Contenders

Barclay Tagg

Tagg, a former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Frank Whiteley, graduated from Penn State University in 1961 with a degree in animal sciences and first got involved with horses while managing a farm in Pennsylvania in 1963. He started riding jumpers in 1966 and began his training career in earnest in 1971, winning his first race at Liberty Bell in 1972. His public stable's competes all over the East Coast from its base of operations is Woodbine, MD. Besides training 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, his best horses include Showing Up, a multiple Grade One winner on the turf and sixth in the 2006 Derby, Miss Josh, Grab The Green, Social Retiree, Royal Mountain Inn, Tampico and Abigailthewife.

Cornelio Velasquez

A native of Panama, Velasquez first established himself as an apprentice by leading his country in 1985. He then won the leading rider title in Panama as a journeyman in 1994 and again in '95. After a 14-year career in his native country, he came to the Uinted States and launched successful campaigns in California and New York before basing himself at Calder Race Course in South Florida. In 2002, he swept the leading riding honors at Calder, winning both the regular season and Tropical titles, in addition to being leading rider at Churchill Downs for the 2003 Spring Meet. He won the 2003 Breeders' Cup Sprint (GI) aboard Cajun Beat and 2005 Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) on Pleasant Home. He has won over 2,000 races in his career, riding three times in the Kentucky Derby, Scrimshaw (11th in 2003); Closing Argument (2nd, 2005) and Showing Up (6th, 2006).

Elizabeth Valando

Elizabeth Valando is the widow of Tommy Vallando, owner of 1990 2-year-old Champion Fly So Free. Prior to his passing in 1995, Mr. Vallando owned a New York City music publishing company that produced the scores to many successful Broadway shows. In addition to Fly So Free's 5th place finish in the 1991 Derby, Elizabeth also had the filly Take the Cake, 5th in the 2002 Kentucky Oaks. She named her homebred colt in honor of her husband's career.

Elizabeth Valando (KY)

Elizabeth Valando is the widow of Tommy Vallando, owner of 1990 2-year-old Champion Fly So Free. Prior to his passing in 1995, Mr. Vallando owned a New York City music publishing company that produced the scores to many successful Broadway shows. In addition to Fly So Free's 5th place finish in the 1991 Derby, Elizabeth also had the filly Take the Cake, 5th in the 2002 Kentucky Oaks. She named her homebred colt in honor of her husband's career.

Nobiz Like Shobiz is the first stakes winner for his sire Albert the Great. With the subject colt his top earner, Albert the Great finished 2006 ranked 13th on the second crop sire list. He currently stands at Three Chimneys Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Overall, he has two crops, with two Puerto Rican stakes winners, Albert the Gold (GII) and Prensa Hipica (GI), in addition to Nobiz Like Shobiz. By 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin, Albert the Great did not compete in the American Classic, but won over $3 million in just two seasons of racing. Among his 22 starts came victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI), Suburban Handicap (GII), Brooklyn Handicap (GII), Dwyer (GII) and Widener Handicap (GIII). In the latter race, he set a new track record at Hialeah of 1:45 2/5 for 1-1/8 miles. Overall, he won or placed in 17 of 21 career starts, including hold the distinction of defeat all three winners (Fusaichi Pegasus, Red Bullet, Commendable) of the 2000 Triple Crown events. In addition to a good deal of stamina, he ran the fastest 1 1/4 miles (1:59.24) by a 3-year-old in the history of New York racing.

Nobiz Like Shobiz is out of Nightstorm, also bred and raced by Valando. Nightstorm raced just six times, winning once. She has produced three runners, including Nobiz Like Shobiz, with him being her lone stakes horse to date. She is a daughter of leading sire Storm Cat, which makes Nobiz Like Shobiz inbred 5x4 to Northern Dancer. He also has the same cross to his fourth dam Swoon's Tune, a half-sister to Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess, she also produced 1973 Kentucky Oaks winner Bag of Tunes and the multiple graded stakes winning filly Swingtime. Dosage Index: 1.44 -by Mark Hoard

NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ is the co-third choice (with Circular Quay) at 8-1. Barclay Tagg’s horse has been one of the most scrutinized 3-year-olds throughout the Derby trail, probably because of his obvious talent and show-stopping looks. That could be one of the reasons that Tagg waited until Wednesday to ship to Churchill Downs, making his colt the last contender to get to Louisville. He did the same thing with Funny Cide four years ago, and we all know how that turned out. However, Funny Cide seemed to be progressing through the spring preps, while Nobiz has appeared to run the same race each time, at least by the numbers. Drawing post 12 was ideal for his stalking style, particular with a few speedier types just to his inside, which should help clear the way for him to get to a good spot before the first turn. The big question here is whether or not he can take that next step up which will have to happen if he’s gonna be draped in Roses Saturday afternoon. As wide-open as some think this race is, he will probably go off at higher odds than his morning line. This is a very tough call either way, but he should be included in your exotics.