'Nobiz' wins second on turf

Nobiz Like Shobiz earned his second straight victory since switching to the turf, holding off a late charge from Twilight Meteor by a nose to win the Grade 3, $501,200 Kent Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Delaware Park.

Trainer Barclay Tagg made the surface switch when Nobiz Like Shobiz, the Wood Memorial winner, started running down - burning his heels - on the main track.

The colt has shown his heels to the competition in two starts on grass. Nobiz Like Shobiz made a smooth transition to turf with a half-length victory in the Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 6.

The margin was tighter in the Kent as Nobiz ($4.20) prevailed as the even-money favorite in a strong field that included many of the East Coast's leading 3-year-old turf runners.

Wheels Up at Noon set the pace with Strike a Deal stalking the leader. Javier Castellano, aboard the colt for the first time, let Nobiz Like Shobiz settle in fourth with clear running room on the outside.

Rounding the final turn, Nobiz Like Shobiz advanced on the leaders and took charge in the lane.

Twilight Meteor, with Chris DeCarlo riding for trainer Todd Pletcher, made a desperate late run. He was eighth as the field passed the opening quarter. He launched a bid on the final turn and almost pulled off the upset at 13-1. It was one of the best efforts for Twilight Meteor, the runner-up in the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine last time out.

Strike a Deal held on for third, his third straight in-the-money finish in a graded stakes.

The time was 1:49.60 for the 1 1/8 miles on the firm course.

Earlier on the card, the $100,900 Go For Wand Stakes for 3-year-old fillies produced another tight finish as Lemon Drop Mom ($6.40) edged Coy Coyote by a head at the end of 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Lemon Drop Mom and jockey Jose Caraballo stalked the pace along the inside through the opening six furlongs before angling out to pass the pace-setting Greenstreet.

Lemon Drop Mom, trained by Tim Ritchie, looked poised for a decisive score until Coy Coyote made a big run to her inside to force a photo finish.

Lemon Drop Mon earned her first stakes victory and fourth overall in 10 starts.

The time was 1:44.13 on the fast track.