Kentucky-bred Bacio defeated 17 rivals in the Nunthorpe S. (G1) at York Racecourse on Aug. 21, earning a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).
An impressive winner in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot in his previous start, Bacio was sent off as the race favorite in the Nunthorpe Stakes. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Bacio proved uncatchable, storming to a 1 ¼-length score. Leading from the start, Bacio covered five furlongs on turf in :59.42.
Hernandez said in Racing Post, “That was special and all the credit goes to my horse. He’s given me everything, he was training really well.”
With the win, Bacio earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
“We’re counting on coming back to his home track at Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup and then on to Australia for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes,” winning trainer Wesley Ward said. “The Breeders’ Cup is our next target, but Australia is the one I’m really looking forward to. Actually trying to facilitate that plan to get to the Southern Hemisphere is unusual ground for me.”
Bacio is owned by MyRacehorse/Shockley/Hanna/Messenger and was bred by Torie Gladwell, Cincinnati Equine, Borrowdale LLC, and Knollwood Farms, et al. He is by Maclean’s Music out of the stakes-winning Kantharos mare Katie’s Kiss. He is now an earner of $709,959 and owns a record of 6-5-1-0.