He is very handsome and can take as long as he needs to be ready.

My goodness how he has grown.  What a great job the Matz team is doing with him.  As a fan I wish for him many blessings.  When he races it will be well worth the wait and if he never races, I'll love him just the same.  May God walk beside you everyday Nicky.

Scary how he looks like his older brother.  Good scary of course.

No surprise he is immature.  He is by Dynaformer after all.  It's fortunate he has owners and trainers who understand some horses are just not ready even if the calendar says they should be.  He is certainly putting on muscle.  His hindquarters are beautiful. Is it an optical illusion or are his hooves really that big?

Steve Berkowitz is an awesome guy!  Talented photographer as well as an awesome vet!

Soooo handsome! Take your time and I hope to hear about you and your workmates soon! Thanks for the update

For all you good church goers out there, here's another cool piece of Nicanor trivia.  As it turns out, Nicanor was the name of one of the 7 original Deacons of the New Testament.  See Acts Chapter 6.

Matt

Bloodhorse has run some articles on sires and their offspring. I recall that when they profiled Dynaformer, they mentioned his offspring take longer to mature, but are well worth the wait!

Please thank Peter for us. Nicanor looks great.

I know that La Ville Rouge's other two sons, Holy Ground is retired to stud and Man in Havana is a gelding, but I would like to have their pictures also, to complete her family portrait. Anyone know where or what website I can get some pictures? And Nicky and Lentenor, such beautiful kids!

He is beautiful.  Take your time. We will be here waiting to hear any news at all of this precious young man.

Yes take your time with him!  Babies need time to grow, and it would be absolutely heartbreaking if there was another Barbaro incident.  In fact it would be nice if he didn't even race til he is three, like Curlin.  And he does so look like his brother.

There is a picture of Man In Havana on his pedigree web site;  www.pedigreequery.com/man+in+havana

He is the horse closest to the camera.

I saw a picture of Man in Havana by

Googeling John and Jill Stephens.

Horse school Ocala.com Star Banner.

his hoofs are HUGE!!!!!!!  He looks awesome.  I'm so glad everyone is taking their time with him and not pushing him into something he is not ready for.

XXOO

finalturngallery.com/.../maninhavana.jpg.html This is Man In Havana sleeping.

WOW, TAKE THAT WHITE SLASH OFF HIS NOSE AND HE LOOKS JUST LIKE BARBARO. JUST AS BIG TOO. HE HAS DEVELOPED INTO A VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER THOROUGHBRED. THE CONNECTIONS SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR NOT PUSHING THIS HORSE ALONG JUST BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS. THE JACKSONS ARE AMONG THE FINEST OWNERS IN THE SPORT. I SAW WHERE LEAL BOUGHT TWO NICE HORSES AT THE KEENELAND SALE MONDAY & TUESDAY,  A DYNAFORMER COLT(500000) OUT OF AMELIA BY DIXIELAND BAND AND A PULPIT FILLY(800000) OUT OF OWSLEY, BY HARLAN. YOU JUST CANT HELP WANTING GOOD THINGS FOR THE HORSES THAT BELONG TO THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE.

Big hooves, eh?  Turf maybe?  We would love to see him in Virginia at Colonial Downs next summer.

Amanda,  Many thanks to you and Peter.  You both are so generous with yout time and we love you for it.  Hope next week is a vacation and that it is a wonderful one.

Ah Nicanor.  How loved you are....

He looks exactly as a teenager should! I LOVE to see them mature slowly and at a natural rate. We showed dogs for almost 25 years, and the early maturing winners were invariably the ones you never saw after they reached maturity. The ones that looked like fuzzy giraffes were the ones you would see 3, 4 or 5 years later -- striding out with lovely movement. So everyone be patient; Nicanor will get there, with all flags flying I'd bet!

Cheers!

Good photo of the rider.  How about a good one of the horse?

Handsome boy! Looks like a "turf foot" to me....

Nicanor is BEAUTIFUL !

I hope he is having fun! How true it is the amount of pressure on him.  We're here whenever and whenever Nicanor is.

Can you imagine what LENTENOR looks like?!?!?  Can't wait to see him too.  Hope all is going well with the beautiful La Ville Rouge.

Looking foward to more  . . .

he looks great! just like barbaro, hopefully he follows along in his footsteps and wins the triple crown for barbaro<33 i love sseing matz and brette taking it slow with him, it gives my confidence he will defff. be ready to run. take it slow, everyone is willing to wait, put the horse fist, thats what matter, not how bad someone wants to see him start! good luck nicanor!!!!:)

Wonderful picture.  Nicanor, take your time.

Whew - thanks for the fix aduckworth. Just what I needed today. Nicanor looks hugh. Is he 17 hands now? Sure looks great. I recently read that Showing Up never raced at all till he was 3 years old and look how great he was. Only race he ever lost was to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby. Proves Mr and Mrs Jackson have a history of being very patient with their horses and will only do whats best for them. Don't worry out there, our boy is in good hands. By the way, I would appreciate some word on the names of the new Lael Pulpit filly and  Dynaformer colt in order to add them to my stable. Now how am I going to get through next week without this blog.    

Does anyone else suspect that something is not right here? Nicanor should be ready to start his 2 year old campaign soon.  Please tell us what's going on.  Does he want to race or have other things on his mind?

Thanks to all those of you who help me find pictures of Holy Ground and Man in Havana. And to those special people at Fair Hill and ADuckWorth. Thats what makes this blog fee like family!

WOW...Nicanor has gotten so big and even more beautiful.  I agree that he really does look like his big brother.

Take your time young man, there are plenty of races to be won and they will be waiting for you if you so desire.

How blessed we are to have this blog to be informed on Nicanor.  He looks so handsome.  

He is beautiful, and my prayers are with him.  I was thinking recently that Barbaro only finished one race as a "real" three year-old, and that was the Derby.  I know the business of horse racing decrees all horses are a year older on  January 1 but the later babies have a lot of growing to do.  Wasn't Nicanor a March foal?  Anyhow, I am glad they are giving him all the time he needs, just like Curlin got.    

I love seeing photos of Nicanor,

and don't want him to be rushed

one minute earlier than he is ready. He is a handsome horse, but

I am one who does not believe he

looks just like Barbaro.  I think

he is more muscular. Lentanor, on the other hand, to my eyes, looks very much the picture of Barbaro. His markings are even closer to Barbaro's. Nontheless, they are both very beautiful and I wish them both long and happy lives.

Sometimes it benefits to be immature you enjoy life more because its not taken so seriously.I say Nicanor enjoy your life and always have fun!

Phil,

I an interview with the Philly papers Michael Matz said Nicanor got "body sore" this summer so they let him jog in the woods.  In teh same interview Michael said Nicanor had talent and would be worth waiting for.  Now, I don't know exactly what that means, but it is newsworthy to know he has ability.

Take all the time he needs...and more. He's built for the long run...

Lentenor is changing a lot too.  Hadn't checked Millridge site in a while but did today, he is sure changing.  Thanks to bloodhorse for this blog.

Imagine how many top-notched horses there would be if they were allowed to grow into their power. I can only imagine growth spurts as mine were only an half inch at a time; if that, but I heard tell from family members that their aches and pains were great with a mere 1 inch of growth. One can only imagine the aches and pains of a horse the size of Nicanor went through this summer. I often wonder why Dynaformer is so difficult. Was he made to train, when he was a little achy? No matter, but it is nice to know that when Nicanor is Dynaformer's age, he will, perhaps, be a little easier to manage.

I echo Chill's remarks.  If you read my comments from a couple of "blogs" back...The fate of Nicanor is in God's hands.  It it beyond my thinking that the likeness of Barbaro & the name of "Nicanor" is in in the Bible is a point to someone's imagination that is WAY too far from reality.  Please understand that there is too much negativity in todays sport that what I am trying to say gets lost. Too much emphasis gets put on the next "Secretariat" or the next "Seattle Slew" (both of which I would have LOVED to have seen race.  I'm dating myself and that I've only seen videos)  

What I'm trying to say is..."I" want to see a horse that had that class like Barbaro did (and finish want his big brother couldn't finish).  Find it what everybody is thinking...but maybe I'm searching for something that is real and say "yes" I was a part of that (in my own way).  

MJ" Music to our ears.  We know he is beautiful and has presence (the photos of him on July 12th took our breath away.)  But to have it confirmed that he has talent and will be worth the wait is beyond wonderful.  Any info on the Jacksons' feelings about him?  Nicanor has never raced but already he is such a star!

Great picture! Thanks, AD.

Once he grows into those feet, he is going to be a very big guy! It is soo wonderful to watch him come along. Once again, kudos to MM and the Jacksons. Would that all owners and trainers were like them.

I wish to thank everyone on this blog for helping me through this summer and refocusing my attention on what has mattered to me in the past. Everything this season has gunned me to go back to vet school and shoot for equine research. Thanks, Barbaro, you've done it again!

Sheila,

Bravo to you and here's wishing you great success in school and in the future.  We need dedicated veterinarians to care for our beloved animals.

Found the Philadelphia Inquirer article online and the Jacksons have mixed feelings about Nicanor. They feel that they will be very emotional when he does begin racing.  That is  understandable.  So will we and we are not his owners.  So, take your time Michael and Peter and do please make sure he is ready to go. We'll wait for him.

Sheila

Good luck with vet school. Barbaro has certainly touched you. We need caring vets.

BTW Nicanor is one handsome dude. He's getting so big.

Thanks so much for the updates.  And the picture is wonderful!  We all love him so much.  It's been fun seeing him go from a wobbling little foal to the big fellow he is now.  Best wishes, Nicanor!

My favorite video of Nicanor is the one wherer Michael Matz brought him out on the track for the FOBs to see on July 12.  I can no longer find that video on You Tube but remember  catching my breath because he was so beautiful and had such presence and dignity as he came down the track with Peter aboard.  He is magnificent and we love him so very much.

How does one know that a horse is body sore and what is the cause?

Phil just wait, Barbaro didn't start racing till October the fourth, so, like his brother Nic is just maturing a bit later. Don't be in such a hurry.

Look at the breadth of Nicanor's chest -- and he's just a 2-year old!!  Looks like he's got a set of lungs on him -- the better to run long and hard with -- and perhaps a great, big heart -- like his brother did -- as well!!

Godspeed, Nicanor!

Aw! He HAS gotten bigger! Seems that growth spurt not too long ago really did him good!!

What a sweet face! He looks like he's having a blast out there on the track!

I met Prado this summer up at Saratoga, (what a great guy!!) and asked him if he's going to ride Nicanor. Of course, he didn't gve me an exact answer, but I really hope he will. I Think we all do.

I've been sharing this site with everyone, so KEEP IT UP!! =]

Dona--

Thanks for mentioning Showing Up in your post.

You are correct-- he did not race as a 2 YO. Trainer Barclay Tagg found him for the Jacksons at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic sale at Timonium, MD May 2005 and purchased him for all of $60K. He won his first three starts as a 3YO before finishing a game 6th after a difficult trip in the 2006 KY Derby. This would be the only time Showing Up ever finished out the money in his all-too-brief 10 start career, winning seven times, including his first start after the Derby, winning the Colonial Turf Cup (VA) in impressive style, running down a nice field including Kip Deville, Kip Deville at one point leading the field by a good 20 lengths. Ironically, his only start as a 4 YO would be a second place finish to Kip Deville in the G 2 Marker's Mark @ Keeneland, ending up with career earnings just under $1.7 million. I was so looking forward to the Showing Up - Kip Deville "rubber match".

Sadly, never made it to the Breeders Cup turf, a torn tendon preventing that. Now a sound horse who will be standing in Florida at Adena Springs South for the bargain price of $7,500. Conformation-wise not the most impressive looking horse walking down the trailer ramp or the shedrow in the morning, but what a competitor-- always fired and indeed, always "showed up", that being 80% of success, according to Woody Allen (and yes, it was from this famous Woody Allen quip Showing Up got his name).

Jacksons remain the only owners in KY Derby history to have two undefeated horses in the same Derby field. Showing Up's own remarkable story lost to many in the Barbaro story, but not with me (nor, I am sure, the Jacksons, who retain a controlling share in Showing Up): wear my blue Lael Stable Showing Up hat with great reverence for a horse with heart, grit and character.

Not sure what kind of largely regional book he might attract in Florida, but I look forward  to his first crop with great anticipation. I suspect like another favorite of mind, Exchange Rate, who started his breeding career in Florida before moving up to KY and Three Chimneys, Showing Up will eventually find his way to a stronger book in KY before his career in the breeding shed over.

Exceptionally talented horse on both dirt and turf, can only hope he stamps his foals with his heart. Would dearly love to get one of his future retired racers as an eventer. Many thanks to all his connections, including breeder Nellie Fox and Rose Retreat Farm, for sharing with us the truly wonderful Showing Up. Success to you in the breeding shed, My Friend.

Showing Up definately rock solid.  If I remember correctly, the 2006 derby was a photo for 4th, 5th & 6th, but I thought Showing Up had a somewhat easy trip; just off the pace most of the way in great position, before Barbaro made a mockery of the field @ top of the stretch?

He still hasn't grown into those big hooves yet.

It's just as well not to race Nic

as a 2yr old. As his feet and legs are not fully developed as of yet. Thanks to the Jacksons & Matz for being wise.

Give him 2 races and he will break is maiden.

If I had a crystal ball to gaze into, I would see a very talented Nicanor still having a grand and wonderful time at Fair Hill. From what has been written about Nicanor, he is an extremely good-natured, talented and athletic horse. Nicanor is also gorgeous. And if anybody is counting, Nicanor's growth spurt occurred this summer and it is almost October. The current August image shows him being trained.

I personally believe that Nicanor will be raced before the end of the year, but Michael and Peter will make sure that Nicanor has the capability of winning that race before Nicanor is entered. I am in the firm belief that Nicanor will make his own name and own place in history.

I don't know about you, but I will be happy when Amanda has her next entry in this blog. I check back often and I have been dismayed to say the least. Let us hope for another image of Nicanor, or another update...oh me...oh my!!!

Virtual Stable says Ice Road has been entered at Philadelphia Park this Saturday.  I'd guess, weather permitting.

That Peter and Michael are being so careful with Nicanor, one cannot help but infer that they see something very special in him and are bringing him along carefully.

He is sure one good looking boy!I am glad they are letting him mature in his own time. I am sure the Jackson's are thrilled with him. I just hope he runs and enjoys life for a very, very long time!!!

He is a beauty!!! I look forward to seeing him race and fullfilling Barbaro's legacy!

One word -   WOW !!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to see how he progresses. Hard to wait but I know it'll be worth it !

What would be fun is to hear what the grooms and people behind the scenes in the barn have to say aboout Nicanor -- his personality and behavior and how he relates to the people and other horses.  And how those same people feel about him.

Good Morning, Sweet Nicanor, Peter, Michae, Edoardo,  Grae, and everyone at Fair Hill.  We're still out here waiting for any tidbits of information about our beautiful boy!

The Fair Hill Training Center website under Jim Coarse has some WONDERFUL photos of Nicanor taken this summer!

This long silence is concerning.  What is going on?

Does he soap used during baths irritate a horse's eyes?  It was clearly in Nicanor's eyes and in a later photo his eye looked irritated.

(not Maaarigold).  The last picture in the panel at Fair Hill training Center website under Peter Coarse, is a particularly beautiful one of Nicanor and shows how muscular he has become.  Lord, he's gorgeous.

Nicanor has worked recently. Go to the Mill Ridge website and click on "news" to see the story. I'm happy to see that he's doing well. I guess he's maturing slowly as all of his family does so they are taking their time training him. He is 16.2-16.3 hands.