Shobiz Has Date in Hollywood Derby

(from Hollywood Park notes)
Nobiz Like Shobiz, one of the leading 3-year-olds in the nation, is expected to run in the $500,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) on Nov. 25, trainer Barclay Tagg confirmed Nov. 9 from his training base at Belmont Park in New York.

“I’m planning on coming,” said Tagg. “He worked on the turf at Belmont yesterday and will work here once more before shipping.” The colt is due to be flown to Southern California on Nov. 20 with assistant Robin Smullen.

Nobiz Like Shobiz, a Kentucky-born son of Albert the Great, has won seven of 12 starts and earned $1,544,730 for owner-breeder Elizabeth Valando.

The colt won the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct in April before a 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Tagg transferred him to turf in August and Nobiz Like Shobiz reeled off three straight graded stakes wins at Saratoga, Delaware Park and Belmont before finishing fourth in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT), beaten by Kip Deville by 2 1/4 lengths on a soft Monmouth Park course Oct. 27.

Javier Castellano, who rode the colt to victories in the Kent Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware and the Jamaica Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont, has the call. He finished third in the 2003 race aboard Kicken Kris.

Tagg won the Hollywood Derby last year with prohibitive favorite Showing Up in stakes-record time of 1:59.35 for 1 1/4 miles. Tagg seeks to become the first trainer to win the race in consecutive years since it was moved to the Autumn Meet and grass in 1981. The only trainer to win back-to-back runnings in its 65-year history is Bill Molter in 1948 and 1949 with Solidarity and Pedigree, respectively.

The trainer said Showing Up has returned to training after being sidelined for the summer.

Tagg said he will also send Dance Away Capote on the same flight for the $500,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) the same day. The 5-year-old mare was also transferred to grass this summer for her last four starts and has responded with two victories, including the Noble Damsel Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Belmont in September. Regular rider Alan Garcia has the call in the test for fillies and mares at one mile on grass.