Nobiz, Barclay Tagg Git 'R Done
Sightseeing is Strong 2nd in Wood Memorial; AG Saturday Runs Third
Focus was not a question as Nobiz Like Shobiz fought hard to win the Wood Memorial. Battling Any Given Saturday, then Sightseeing, Nobiz upped the Derby ante.
Sporting cotton ear plugs and a fine set of blinkers in the colors of Triple Crown Champion Secretariat, Nobiz Like Shobiz showed up as business-minded and professional in the April 7 Wood Memorial. Worth $750,000, the Wood's impact on this season's Kentucky Derby movd well up the ladder with Nobiz's win, a git 'r done performance he needed to up the ante on his Derby prospects.
Second place finisher Sightseeing isn't automatically headed for the Kentucky Derby. His trainer, Shug McGaughey, said he'll make that decision later, but for the moment, he was leaning against sending the colt. Sightseeing's rider is Javier Castellano.
Any Given Saturday, plugged into the Wood Memorial in place of Circular Quay at the last minute by Todd Pletcher this week, gave in tiredly to Nobiz Like Shobiz and Sightseeing in the last two furlongs in the 1-1/8 miles at Aqueduct.
Pletcher looks for Best Derby Routes
Like a big league manager juggling his best closers, Pletcher removed AGS from next week's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes to run in the Wood, and pulled Circular Quay out of the Wood to send him next to Kentucky to prep for the Derby. He also changed Cowtown Cat's schedule, shipping him to the Illinois Derby, where the Storm Cat colt won handily.
Pletcher said his moves were designed to try to get every individual's best path to the Derby defined. AGS needed the graded stakes earnings to meet the Derby entry requirement. Splitting the $750,000 into third place winner's share gave AGS total seasonal dollars of $177,969, enough to get the Derby bid. In the meantime, Pletcher gained an additional week to train AGS up to the Derby.
The colt stayed gamely for third, but was obviously tired and struggling in the Wood stretch. He had entered the Wood off a tremendous head to head battle through the lane in the Tampa Bay Derby against top rated Street Sense March 17 at 1-1/16 miles.
Tagg all smiles at Nobiz's Effort
Barclay Tagg trained Nobiz Like Shobiz ran hugely through the Wood stretch, drawing away from Any Given Saturday's tiring effort, and holding off a surprisingly sustained challenge from second place finisher, Sightseeing. A Phipps Stable homebred, Sightseeing pressed Nobiz for more than 1/8 mile, and Nobiz fought back like the consummate professional. He clocked at 1:49.46 against the shortened field of five opponents.
Cornelio Velasquez's ride on Nobiz, while without criticism from Tagg, concerned some observers who thought the jockey didn't get his mount relaxed enough in the middle stages of the race. He fought his horse for control all through the middle because Nobiz wanted to go. However, Nobiz did focus on Velasquez's guiding hand long enough. When the colt was permitted to let the after burners go, he did it like he meant it. Nobiz's next race, the Kentucky Derby, is an eighth of a mile longer.
Tagg said Nobiz's last out third place finish didn't shake his confidence in the horse, but he wondered which one would show up next, the champion-looking runner, or the antic-prevalent playboy. For this moment in history, the 'Biz was all biz, totally focused on the task at hand. The colt raised his earnings to $804,900. He is owned by Elizabeth Valando, who named the colt for her late husband, Tommy Valando, a successful show business publisher.
The only thing Tagg should have to worry about now is how Nobiz comes out of the race. Big efforts sometimes wear out a good runner.
That seemed to be the case for Any Given Saturday. His last out was hard fought. In the Wood, he faded in the stretch, way short of the wire, unable to crank up any more fight under great urging from his rider, John Velazquez.
Time will tell if Nobiz can continue his good behavior. Next on his itinerary is a run for roses. Will Nobiz wear those roses, or bypass another big effort?
