Written by Alexis De La Garza
Tiago was born on March 8th, 2004,
at Mill Ridge Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He is sired by award
winning stallion, Pleasant Tap, and is out of 4-time graded stakes
winner, Set Them Free. He, being the half-brother to Giacomo, had
quite a legacy to hold up.
The dashing bay colt made his first start in a Maiden Special Weight
at Santa Anita Park on December 26th, 2006, placing third. On January
23rd, 2007, Tiago brought in his first win in another maiden, but
only after the winner was disqualified for interference down the
stretch. He was then run in a grade two stakes, but only managed
a seventh. But his losing streak was soon to change.
On April 7th, Tiago raced to our
nation’s stage after winning the prestigious Santa Anita Derby
at odds 29-1. This was Mike Smith’s, Giacomo’s jockey,
first trip on the colt, and they seemed quite a team. Tiago was
then raced in the Kentucky Derby, the race his brother had won at
incredible odds just two years before. He placed seventh behind
Street Sense, Hard Spun and Curlin. The dark bay colt skipped the
Preakness, but returned for the last leg of the crown, the Belmont
Stakes. Tiago showed a decent third behind winner Rags to Riches
and placer Curlin.
Tiago came back from the crown
with a bang, winning the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park on July
14th. The gorgeous colt stalked the leaders throughout the race,
closing with a kick to win. The colt would have made his first start
with horses older than he, but trainer John Shirreffs scratched
him last minute due to concerns of the polytrack surface.
On September 29th, he finally
made that big start. He raced against older horses for the first
time in the Goodwood Breeder’s Cup Handicap. He won by a nose
over Awesome Gem, and earned himself a spot in the Breeder’s
Cup.
When it came Cup time, Tiago was
entered in the Breeder’s Cup Classic; the same raced Giacomo
had placed fourth in just a year before. As seen from his past performances,
Tiago was normally very lively before a race, but he was seen with
his head drooping before the Breeder’s Cup, and placed an
uncompetitive fifth over a muddy track.
Tiago has only raced twice, so
far, in 2008. He placed third and second, and Shirreffs stated the
he was proud of the colt’s effort in his races. I, personally,
expect Tiago to make a nice comeback pretty soon.
Owner: Jerome and Anne Moss
Breeder: Jerome and Anne Moss
Race Record: 11: 4-1-4
Earnings: $1,234,750
Sire: Pleasant Tap
Dam: Set Them Free
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