United States-based sprinter Bacio blitzed home well ahead of his 26 rivals in the concluding race June 19 at the Royal Ascot meeting, a handicap referred to as the "Palace of Holyroodhouse."
The drama didn't end at the wire for the winning connections of owners My Racehorse/Shockley/Hanna/Messenger and trainer Wesley Ward, as they sweated out after jockey Juan Hernandez initially weighed in light. Following a stewards' inquiry, the mystery was solved and the winner retained the victory.
"We were taking some pictures in (the winner's enclosure) and, when the horse jumped, the overgirth fell off," Ward said. "So when Juan weighed back in, the overgirth did not go through the scales. Then they found the overgirth here in the winner's circle, put it back on, and we are all good."
Asked what he was thinking when he went into the stewards' room, he said: "I was wondering if Juan could go and have a cheeseburger and then weigh back in! Luckily, all we needed was the overgirth that he carried, so we are all good."
The stretch provided much less drama as stakes-placed Bacio drew off to a 3 3/4-length score for his third straight win sprinting on the turf.
The Kentucky-bred son of Maclean's Music completed Friday's test for 3-year-olds in :58.36 over a straight 5 furlongs on good-to-firm turf. U.S.-based Sandal's Song (40-1) finished second for trainer George Weaver, with Ten Carat Harry faring best of the Europeans (22-1) in third.
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