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Tiago holds off Heatseeker in a thriller at Oaklawn Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss' homebred TIAGO (Pleasant Tap) took the lead a few strides into the lane in Saturday's $500,000 Oaklawn H. (G2) under Mike Smith and got the best of a stretch-long duel with an ultra-game Heatseeker (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) to win in a photo. The win capped a huge day for the Moss' in Hot Springs, Arkansas, when two races earlier they captured the Apple Blossom H. (G1) with the unbeaten Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]). In this event, Tiago took back early but steadily moved into contention along the backside while saving ground. He moved outside at the top of the straight and held off Heatseeker in a courageous performance for conditioner John Shirreffs. The 3-1 third choice completed the nine-furlong test over the fast main oval in 1:50 1/5 and rewarded backers with mutuels of $8.80, $3.80 and $2.80. Heatseeker came four wide into the stretch and quickly eyeballed Tiago, but came out on the short end of the bob on the wire while 6 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest foe. The 2-1 favorite, who was making his dirt debut on this day, paid $3.40 and $2.40 and finished off the $30.40 exacta. Reporting for Duty (Deputy Commander) was last for the opening three-quarters but put in his customary late burst to grab third as the 25-1 longshot. Show was worth $3.80 and the trifecta gave back $298.40. Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch), the 5-2 second option, never got involved from off the pace and capped the $1,013.60 superfecta (2-4-6-5) in fourth. Buzzards Bay (Marco Bay), Fairbanks (Giant's Causeway) and Silver Lord (Unbridled's Song) rounded out the group. Tiago notched his fourth graded win in this one, following triumphs in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Goodwood S. (G1) and Swaps S. (G2), all as a sophomore in 2007. The bay colt began this campaign with a close third in the San Fernando S. (G2), followed that with a runner-up showing in the Strub S. (G2) and, most recently, was a troubled fourth in the Santa Anita H. (G1). He boasts $1,684,270 in earnings from a 13-5-1-3 career line. The winner was third in last year's Belmont S. (G1) behind eventual champions Curlin (Smart Strike) and Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy). Bred in Kentucky and produced from the multiple stakes-winning mare Set Them Free (Stop the Music), Tiago is a half-brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby (G1) star Giacomo (Holy Bull) as well as an unnamed two-year-old colt by Giant's Causeway and a yearling colt named Paro (Pulpit). This is the female family of French classic winner Baiser Vole (Foolish Pleasure), co-champion two-year-old in France in 1985.
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