Giacomo wins at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. – Giacomo won for the first time since last year’s Kentucky Derby on Saturday, beating Preachinatthebar by a head in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

Ridden by Mike Smith, the 4-year-old colt covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42:15 and paid $11.60, $5 and $3.40. Preachinatthebar returned $5.60 and $3.40, while Southern Africa, third in the field of seven, paid $4.80 to show.

Giacomo has raced only four times since the 2005 Kentucky Derby, most recently finishing fifth in the Santa Anita Handicap. The $180,000 winning purse boosted Giacomo’s career earnings to $2.2 million.

Trainer John Shirreffs said Giacomo’s next race could be the $1 million Pacific Classic.

Also Saturday, Dancing Edie prevailed in a close four-horse finish to win the Grade I $400,000 John C. Mabee Handicap.