The United States struck for the first time at Royal Ascot this year when Crimson Advocate narrowly held on to win the June 21 Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes ahead of Relief Rally in a thrilling finish.

Royal Ascot coverage courtesy of Racing Post

Well in front at the furlong pole under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, Crimson Advocate, a 2-year-old daughter of Nyquist, looked set for a comfortable win but was ultimately all out to deny the fast-finishing runner-up in the 26-horse field.

It was a landmark first Royal Ascot win for trainer George Weaver and a fourth career win at the meet for Velazquez, who had also won the five-furlong Queen Mary aboard the Wesley Ward-trained Jealous Again in 2009.

"It was close, but I'm glad she held on," Velazquez told ITV Racing. "It's a long way for us and the hill here gets a bit tiring for them, but she held on well. She was really, really fast last time and I didn't want to take that away from her — I just let her do it.

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"It's special to win here and that's why I keep trying to come back and win races here every year."

An emotional Weaver's Royal Ascot breakthrough was made extra special given that his wife, Cindy, was able to share the moment with him. She suffered a severe brain injury at Saratoga Race Course last July when pinned underneath a horse that had collapsed and died while exercising.

"We came here eight years ago with a horse that wasn't good enough and I wanted to come back with one that was,” Weaver said. "I'm so excited for everyone and my wife made the trip, so it's a very happy day. It feels terrific she's here, it's very gratifying."

It was a plan perfectly executed with Crimson Advocate, who landed the inaugural running of the May 13 Royal Palm Fillies Juvenile Stakes, a new trial for the Queen Mary, at Gulfstream Park in her previous start. A start earlier, she been a debut third at Keeneland April 26.

The Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, as well as a similar race for males at Gulfstream Park, were qualifying races for Royal Ascot that provided each winner with an automatic berth into one of six stakes during the June 20-24 Royal Ascot meeting, as well as a $25,000 equine travel stipend for shipping from the United States to England.

"This began quite a few months ago as the goal was to have quick horses early on, and a couple of them were," he added. "We've won with a few of them, including her at Gulfstream, and it was obvious to come here."

Runner-up Relief Rally was defeated by a nose, with favorite Beautiful Diamond staying on to finish two lengths back in third.

Crimson Advocate races for owners R. A. Hill Stable, Swinbank Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, RAP Racing, Chris Mara, Black Ridge Stables, and Amy Dunne. She paid $22.70 to win in a pari-mutuel wagering pool offered to American bettors.—Matt Rennie/Racing Post