Tiago takes inside route to pull off Swaps win

He may not have a Kentucky Derby to his credit like Giacomo, but Tiago may already be a better horse than his older brother.

After his rail-skimming win as the even-money favorite in the $368,250 Swaps Breeders’ Cup Stakes on Saturday at Hollywood Park, Tiago already has as many wins -- three -- as Giacomo, whose moment of glory was his 50-1 upset at Churchill Downs in 2005, did in 16 career races.

In only his sixth start, Tiago, a son of Pleasant Tap who has more tactical speed than Giacomo, became the fourth horse to win both the Swaps and the Santa Anita Derby, joining Came Home, Free House and Temperate Sil.

Ridden by Mike Smith, who was Giacomo’s regular rider, Tiago was never too far off the pace Saturday, found room along the inside and drew clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles in the Grade II was 1:48.76.

Third behind Rags To Riches and Curlin in the Belmont Stakes after finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby, Tiago could be making another trip to the opposite coast. With Del Mar’s 3-year-old program geared strictly to turf, Tiago could be headed to Saratoga for the $1-million Travers on Aug. 25.

“Normally, I would have chosen [to go wide], but a horse like this absolutely loves the fence,” Smith said. “He’ll run through anything, so I wasn’t worried. All he needed was a little room to get his head through and he just goes. He’s really getting good.”

Tiago’s third win in his last four starts in California was a nice birthday present for Ann Moss, who owns and bred the colt with her husband Jerry. The co-founder of A& M records with Herb Alpert, Jerry Moss turned 70 the day after Giacomo won the Derby.

“He is such a nice horse,” Moss said. “I thought he ran really well today and it’s possible we could go back to New York.”

Albertus Maximus, the 5-2 second choice, finished second, a head in front of Souvenir Slew, the longest shot in the field at 23-1, then came pacesetter Desert Code, Awesome Gambler and Augment.

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Moon Catcher, a 9-1 shot ridden by Carlos Marquez Jr., won the $505,600 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park. The victory in the Grade II was the fifth in eight starts for the 3-year-old Malibu Moon filly, who is co-owned and trained by Tim Ritchey. Winning Point finished a head behind in second and 6-5 favorite Cotton Blossom was third.

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Art Master, the 3-1 second choice, won for the first time in more than two years, rallying in the final quarter of a mile to win the $112,600 Poker Handicap at Belmont Park.

Garrett Gomez rode the 6-year-old Academy horse for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bobby Frankel. It was the first win for Art Master since he won a Group III at Longchamp in France on May 22, 2005. He ran the mile in the Grade III in 1:33.21.

Frankel and Juddmonte also won a stakes in New Jersey as 3-10 favorite First Defence went wire to wire in the $150,000 Long Branch Breeders’ Cup under Javier Castellano.

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Pavarotti, a $2.5-million yearling purchase, won for the third time in six starts, edging Time Squared to win the $100,000 Round Table at Arlington Park. Rene Douglas rode the 3-year-old A.P. Indy colt and 5-1 shot for owners Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor and trainer Todd Pletcher. Dominican, the 7-10 favorite, finished third.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com