San Diego

Nearly 15 months had passed since his upset victory in the Kentucky Derby

(G1) and GIACOMO (Holy Bull) had plenty of skeptics entering Saturday's $300,000

San Diego H. (G2), but the gray colt finally returned to the winner's circle,

nailing Preachinatthebar (Silver Charm) in the final strides to win by a head.

In similar hair-raising fashion to his classic score at Churchill Downs, the

John Shirreffs trainee rated patiently far off the pace until kicking it into

gear on the far turn. A chilly Mike Smith took him widest of all into the

stretch to avoid trouble, and Giacomo responded to his rider's left-handed

urging with a gritty display of fortitude.

Unraced since a fifth in the Santa Anita H. (G1) in early March, the

four-year-old was cutting back to a distance, 1 1/16 miles, that was potentially

too short for him, and Saturday's race was just a prep on the way to such major

events as the Pacific Classic (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic

(G1). Giacomo broke well under his regular rider and settled back as Preachinatthebar led the field into the first turn from his rail post. The

pacesetter established splits in :22 4/5, :46 and 1:09 4/5 while under pressure

from Rathor (Ire) (Machiavellian) and Texcess (In Excess [Ire]). Giacomo had

only one rival beaten with three-sixteenths of a mile remaining, but he was

advancing into a menacing position.

Preachinatthebar spurted clear at the top of the stretch, opening a 1

1/2-length advantage while passing the mile mark in 1:35 2/5, and the runner-up

proved game all the way to the wire. Giacomo was simply too strong with his

powerful strides on the far outside, catching his rival in the shadow of the

wire to provide a very encouraging result for his supporters. He finished up in

1:42 over the fast track.

Dismissed as the 9-2 fourth choice in the field of seven, the Moss, Moss and

Stronach colorbearer returned $11.60, $5 and $3.40 for his third career win. Preachinatthebar, the 4-1 third choice, gave back $5.60 and $3.40, and it was 2

1/4 lengths back to Papi Chullo (Comeonmom), who was disqualified for

interfering with Rathor in upper stretch and placed last. Southern Africa (Cape Town) was

elevated to third and the 9-1 shot was worth $4.80. The $1 exotics paid $28.70

(exacta), $226.60 (trifecta) and $695.10 (6-1-5-3 superfecta). Texcess,

Publication (Petionville) and Rathor were next under the wire. Spellbinder (Tale

of the Cat) was withdrawn.

Bred in Kentucky by the Mosses, Giacomo is out of four-time stakes winner Set

Them Free (Stop the Music), who is also the dam of the Grade 2-placed Sea Jewel

(Sea Hero), an unraced juvenile colt named Tiago (Pleasant Tap) and a yearling

colt by Pleasant Tap. This is the female family of French classic winner Baiser

Vole (Foolish Pleasure), co-champion two-year-old in France in 1985.

The August 20 Pacific Classic is next for Giacomo.