British filly Blue Bolt’s bid for a seventh consecutive victory ended in disappointment at Keeneland as she failed to make an impact in the Grade One Makers Mark Filly & Turf on Saturday. Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Colin Keane, the four-year-old was sent off as the favorite over nine and a half furlongs but faded in the closing stages, finishing well behind the leaders.

The race was won by Kathrynmarissa, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, who delivered a strong late surge to overtake Gimme A Nother near the finish. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Precise also underperformed, failing to challenge the frontrunners. The best European contender was Jancis, trained by Willie McCreery and ridden by Billy Lee, who secured third place.

Earlier in the day, trainer Wesley Ward celebrated a notable victory as Bacio captured the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. The winner, known for his quick starts and front-running style, surged ahead from the break and maintained a clear lead to the finish under jockey Juan Hernandez. Bacio held off challenges from Cy Fair, who finished second, and Starlust, the 2024 winner, who closed strongly to take third.

Ward described Bacio as “the fastest horse in the world” and acknowledged the significance of winning at his home track. The trainer credited the entire team behind the campaign, highlighting the role of his daughter-in-law, Caitlyn Dunne, in the stable’s operations. Looking ahead, Ward revealed plans to target the Black Caviar Lightning in Australia this February, aiming to extend Bacio’s success on the international stage.

In a separate event, jockey Hollie Doyle marked a successful return from injury by winning the opener at Southwell aboard Oxford Circus. The meeting was later abandoned due to fog, curtailing further racing for the day.