Post Position 2

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photo by Horsephotos/NTRA

Career Earnings: $484,320

• Connections won the 2005 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo, who finished seventh in the Belmont Stakes that year.

• Homebred Tiago (by Pleasant Tap) is a half-brother to Giacomo (by Holy Bull).  They are out of the dam Set Them Free.

• Won the Santa Anita Derby in his first start under jockey Mike Smith.

• Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, wife of trainer John Shirreffs and racing manager to the Mosses, gave Mike Smith the silks he wore aboard Giacomo in the Kentucky Derby, hoping it would bring them good luck in the Santa Anita Derby.

• Giacomo was named for the son of musician Sting, while Tiago is named for the son of musician Sergio Mendes.  Mendes performed at a party in California when his wife approached Ann Moss and told her that Tiago means “James” in Portuguese and Giacomo means “James” in Italian.  Moss promised to name Giacomo’s younger brother Tiago if the name was available.

• After working Giacomo one morning, Smith suggested to Shirreffs that the colt did not need blinkers and the equipment was removed for the Santa Anita Derby win.

• Sire Pleasant Tap won the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Suburban Handicaps here at Belmont and was third in the 1990 Kentucky Derby.

• Set Them Free won several minor stakes and finished her career 5-for-12 with earnings of $173,275.

• Grandsire Pleasant Colony was 4-5 to win the Triple Crown but finished third in the 1981 Belmont Stakes.

• Great-grandsire Stage Door Johnny won the 1968 Belmont Stakes.

TRAINER - John Shirreffs

Shirreffs was born June 1, 1945 in Leavenworth, Kansas, and grew up in New Hampshire, where his family ran a small breeding operation.

Later, he worked as an assistant to trainers Brian Mayberry and Bill Spawr before he took out his trainer's license in 1978; winning his first stakes two years later. He trained privately for Marshall Naify’s 505 Farm from 1994-2000.

Afterwards, he opened a public stable in Southern California. He recently took over the training of A.P. Warrior just prior to his win in the San Felipe.

Top horses he has trained include Manistique, Radu Cool, Borodislew, Bertrando, Starrer, and Swept Overboard. He’s had three starters in the Kentucky Derby, Giacomo, who scored a 50-1 upset to take the “Run for the Roses” in 2005; A.P. Warrior, who was 18 th last year and Tiago, who ran seventh last month.

Giacomo came to Belmont Park in 2005, but finished seventh, well behind victorious Afleet Alex in the Belmont Stakes.

JOCKEY - Mike Smith

Inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2003.

Won the 2005 Kentucky Derby aboard Giacomo

Won Eclipse Award as champion jockey in 1993 and 1994.

Ranked first in the nation in purse money earned in 1993 with $14,024,815.

Became only the fourth jockey to win five races in a single day at Saratoga on July 31, 1996.

Won 20 Grade 1 races in 1994. Regular rider for 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri and 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull.

Swept the filly Triple Crown in 1993 aboard Sky Beauty.

Won the 1993 Preakness aboard Prarie Bayou.

New York’s leading jockey for three consecutive years: 1991 (330 wins); 1992 (297) and 1993 (313).

OWNERS - Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss

Jerry Moss co-founded A&M records, which was at the time the largest independent record company when he sold it to Polygram in 1990. A&M recorded such acts as The Police, Burt Bacharach and Joe Cocker.

Moss now is the chairman of Rondor Music, which he co-owns with Herb Albert. Jerry’s wife, Ann, is active in environmental pursuits and is the founder of the Dolphin Connection.

The Mosses have been involved in racing for about 35 years, winning their first stake in 1983 with Fighting Fit. They won the Kentucky Oaks with Sardula in 1994, and won the Kentucky Derby with their first and only starter, Giacomo in 2005.Breeder