No 2-year-old has yet emerged to capture the fancy of racetrackers looking for the next “big horse.”
Maybe that will change in today’s 135th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont.
In a field of 10 going a mile, the one expected to seize the moment is Nobiz Like Shobiz, who looked like the second coming of Hindoo in winning his first and only start, Sept. 9 at the Big B.
The biggest threats to Nobiz Like Shobiz are a pair of more experienced colts: Scat Daddy and Got the Last Laugh.
Scat Daddy, trained by Todd Pletcher, was the 2-year-old du jour after breaking his maiden first out at Belmont in June by 51/4 lengths, then coming with a breathtaking late run to win the Grade 2 Sanford at Saratoga. But he fell out of favor, finishing second to stablemate Circular Quay in the Hopeful.
Got the Last Laugh is unbeaten in two starts for Bill Mott, breaking his maiden at the Spa by two lengths, then dead-heating for the win in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity.
Also today at Belmont, a field of 10 2-year-old fillies contests the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette, a mile prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Meadow Breeze will be out to prove her photo-finish score at 34-1 in the Matron was no fluke, but this race is wide open.


