Contenders take steps towards Derby glory

By Tom Krish
Apr  13, 2007

Three major races were contested in America last Saturday at three different tracks and they were events for three year-olds attempting to earn starting berths in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Nobiz Like Shobiz, an odds on favorite in the six-horse field, was an easy winner in the 9-furlong Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in New York. Cornelio Velasquez was the winning jockey. Nobiz Like Shobiz showed out early making good use of post position-1, settled third down the backstretch, began his move with four furlongs to go, beat back a strong bid from Any Given Saturday and held the fast-finishing Sightseeing to win with a measure of comfort. The time was 1 49.2.

In the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on March 3. Nobiz Like Shobiz had not been able to keep a straight course in the lane. In the Wood Memorial, he had blinkers on and ear plugs were used. Albert the Great is the sire of Nobiz Like Shobiz. Albert The Great's father is Go For Gin, a Kentucky Derby winner. Nightstorm, Nobiz Like Shobiz's dam, is by Storm Cat. Barclay Tagg, the winning trainer, saddled Funny Cide to win the Derby and the Preakness in 2003. Tagg said, "I knew he had ability. The question was when was he going to show his true ability? He trained very well for this race. He used the inside post to advantage on a lightning fast track. It all worked out well."

Nobiz Like Shobiz earned $450,000 for his victory. He paid $3.40 for a $2 ticket.

Sightseeing made up ground in a hurry late in the stretch to take the runner-up berth. Any Given Saturday, the well-backed second favorite, stumbled leaving, was forced wide, challenged the winner strongly approaching the final turn and fell back to take third.

At Hawthorne in Chicago, Cowtown Cat, a Todd Pletcher trainee, made it all to win the Illinois Derby over nine furlongs. It was a slow pace and the harder his adversaries tried to catch him, the faster Cowtown Cat ran. The writing was on the wall after the first half mile came in 49.4. The final time was 1 51.2. Ferdinand Jara, Invasor's rider in the Dubai World Cup, was the jockey.

Cowtown Cat paid $9.00 and took home $300,000. Jara said," my horse was relaxed. I let him do what he wanted to do in his own way. Nobody challenged me. It was a great ride."

Distorted Humor is the sire of Cowtown Cat. Tom's Cat by Storm Cat, is the dam. Reporting For Duty was second with a strong stretch run. Cobalt Blue, the even money favorite, was a split second late leaving, was wide and retreated when the race took a serious turn. "He was spinning his wheels," lamented Victor Espinosa, Cobalt Blue's rider.

In California at Santa Anita, there was a 'shock result' in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby. Tiago, who had graduated through a disqualification, had the last laugh when rallying from the rear in the hands of Mike Smith. King Of The Roxy, a Todd Pletcher pupil,had the lead midstretch and could not contain Tiago.

The winning time was 1 49.51 for the 9-furlong journey. There were 56.000 fans in attendance. Tiago returned $60.60 on a $2 wager. John Shirreffs, Tiago's trainer, won the 2005 Derby with Giacomo. Shirreffs said, "this was a huge step. It means a lot. He has earned the right to be in the Derby."

Tiago is a Pleasant Tap colt. Pleasant Colony is Pleasant Tap's father. Set Them Free, a Stop The Music mare, is Tiago's mother.

At Keeneland in Kentucky, Christmas Kid, Rene Douglas up, beat back the challenge from the odds on Octave to win the $500,000 Ashland Stakes. This race is a major stepping stone for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

On April 14, Keeneland hosts the Blue Grass Stakes. Street Sense, the runaway winner in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year, will be in the Blue Grass field.