Derby News

Nobiz Like Shobiz kicked off his road to Churchill Downs with a wire-to-wire, 1 1/2 length win over Drums of Thunder in the Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.  Scat Daddy was third, another 1 1/4 lengths back in the one-mile, $150,000 race for 3-year-olds that serves as the first key Kentucky Derby prep at the south Florida track.

Sent off as the heavy favorite at 3-5, Nobiz Like Showbiz was a bit reluctant to go into the outside gate in the field of eight.  However, once the field was sent on his way, Nobiz Like Shobiz broke very well, basically in tandem with second choice Scat Daddy to his inside.  That pair traveled together for more than a half-mile of the one-turn race, with Scat Daddy being ridden harder by his jockey John Velazquez than Cornelio Velasquez on Nobiz Like Shobiz.  

When Scat Daddy began to fade nearing the stretch, Nobiz Like Shobiz appeared to be home free.  A fresh challenge came in the form of longshot Drums of Thunder and Manuel Cruz, who had been chasing the leaders from the three path.  Nobiz Like Shobiz didn't switch leads until mid-stretch, which apparently caused him to drift in towards the rail.  Once Velasquez got him straightened out, though, he leveled off nicely and cruised under the wire with his foes comfortably behind.  Drums of Thunder was likewise unthreatened by Scat Daddy, who was some eight lengths clear of his stablemate Sam P.  Pop Goes the Tiger, Bold Start, One of the Best, and Dukes Flying Tiger completed the finish.

Owned and bred by Elizabeth Valando, Nobiz Like Shobiz notched his third win in four starts, with his only loss coming to Scat Daddy in the Champagne (GI) last October. 

Trainer Barclay Tagg, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide, liked what he saw.

“It was exactly what I wanted," Tagg said. "I wanted to get a good race in him without undue stress to win the race. We’ll see how he comes out of this race. Maybe the Fountain of Youth (Mar. 3 at Gulfstream) will be next.”

The winner paid $3.40, $3 and $2.10. Drums of Thunder returned $9.40 and $2.40 as a 27-1 outsider.  Scat Daddy paid $2.10 to show.   The $2 exacta was worth $46.40.

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