Kentucky-bred Bacio made short work of an international field in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Sent off as the race favorite, Bacio gave his trainer Wesley Ward a 13th winner at the Royal Ascot meeting, and his first since Campanelle (IRE) won the 2021 Commonwealth Cup. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Bacio defeated 26 rivals in the race, winning decisively by 3 ¾ lengths.
“I have ridden him the last three times,” Hernandez shared with Royal Ascot publicity. “He worked really well at Churchill Downs a couple of months ago. He looked strong coming back from a lay-off and showed today that he is a really good horse.”
Owned by MyRacehorse, Shockey, Hanna, and Messenger, Bacio is a chestnut son of Maclean’s Music out of the Kantharos mare Katie’s Kiss. He was bred in Kentucky by Torie Gladwell, Cincinnati Equine, Borrowdale LLC, and Knollwood Farm, et al. Bacio is now an earner of $246,161 and has a record of 5-4-1-0. He broke his maiden on debut at Monmouth Park last August and has won both of his 2026 outings.