Bacio cemented himself as one of the world’s leading sprinters when proving unstoppable on home soil in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.
Having successfully beaten some of the best speedsters Europe has to offer with blistering displays at both Royal Ascot and when dazzling in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, it was time for the raiders to step into the backyard of Wesley Ward’s pacey son of Maclean’s Music.
Away quickly with Karl Burke’s Prix de l’Abbaye winner Miss Yechance matching strides under young Jack Nicholls, Bacio slipped an extra gear entering the stretch, with Juan Hernandez able to soak up the adulation from the bumper home crowd as Bacio cruised the line in splendid isolation.
Last year’s Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Cy Fair made it a one-two for the US, with Ralph Beckett’s former winner Starlust the best of the Europeans in third.