Nobiz Like Shobiz 'perfect' in final Derby drill

ELMONT, N.Y. - Nobiz Like Shobiz, the Wood Memorial winner, completed preparations for Saturday's Kentucky Derby by working five furlongs in 59.98 seconds Sunday morning over a fast Belmont Park main track.

Working after the renovation break with jockey Cornelio Velasquez aboard, Nobiz Like Shobiz jogged back to the mile pole accompanied by a pony. He quickly turned around and broke into a gallop at the 7 1/2-furlong pole and maintained a controlled gallop before getting into his work at the five-furlong pole. With Velasquez maintaining a solid hold of the reins, Nobiz Like Shobiz, equipped in blinkers, went in fractions of 12.28 seconds, 24.57, 36.03 and 47.86. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.58. The final time was the second-fastest of 28 works at the distance.

Trainer Barclay Tagg called it "a perfect work" and Velasquez was very content with the move as well.

"If you ask a little bit he's going to go too fast," Velasquez said. "I wanted the last work to be easy. He's in good condition now. He's focused, he's [running] straighter, he's better now. I think he has a very good chance in the Kentucky Derby."

Added Tagg: "Everything went well."

After a walk day on Monday, Nobiz Like Shobiz was scheduled to train Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at Belmont before shipping to Churchill by plane on Wednesday afternoon.