Derby Updates

A spectacular Saturday of racing at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla. will include the 3-year-old debut of a horse that is on virtually everyone’s short list of contenders to win the 133rd running of the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) on Saturday, May 5 at Churchill Downs.

            Elizabeth Valando’s homebred Nobiz Like Shobiz, winner of Aqueduct’s Remsen in his most recent start in late November, has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in a field of eight for the $150,000 added Holy Bull (GIII), a 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby prep scheduled as part of the day of major stakes competition headed by the $500,000 Donn Handicap (GI).   The latter is scheduled to feature the 2007 debut of reigning “Horse of the Year” Invasor.

            Nobiz Like Shobiz will start from the outside post in his season debut for trainer Barclay Tagg, who saddled Funny Cide to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby.  The Holy Bull will provide the son of Albert the Great with an opportunity to avenge the only loss of his career as he gets a rematch with Michael Tabor and James Scatuorchio’s Scat Daddy, who edged Nobiz Like Shobiz last fall in the Champagne (GI) at Belmont Park.   The son of Johannesburg finished fourth in the $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Churchill Downs in his most recent start.

            Also in the eight-horse field for the Holy Bull is Starlight Stable’s Sam P., an impressive allowance winner over the well-regarded Chelokee in his most recent start in a Churchill Downs allowance race in November.

            Regular jockey Cornelio Velazquez will be in the saddle aboard Nobiz Like Shobiz, while John Velazquez will be aboard Scat Daddy.

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