He went offstride literally two seconds before the wire---how was he supposed to lose ground in that amount of time? If it was in France, however, he would have been completely DQ'd.
I agree he had no time to lose ground.
However he did violate rule #C
§ 18.10 Horse Breaking from Gait.—When a horse breaks from its programmed
gait, the driver shall at once, where clearance exists, take such horse to the inside or outside and pull him to its gait.
The following shall be considered violations:
(a) Failure to properly attempt to pull the horse to its gait.
(b) Failure to take to the inside or outside where clearance exists.
(c) Failure to continuously lose ground while offstride.
(d) Committing an extended break, in which the horse may be placed last