Horse Circle

Spotlight on The Derby - Nobiz Like Showbiz

Classic Spotlight: Nobiz Like Shobiz
Racing Analysis by Steve Haskin
The scent of roses that had overwhelmed Barclay Tagg in 2003 still emanated around him early last year as he stood near the training track at Ocala Stud, hoping to find the next Funny Cide. One of his owners, Elizabeth Valando, had asked him to go to the farm to look at her 2-year-old colt Nobiz Like Shobiz, a strapping son of Albert the Great who had caught the eye of everyone at the farm.
The colt was brought to the track and broke off into a jog. That was all Tagg needed to see. Although normally ultra-conservative in his praise, especially for young horses, he excitedly called Valando to give her his opinion of her colt.
"I’ve never done this with an owner, but I said to her, ‘This is the most gorgeous horse I’ve ever seen. If he’s not a Triple Crown candidate, they’ve never made one,’ " Tagg recalled.
Tagg’s words proved to be prophetic, at least to this point, as Nobiz Like Shobiz, named in honor of Valando’s late husband, Tommy, whose record company produced the original cast albums for many of Broadway’s top hits, is one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Following a spectacular debut, in which he demonstrated a brilliant turn of foot, winning by 103⁄4 lengths, Nobiz Like Shobiz finished a game second in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) after a poor start and a rough trip. He rebounded with a 61⁄2-length victory in the 11⁄8-mile Remsen Stakes (gr. II) to close out a promising 2-year-old campaign.
In his 3-year-old debut, he captured the one-mile Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), battling on the lead most of the way, and although he raced greenly, drifting in and not changing leads until inside the eighth pole, it still provided a good first step on the road to the Derby.
He should become more professional with a return to his normal stalking running style, and then we’ll have a better idea just how just how strong a Derby contender he really is.