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The first horse I would like to introduce you to is the colt named “Nobiz Like Shobiz.” As with all derby hopefuls this is a three year old. He is the son of “Albert the Great,” the winner of more than 2.5 million and who retired to stud in 2001. Albert is the son of the 1994 Kentucky Derby winner, “Go For Gin”. His dam is “Nightstorm” and his damsire is “Storm Cat.”
Owned by Elizabeth Valando, this horse trained by Barclay Tagg and has been ridden by Cornelio Velasquez. According to Tagg, Nobiz like Shobiz is “the most magnificent horse I’ve ever seen.”
On February 3rd 2007, Nobiz Like Shobiz took first at Gulfstream Park’s Holy Bull Grade 3 stakes. He is highly regarded as the best 2 year old who did not run at last years Breeders’ Cup.
At the Holy Bull, the horse quickly got the lead early and shook loose of Scat Daddy, the winner in his only loss last year at Belmont. From there, he ran an easy victory beating “Drums of Thunder” by one-and-a-half lengths.
What is so special about this horse? First off is his breeding; having a Derby winner in your background, while no guarantee, does not hurt. Second, to break your maiden at your first asking is nice, to do it in a mile, that’s just something all together different, to win by 10¾ lengths is just insane!
Yes, he did loose to Scat Daddy at the Champaign Stake, but it was a hard fought race against those who had more experience and he still lost by only ¾ length. While he sat out of the Breeders Cup Juvenile, he did run in the Remsen Stakes; a Grade 2, and won by 6½ lengths.
Also, if he can win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, he stands a shot at the Triple Crown. He likes to run long distances and will probably shine in the long distance Belmont Stakes.
The other thing to like is the trainer. Barkclay Tagg, the trainer most famous for Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide.
