Tiago, well known as the half brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo, failed to duplicate his sibling's performance in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), finishing seventh, but rebounded with a creditable third to Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Returned to trainer John Shirreffs Southern California base after the Belmont, the Pleasant Tap colt regained his winning form with a powerful move to annex the Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2) on July 14 at Hollywood Park by 2 1/2-lengths.
Shirreffs gave Tiago a 2 1/2-month freshening and the colt responded in grand style with a gutsy win over an equally determined Awesome Gem in the Goodwood Handicap (G1) on September 29 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
The Goodwood victory assured Tiago a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park as part of the new Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series.
"You ain't seen him get good yet," enthused regular rider Mike Smith, who also piloted Giacomo, after the Goodwood victory. "Wait 'till he gets good! He had to win 'dirty' today. We had to push our way out going to the three-eighths pole. He just had to make his own room, because I didn't want Awesome Gem to get the jump on us. It slowed him down, but I just felt that we had to move at that time. Wow, he ran great."
Shirreffs indicated there was no doubt that with the guaranteed spot they would take Tiago to the Classic.
"He's got a lot of heart," Shirreffs said. "He's a Thoroughbred and he'll give it everything he's got, and he did."
Tiago arrived at Monmouth Park on the evening of October 21 and had an easy jog on October 21.
"He's gotten bigger and stronger and he's more focused now, more into his races," Shirreff's said. "It's a terrific field for the Classic and we're glad to be part of it. It's a real treat for me to be here and stabled with Carl [Nafzger]. I have the greatest respect for him. The old bull rider and the ex-Marine--we make a fine pair."
October 19 - Seven furlongs handily in 1:25.00 at Hollywood Park, all-weather track fast. Best of two workouts at the distance.
October 12 - Seven furlongs handily in 1:25.60 at Hollywood Park, all-weather track fast. Only workout at the distance.
Co-owner Jerry Moss, after Tiago won the 1 1/8-mile Goodwood Handicap (G1):
"We try hard to breed horses with stamina. We like the long races, we dream about being in races like this and having a great animal that can run like this. We just got lucky enough to have a good mare and a trainer who knew what to do."