Derby News

Much like his brother Giacomo did two years ago in the Kentucky Derby, Tiago came from seemingly nowhere to win Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI).  Tiago was a half-length in front of a hard-trying King of the Roxy, with steady but stubborn Sam P. 2 ¾ lengths back in third.

Since Tiago’s only victory in three previous starts came by a disqualification, he had yet to cross the wire in first in a race.  That didn’t deter his connections from trying an ambitious spot in a less than stellar renewal of Santa Anita’s key Kentucky Derby prep.  Earlier Saturday morning, Mike Smith noted on the radio that Tiago had been training beautifully all week, and he expected a big race.

That’s just what he got.  "He ran a picture-perfect race," Smith said of Tiago. "He finished today like Giacomo did in the Kentucky Derby.

 To do so, he had to come from near last in the ten-horse field.  He had just one horse beat after a half-mile in a solid :46.80 pace set by Black Seventeen and Sam P., with Liquidity close behind.  King of the Roxy was getting a good trip a few lengths off those three.  On the far turn, Tiago was still in seventh but moving past tiring horses.  Into the stretch, it was King of the Roxy and Liquidity together on top, with Sam P.  seemingly giving his rider fits as he tried to keep on a straight course.  Tiago was gaining steadily, but didn’t make the front until the last 50 yards or so, with King of the Roxy giving way stubbornly, and Sam P. also trying but unable to keep pace late.

Rounding out the finish were Liquidity, Bwana Bull, Medici Code, Court the King, Black Seventeen, Boutrous and Level Red. 

Tiago is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, trained by John Shirreffs and ridden by Mike Smith, the same connections as Giacomo.  The win earned Tiago $450,000, easily enough to run in the Derby. 

Tiago paid $60.60, $23.80 and $10. King of the Roxy, ridden by Richard Migliore, returned $6.40 and $3.20, and the show payoff on Sam P., ridden by Ramon Dominguez, was $3.20.

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