By Brian Mulligan

The Show Must Go On is a song by Queen that was on the flip side of the hit Bohemian Rhapsody but when Barclay Tagg thinks about his Show, he’s contemplating the pro-term leader of the sophomore division-- Nobiz Like Shobiz.

The colt by the modest sire Albert the Great, out of the Storm Cat dam Nightstorm, ran his record to three for 4 by taking the Grade 3 Holy Bull last weekend in Florida. While posting a career best 98 Beyer he flashed career speed, was on the muscle from the get go and despite acting green and immature down the lane, still was visually impressive.

He is built like the real deal but his blood is on the modest side. Sure his sire Albert the Great could run all day and banked over $3 million on the track but he stands for only $7,500. His dam was consistent in a short career, but her only score came in a sprint and the foal that she dropped that won is only 2 for 26 on the racetrack.

A good horse can come from anywhere and horses outrun their pedigree every single day and the blue bloods of Kentucky have felt the sting in recent years with the likes of Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones but Biz will need to continue to improve to get into that status. One of his best assets is his connections as Tagg called the shots on Derby winner Funny Cide a few seasons back.

As far as the future, Tagg has options. He will do exactly what the horse tells him to do; in other words he’ll let the way the horse unwinds and responds to the taxing win indicate his next move. The logical races are either the Fountain of Youth or the Louisiana Derby.

On the other side of the world Ravel was winning a little battle in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. The way the finishers were all together at the wire is a concern but this guy was coming away at the end and you got the feeling that if they went around again, he’d still prevail. With that said Ravel posted a 102 Beyer and he has the blood. By Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus out of the A.P. Indy mare Let, who herself was a Graded winner and an over $600,000 earner, the colt has quality written all over him.

The best thing about his performance was his ability to relax and it will go a long way in the continuing maturation process. His trainer, Mike McCarthy, who is subbing for the suspended Todd Pletcher, had this to say after the race. McCarthy: “I was actually kind of pleased he was able to sit behind horses...he got a good education today. I got a little worried that he might get a little headstrong … but he tucked in behind horses, sitting very comfortable.

Got to expect this guy to show up in the Santa Anita Derby.

A horse that must be watched is the California Derby 2nd Boutrous. He had a horrible trip at Golden Gate and his rider Kent Desormeaux felt terrible about his poor performance. By double BC Classic winner Tiznow, his winning dam has dropped nothing but winners. This guy has to prove he can ramble with the best of his generation, but he has a nice turn of late foot and figures to get better as the distances increase.

FOR THE LADIES

Attendees at Santa Anita the first Wednesday in February got a look at a future stakes winner in Voulez Vous. She cost almost $800,000, controlled the pace and the outcome like a miss that could be any kind. She is in the right hands and must be followed very closely.