HORSE RACING : Nobiz Like Shobiz performs at Wood

Barclay Tagg will get to play a leading man at the Kentucky Derby, thanks to Nobiz Like Shobiz.

Four years ago, the trainer went all but unnoticed at Churchill Downs until a New York-bred gelding named Funny Cide stole the show and won the Derby.

In four weeks, Tagg will have a more visible role now that Nobiz Like Shobiz has established himself as one of the Derby favorites.

Nobiz Like Shobiz just might have the talent to pull it off. The imposing 3-year-old colt took the lead in the stretch and won the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in New York on Saturday, beating late-closing Sightseeing by a half-length. Any Given Saturday, one of trainer Todd Pletcher’s several Derby hopefuls, was third.

Tagg equipped Nobiz Like Shobiz with blinders for the first time and put cotton in the colt’s ears to keep him focused and running straight. Nobiz, breaking from the rail, challenged for the lead early under Cornelio Velasquez, with Summer Doldrums running just ahead. Around the turn for home, Nobiz Like Shobiz briefly dueled with Any Given Saturday, then shook free and held off Sightseeing.

Nobiz Like Shobiz, a strapping son of Albert the Great, won for the fourth time in six starts, earning $450,000 and boosting his earnings to $804,900 for owner Elizabeth Valando. The horse is named for Valando’s late husband, Tommy Valando. He was in the music publishing business and had a hand in Broadway hits.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite in the field of six, Nobiz Like Shobiz covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.46.

Santa Anita Derby

Jerry and Ann Moss will head off to Kentucky with another relatively unknown colt with a music industry-inspired name.

The horse-owning couple believes there’s a difference this time. They think Tiago may be better than half-brother Giacomo, their colt who won the 2005 Kentucky Derby as a 50-1 long shot.

“He had great acceleration in the stretch, like Giacomo, although this horse has a better turn of foot,” Jerry Moss said after Tiago turned on the speed late to win the Santa Anita Derby at Arcadia, Calif.

Moss, a co-founder of A&M Records, named Tiago after the son of Sergio Mendes, and Giacomo after a son of Sting.

Mike Smith guided Tiago through an opening in the middle of the track and the colt blew past King of the Roxy to win by a half-length. Sam P. finished another 2 3/4 lengths back in third. Tiago ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.51 on a gloomy, overcast afternoon.

Illinois Derby

Cowtown Cat pulled away to edge Reporting For Duty and Bold Start in the Illinois Derby, while favorite Cobalt Blue finished seventh in the nine-horse field in the Kentucky Derby prep at Cicero, Ill.

Fernando Jara rode the Todd Pletcher-trained Cowtown Cat in the $500,000 Grade II stakes a week after riding Invasor to victory in the Dubai World Cup. The Panamanian teenager put Cowtown Cat out front at the first turn en route to a 2 1/2-length victory.

Oaklawn, Ashland

Lawyer Ron, last year’s Arkansas Derby winner, cruised to victory in the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap in Hot Springs, Ark., and Ermine made an outside charge to win the $500,000 Apple Blossom in Oaklawn Park’s $1 million day for older horses.

Lawyer Ron – carrying 120 pounds, four more than any other in the seven-horse field — covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 49 seconds for a four-length victory.

“Christmas Kid tuned up for a likely appearance in the Kentucky Oaks by edging out favorite Octave in the Grade I Ashland Stakes at Lexington, Ky.