The Keeneland fall meet begins on Friday, October 3 with the $400,000 Grade II Phoenix Stakes for dirt sprinters over 1,200m. Only six speedsters head for the Commonwealth Of Kentucky, but a number of them previously strutted their stuff at Saratoga either this summer or the one prior.
Perhaps of greatest interest in this contest is last year’s second Nakatomi for the Keeneland barn of Wesley Ward. Aged six, the gelding by Firing Line ended up carrying a 4lb penalty against the field 12 months ago and couldn’t land a blow on gate to wire frontrunner Federal Judge.
Although the winner confirmed the form in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with them finishing fifth and sixth at the World Championships, Nakatomi continues to be on the premises in big races. He placed in the valuable Golden Shaheen out in Dubai in the Middle East over the winter, going one spot better than in 2024.
Although no match for old rivals Book’em Danno and Mullikin in the True North Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard and schedule, Nakatomi made the show behind them in the prestigious Vanderbilt Handicap back at the Spa last time. Although he won that race in 2024, he now meets another foe in Skelly off 3lb better terms.
Local trainer Ward doesn’t just rely on Nakatomi for the Phoenix Stakes of 2025, however, as the barn also runs Whatchatalkinabout. This is a first career start for the four-year-old son of Dialed In outside the Empire State. Bettors are often looking for an improving younger horse and Whatchatalkinabout might fit the bill.
The form of his Grade III John A. Nerud Stakes success at Aqueduct in May has worked out real well. Each of the second, third and fourth home have all won races since.
Durante, Here Mi Song, Skelly All Faceoff Again
Away from the Ward barn and that localized angle, three of the first five to cross the wire in Churchill Downs’ Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes all take each other on once again. None of this re-opposing trio could land a blow on Breeders’ Cup Sprint second Bentornato on his reappearance.
Running against him at the Bluegrass State’s other iconic racetrack was more of a prep for the Phoenix Stakes. Here Mi Song got up on the wire for second, just touching off Skelly by a head. Fourth in this race behind Nakatomi 12 months ago, William Stinson’s seven-year-old Cross Traffic gelding turned about past form with Durante.
Skelly, himself a six-year-old, is now 2lb better off with Here Mi Song and raced far too keenly around the far turn at Churchill Downs. If he settles better, then Steve Asmussen’s son of Practical Joke could well reverse form with his old rivals here. Skelly’s hopes of victory seem to hinge on whether he can conserve energy for the business end of the race.
Durante beat both Here Mi Song and Skelly earlier in the campaign in the Grade III Aristides Stakes around Churchill Downs in May. David Jacobson’s six-year-old gelding by Distorted Humor has found life more difficult since, but can be forgiven his Kentucky Downs display on turf prior to finishing fifth in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society.
Each of these sprinters has beaten the other on their best day, so estimating whose turn it is now is tricky. Here Mi Song has two Ellis Park victories over 1,300m, so a slightly longer distance might suit him best. Level weights favor Skelly, but his overenthusiastic racing style is a worry.
World Record Drops in Grade for Phoenix Stakes
Completing the line-up is another potential improver in World Record. Beaten just a length by Durante in the Aristides on his last visit to the Commonwealth, Rodolphe Brisset’s four-year-old Gun Runner colt has just one more career start under his belt than Whatchatalkinabout.
World Record landed the Grade II Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga last summer in impressive fashion from the front. While he then couldn’t build on that in the H Allen Jerkens Memorial, he arguably hit the front too soon and thus didn’t see out the 1,400m distance.
Connections have since reverted to shorter sprints with World Record and his prior show behind Raging Torrent reads well. That one has landed a couple of Grade IIs and struck at the highest level twice including the Metropolitan Handicap during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
Where World Record may have blundered tactically in the Aristides was taking Skelly on for the lead. They went hard, especially in the opening quarter, and perhaps cut each other’s throats, setting things up for a deep closer in Durante. Different tactics under Flavien Prat saw World Record show in the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last time.
Although he couldn’t reach the California-based front pair, he did need to switch out for a clear run and saw his race out better. This bunch of sprinters are all pretty familiar with each other, so we can expect to learn more about the pecking order for the Breeders’ Cup later in the fall.
Phoenix Stakes 2025 Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- Durante – 15-1
- Whatchatalkinabout – 6-1
- Skelly – 3-1
- World Record – 8-5 fav
- Nakatomi – 5-2
- Here Mi Song – 10-1
Our Handicapper’s Verdict
Despite training at Keeneland and specializing in sprinters, Wesley Ward has never won this race. Nakatomi is the obvious one for Belmont Stakes betting sites to favor after placing here 12 months ago. Like fellow older horses Skelly and Here Mi Song, however, he could be vulnerable to younger legs.
Durante needs to prove his 33-1 Aristides win wasn’t a fluke, meanwhile, so it could be worth siding with the two four-year-olds instead. Whatchatalkinabout hasn’t run in Kentucky before despite his barn being local to Keeneland. His Aqueduct form looks strong. Morning Line odds favor World Record, who also has claims down in grade.
WATCH: Nakatomi & Here Mi Song Run in 2024 Phoenix Stakes
