Royal Ascot ends with international bang; Chip Honcho bags Ohio Derby

June 22 (UPI) -- England's Royal Ascot saved its best for last, serving up a four-horse, four-nation photo finish in the final Group 1 event of the week, while back in the States, Chip Honcho got a long-awaited breakthrough in the Ohio Derby.

The first three days of Ascot's Royal meeting produced plenty of thrills, with Bow Echo edging Gstaad in the St James's Palace on Tuesday, Ombudsman's tour de force in Wednesday's Prince of Wales's and Scandinavia just seeing off a brave Trawlerman Thursday in the Gold Cup.

The hits kept on coming Friday, as Venetian Sun was all out to pip 50-1 longshot Spicy Marg in the Commonwealth Cup and Precise dominated the Coronation Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Saturday's Group 1 finale, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, topped them all in a desperate, four-horse finish that involved Australia, Japan, France and England.

The photo found 25-1 Almeraq, who vanned over from Newmarket, a nose in front of Japan's Satono Reve, who traveled some 6,000 for the 6-furlong race. Another short head back was star Australian mare Joliestar, who came more than 10,000 miles for her chance. Stolen Kiss, who crossed the Channel from France, was another head back in fourth.

Joliestar's trainer, Chris Waller, put the obvious disappointment into perspective.

"We have seen some great finishes. Unfortunately, that was one of them and we just missed out. But it was just an honor to be here. ... We did not win today, but she has certainly got her admirers, and that is what international racing is all about."

The Irish team of Coolmore partners, Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore, won the meeting's owner, trainer and jockey championships handily.

With the top hats and tails back in mothballs for another year, we move on.

The 3-year-olds

Chip Honcho announced himself as a player in the Derby division with a victory in the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds last Dec. 20. And throughout the Triple Crown series, he was, indeed, a player.

He was not, however, a winner in any of his first four starts of 2026 -- a string that included a fifth-place finish in the Grade II Louisiana Derby and a third in the Preakness Stakes.

He turned that narrative around nicely in Saturday's $500,000 Grade III Ohio Derby at Thistledown, winning by 1 length over an even harder-luck story, Ocelli.

Chip Honcho, a Connect colt trained by Steve Asmussen, settled on the rail, just behind the leading trio. Jockey Jose Ortiz moved him out four-wide into the stretch as Ocelli took the front. A sustained drive saw him home first. Trendsetter came with a big late run to finish third, and the favorite, Desert Gate, settled for fourth.

Ocelli, also by Connect, remains winless after nine starts, but has finished third in the Grade II Wood Memorial, third in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness. A tale of woe, maybe.

On the other hand, the $12,000 yearling purchase has banked more than $800,000. As former Daily Racing Form reporter Marty McGee is fond of saying, "It's an easy game."

Elsewhere on a relatively slow Father's Day weekend:

Churchill Downs

Eclatant, the odds-on favorite, was along just in time to win Saturday's $300,000 Grade II Chicago Stakes for fillies and mares by 1/2 length over Foie Gras. Evanescence started last of eight, but rallied to finish third, another 2 1/4 lengths back.

Eclatant, a 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.62. Irad Ortiz Jr. rode for trainer Brad Cox. She now has six wins, including the Grade I Madison at the Keeneland spring meeting, from nine starts.

Gulfstream Park

Winplaceandshow got the lead early in the stretch run in Saturday's $100,000 Azalea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and then spent the rest of the 7-furlongs race holding off the challenge of Permian Basin, winning by a head.

Winplaceandshow, a daughter of Win Win Win, finished in 1:24.41. Edwin Gonzales applied the winning ride for trainer Joe Orseno.

Thistledown

Nerazurri, the odds-on favorite, pressed the pace in Saturday's $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes for fillies and mares, took the lead easily before reaching the quarter pole and drew off to win by 4 3/4 lengths under Flavien Prat.

Take Charge Omaha and Low Country Magic completed the all-chalk trifecta.

Nerazurri, a 4-year-old Protonico filly trained by Mark Casse, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.60.

Laurel Park

Witty stalked the pace in Saturday's $100,000 Ben's Cat Stakes, rallied outside pacesetting Had to Have Him and won by 1/2 length. Whenigettoheaven was a head back in third.

Witty, a 7-year-old Great Notion gelding, ran 6 furlongs on firm turf in 1:08.77. Jeiron Barbosa rode for trainer Elizabeth Merryman.

Mopo, another by Great Notion, won the companion $100,000 Jameela Stakes for fillies and mares by 1/2 length over Gift of Gab with a late effort. The 4-year-old filly finished the same 6 furlongs on the lawn in 1:08.40 with Forest Boyce up for trainer Gary Capuano.

Los Alamitos

Shea Brennan led early in Saturday's $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for California-breds, turned back a bid by Coach Cronin and kept running to a 3 1/4-length victory. Speedy Wilson got by Coach Cronin late to take second.

Shea Brennan, a 4-year-old colt by Tough Sunday, ran 1 mile in 1:35.67 for jockey Armando Ayuso, trainer Phil D'Amato and owner/breeder Nick Alexander.

Monmouth Park

Dry Powder led early in Sunday's $100,000 Lady's Secret Stakes for fillies and mares, was headed by two rivals along the way and battled back to win by 3/4 length, holding off late runner Lika Rolling Stone at the end.

The 4-year-old Gun Runner filly scampered 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.21 with Paco Lopez riding for trainer Chad Summers.

Governor Sam pressed the pace in Sunday's $100,000 Get Serious Stakes, took over early in the stretch run and went on to score by 1 1/4 lengths from Souper Quest. With Paco Lopez up for trainer George Weaver, the 4-year-old Improbable gelding, ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 55.18 seconds.

Aqueduct

Nessuna Pagina battled with Illmatic through the full 6 furlongs of Saturday's $150,000 Spectacular Bid Division of the New York Stallion Stakes, surrendered the lead briefly and came back to win by a nose. Spirit of New York put in a late rally, but finished third, another nose back.

Nessuna Pagina, an Honest Mischief gelding, ran 6 furlongs on firm turf in 1:08.58 for jockey Kendrick Carmouche. The race was for 3-year-old New York-breds.

Woodbine

Duckduckduck got the lead in the final furlong of Sunday's $100,000 (Canadian) Lake Huron Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and got away to a 1 3/4-length victory over Wine After Whiskey. The Silent Name gelding ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 56.98 seconds, with Pietro Moran riding for trainer Evette Chartrand-Hoek.

In the companion Georgian Bay Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies, Souper Sporty chased down pacesetting Souper Diva in the late going to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The Souper Speedy filly stopped the timer at 56.86 seconds. Fraser Aebly had the mount for trainer Michael De Paulo.

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 9:10 AM.