Derby Notes - Feb 23

- Six furlongs in 1:11 1/5 for the current Derby trail frontrunner Nobiz Like Shobiz at Gulfstream this morning.

"I told Cornelio (Velasquez) to go in :12s the whole way and he came pretty close," trainer Barclay Tagg said. "I got him the first three-eighths in :35 and change and caught him galloping out seven furlongs in 1:24 and a tick, so everything worked out well." [Bloodhorse]

Trainer Michael Gorham is looking to test Nobiz with Adore the Gold in the Fountain of Youth on March 3. “He's doing everything right, and I want to try the two turns. Seven-and-a-half is really an extended sprint, and the two-turn race might be easier on my horse right now." [The Downey Profile]

- Exhale is officially off the Derby trail; he'll have knee surgery and be sidelined until late summer or fall. Owners Lee and Susan Searing suffered similar disappointment with Cindago last year.

And Belgravia bled significantly after his last workout, and was found to be suffering from a lung infection.

[Patrick] Biancone said that "it's too early to say" whether the setback will prevent Belgravia from starting in other Triple Crown preps in March. "He'll need a little time," Biancone said, downplaying the incident. [Daily Racing Form]