakatomi's fifth attempt at six furlongs, with the only win at Keeneland in the Bowman Mill Stakes. He enters Saturday's race the 5-2 favorite.

The second favorite, Straight No Chaser  (3-1), also takes to the track hungry for a win. By Speightster , Straight No Chaser's resume is missing a win outside of maiden and allowance optional contests. He won last time out at Oaklawn Park, preceded by a competitive third in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) in which Straight No Chaser led into the stretch before faltering outside the eighth pole. Prior to that, he finished seventh in the Malibu Stakes, 1 3/4 lengths behind Nakatomi.

Not to be counted out, third choice Wondrwherecraigis  (4-1) is as much a specialist at this distance as anyone in the field of 10. Of his 16 career starts, 13 have come at six furlongs, with six of those victories. 

A son of Munnings   out of the Giant's Causeway mare Social Assassin, Wondrwherecraigis is not only familiar with the Pimlico dirt, he thrives on it. In three opportunities there—all at six furlongs—he has two firsts and a second. 

Completing the field are Al Loves Josie  (10-1), Full Authority  (12-1), Hello Hot Rod  (10-1), Prevalence  (8-1), Threes Over Deuces  (15-1), War Tocsin  (30-1), and Willy Boi  (15-1).