Nobiz Like Shobiz Settling in at Old Friends

Grade I winner Nobiz Like Shobiz arrived Oct. 11 at Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky. 

"I think (the visitors) are going to adore him because he's tall, dark, and handsome," Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said about the 12-year-old son of Albert The Great  —Nightstorm, by Storm Cat. "He looks like he should be in show business."

Blowen said getting "Nobiz" to Old Friends from Pope McLean's Crestwood Farm in Kentucky, where he stood in 2015 for $5,000, began when he spoke with the stallion's owner Elizabeth Valando in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., last year. Valando bred and raced the grandson of Go For Gin.

"Pope McClean took such good care of him, and he's been retired (at Crestwood) for a little while so it's not like he came right from the breeding shed," Blowen said. "I talked to Mrs. Valando and she had heard good things about (Old Friends)."

Once new horses arrive at Old Friends, Blowen and the team start a three week quarantine period to help the horses get adjusted to the facility before they are included in guest tours.

Although "Nobiz" is still acclimating to his new surroundings, Blowen thinks the dark bay stallion will become a fan favorite.

"He's intelligent, he's very alert," Blowen said. "I think he's going to be really wonderful with the tourists. He reminds me of War Emblem, but he's not as bossy.

"I can understand why people liked him as a stallion because he's very impressive."

In 13 starts the Barclay Tagg-trained Nobiz Like Shobiz earned more than $1.5 million, with seven wins. After breaking his maiden by 10 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park in 2006, he finished his juvenile season with a second in the Champagne (gr. I) and a win in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II). In his 3-year-old season he took the Holy Bull (gr. III) and Wood Memorial (gr. I), but finished off the board in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). After a runner-up finish to Any Given Saturday in the Dwyer (gr. II), he switched to turf and found success with victories in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (gr. IIT), the Kent Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT), and the Jamaica Handicap (gr. IIT). He was fourth in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).

The grade I winner entered stud in 2009 at Darby Dan Farm, where he stood for $7,500. In 2010 his fee was $2,500, which increased to $5,000 in 2011. He then moved to Crestwood in 2012 with a $5,000 fee.

Nobiz Like Shobiz sired 130 starters and 84 winners out of a total of 201 foals. He sired seven black-type winners including Shogood, who took the 2015 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) and the 2016 WEBN Stakes. He had 10 foals in 2015, and was bred to six mares this year.