Way to go Nicky.  The .38 for three sounds like this is where Michael wants him to stay for awhile, shoot will take anything and be very happy about it. Slow  but steady and progressing is the key.

go nicanor!! cant wait till u race!!!

I was wondering...is Nicanor going to be a 3 yr old after the first of the year?

This is great news. As a child, not knowing what else to do, would wait to see who won the Kentucky Derby and in my mind that would be the next Triple Crown winner. My first Kentucky Derby race I remember was Proud Clarion in 1967 and of course in my mind he was going to be the next Triple Crown. If that race were held today, I would now choose Damascus.

Let us hope that Nicanor stays safe and does well in his race career. I am rooting for him to win the Triple Crown. But let us all remember that Rockland appears to be going down the Kentucky path as is Rainbow View. In other words, I think Nicanor is going to have some serious competition, maybe even from a half sister if her owners decide to race her there. Methinks 2009 will be a very interesting year in the races.

My christmas list from the blog stable.........

 Photos of Nicanor, (Lentanor), and Barbaro posted together to compare them at similar ages. For example,foal pics, photos of them both working as 2yr olds, and a conformation pic of each.

Merry Chrismats

It is great to hear that Nicanor had another workout now that he is in Florida.  Like how I said before, that website that I mentioned Amanda says that Nicanor's first race might be before the new year hits.  Like it also says his first race might be at Gulfstream Park if everything goes according to plan of what Michael Matz is doing with Nicanor.  I would really not be surprised if Nicanor would be having his first race before that last days of December.  From what I heard about Nicanor is that he actually looks like a really good racehorse, and might make it to the Kentucky Derby path even though he might start racing at his three year old campaign.  Thanks again for the news on Nicanor, Amanda.

This blog is a Christmas wish come true.  You don't know how much it has helped to heal the pain.  Getting to read other's comments, thoughts, and well wishes has really helped me deal w/ the sadness of Barbaro losing his battle to live.  God Bless you all and God Bless Barbaro and his brothers (all the connections too).

No news might be good news  but this is the best kind of news. Lentenor learning his craft and Nicanor getting down to business. How god is this? Sounds like we just might have some racehorses to root for. I for one, am really curious to watch them run. Questions like do they both have the same type of leg action like Barbaro and what type of running talent, be willing to rate or gosh, my head is swimming with things only time will tell us. What a wonderful time of year. Thanks aduckworth for the postings. Love it.    

I went online and looked up Palm Meadows. Great place for horses and people. Sounds like its better than some resorts out there. Certainly no worries for any horse at that facility. Everyone should check it out. Nicanor is one lucky dude.

Thanks for the update on Nicanor.  It's wonderful to know that his training is progressing so well and I'm looking forward to seeing him run, at whatever point in time that he is ready.  We can have confidence that he will be raced when he is trained up to the right fitness and has learned his lessons, and then we can only hope he possesses the talent we are expecting to see.  In my silly heart, I just *know* he'es going to be great, but even if he is only mediocre, that's still allright - I think we will all love him any way - lol!

Well, I'll Love him anyway, no matter wht he dos or doesn't do.  That goes for Lentenor as well.  But, given their pedigree and their brother Barbaro, I believe it is in their DNA to be good race horses.  I would prefer they run when they are absolutely primed and ready and not one minute sooner!  Also, Rockland is shaping up to be a pretty good racehorse, himself.  With his diposition, he almost seems like a relative of Nicky and Len's.  But since he is a chestnut, I guess not.  Beautiful boy though.

Amanda, I do remember that post you did on Nicanor having a workout before leaving to Florida.  I actually remember the website that I read that had the information it is www.community.drf.com/.../weekend-questio.html  You have to scroll down a little in order to find it.  This website is from the daily racing news.  There is also someone saying that Nicanor is 100 to 1 in the possibility of winning the 2009 Kentucky Derby.  That is just really want I wanted to clear up.

Amanda, thanks once again for the update an your usual good work.  We all appreciate the information and are alway anxious for more about Nicanor and Lentenor.  Now that the younger brother is in training, the level of excitement is doubled.  Next year should be a good year for racing with all the new 3 year olds on the tracks.  A talented class!  

Just bumped into the blog...what a bunch of odd balls write in it do any of you know anything about horses or racing....dah start your engines

Nicanor seems like he is a late bloomer, but so was that red frieght train known as Curlin. Maybe Nic wont win the Triple Crown, but grace us with some awsome racing as a 3 and 4 year old.  

Oh brother, Here we go again! Someone comes along and finds a space to vent their opinion, without even bothering to find out what its all about. I liken it to little kids writing on the bathroom wall. If anything is  obvious about this blog, it's that the audience runs from casual interest to owners, trainers and avid pedigree researchers, but that the equalizing interest is in the family of Barbaro.  dah  

38 seconds flat!!! That's what I'm talkin' bout. Nicky Nocks is gonna rock some socks. Turf monsta, big-headed brontosaurus.

Hope all is well with Nicanor. Just remember that very few follow their brothers and sisters. I wish him well.

sounds like nicanor's doing great. hope he stays healthy so he can make it to the races.

Kathy, Rainbow View isn't a half-sister.  Only horses with the same dam are half-siblings.  Dynaformer's sired hundreds of foals whereas La Ville Rouge has produced a handful.

That said I get what you mean, a nice Dynaformer's gift for sure.  I know the Jacksons really want a full-sister to Barbaro which is why they keep sending his dam back to Dynaformer.

I've heard lots of buzz on Lentenor in a way that makes me think he's gonna be a little sharper when he gets ready to go but that as before Nicanor had his growth spurt so who knows now. I'm not sure they knew Barbaro was Barbaro til after he got going a little bit so no worries, Nicanor's doing just fine.  I say if he's like a fine wine then great.  Might mean he's around longer for us to enjoy than your typical hotshot horse retiring at age 3.

I love how they have him going as slow as my great grandma Flora. Slow and steady wins the race!!

Amanda or to anyone who can answer this question that I was thinking about before.  My question would be is that why does it seem that there really isn't a lot of media coverage on Nicanor?  Does Michael just does not want people to know how Nicanor is doing because I really have not heard or seen any media stories about him lately.  Is Michael just trying to keep his training a secret on how he really is training Nicanor for his first race?  Again if anyone can answer my question it will take such curiosity out of me.

I really wouldn't get hopes up about these horses?  Why?  Well, there are thousands of well bred horses from the same generation and thousands of them have either already raced or have a long series of 4 and 5 furlong works behind them.  Maybe Nicanor will be a racehorse, maybe not.  But anyone who thinks Matz has serious aspirations regarding the Triple Crown or that the horse has any chance to be ready for those races is dreaming.  

Great to hear about Nicanor.  I hope he is adjusting to his new surroundings in Florida.  I hope he is a truf horse.  I different route from Barbaro's would be good for him.

I think Barbaro was an excellent horse of mind and spirit 2006!!!!

But I want NICANOR and LENTANOR. The next for 2009 and 2010 to represent the predigee,mind and heart. Like Big Brown did for 2008 . Love Pal

look at pedigrees and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at Three chimneys farm. Look Love Pal

Thank you for the update on Nicanor!

Barbaro was originally a turf horse who was trained to run on dirt, and even won in slop.My how I miss and love that guy..........

I just hope Nicanor makes it to the track and is a good race horse.  He will be what he will be and I will follow him no matter what.

Thanks Kate for the heads up on the half sister. Even though I read up on pedigree information, I don't always remember the right terminology.

And Early, perhaps a dream or two isn't so bad if you think about it. Michael Matz has been extremely quiet about Nicanor since July. And when he does speak, it is very brief and doesn't elaborate. I could be wrong and it wouldn't be the first time, but I believe M.M. is training a winner. And how many races did Big Brown race before the Triple Crown? There will be naysayers and they have the right to their opinion as do I.

I believe the record shows that they knew Barbaro was "Barbaro" before he won the Derby. Mrs Jackson described him as looking like a race horse. Long, lean, yet muscular. In Robert Clarks's web site he talks about the book he is putting togather along with Anne Peters, called "A Brush WITH GREATNESS", and how in November 2005, they had compiled a list of horses to be included and Anne said take a look at a 2yr old Dynaformer colt named Barbaro. He said she knew of Barbaro because of her involment with Three Chimneys Stable and her knowledge of Dynaformer. Clark also stated  Peters constantly amazed him with her "early detection" of rising stars.

I was wondering if he will shipped back up here to fair hill. I would love to be there to see him run at Delaware Park this spring if he does not stay south to pick up possible derby points, there's only 5 months left and since he did not run as a 2 year old I think the chances are slim he will run at Delaware in the spring.

Dona, I remember that Barbaro was on the radar by the end of 2005 and Nicanor is not in that class yet.  By this time Barbaro was the winner of two races.  Elsewhere on the website is a story about Larry Jones and a group of elite two year-old colts racing on Saturday.  Those are the Derby hopefuls now.  I'm thinking Nicanor might have a career as an older horse but not getting my hopes up for the Derby trail.  On the other hand, this time last year everyone was talking about Pyro, and while he has had his share of the purse money, he never lived up to the hype.  So you never know what might happen if the light goes on in Nicky's head and he decides to be a race horse.  Because the potential to be a champion is in his blood.      

Kathy, your words sent chills up and down my spine.  You have articulated beautifully what I've been feeling in my heart of hearts.  A sense and hunch that this is actually what has been going on.  The restraint and carefully parcelled out words of the Nicanor team have suggested to me, that they are keeping him under wraps and  want to protect him as long as they can before "unveiling" him.

The excitement is building and I am beside myself with love for all involved.  And Lentenor is going to be another one!  Dynaformer has bred a Dynasty!

Over on ABR, they've got wonderful photos of Man In Havana performing in his new career, Show Jumping, and doing so beautifully.  Racing wasn't for that boy, but jumping is!

oh my, can't seem to proof read before pushing submit. Please excuse.      To: Early,  Big Brown raced in September 07, and did not race again until March 08 and he ran twice that month. Big Brown's next race was the Derby. Three races before the Derby and two after. Such is the saga of Big Brown. Do I think Nicanor is like Big Brown? Hope not. Unlike popular opinion, I'm not impressed with his record. He was on steriods for the Derby and probably before that but that's not my point. I only use his record as an example of someone pointing a horse for the Derby with only three races under his belt.  I don't believe Mr Matz will push Nicanor any faster than the horse will indicate he can handle and as we've heard many times, he's a late blooming Dynaformer colt. The tripple crown would be great, but there's also the Arc, a race I believe to this day that Barbaro was going to enter and win.  Yes, I believe that Barbaro was going to win the tripple crown and the Arc. I also believe he may have been one of the greatest turf horses we've ever seen. Here's hoping we see that ability in one of his siblings. Dreaming? Why not?

My actual favorite horse last year was War Pass. War Pass may not gone the who distance at the Triple Crown last year, but would have beaten Big Brown had he managed to stay healthy in 2008. Isn't it weird that Pyro often had that added incentive to win when War Pass was in the lead that he didn't have with other horse? I am not sure either if there is time for Nicanor to make it to the Triple Crown, but there are plenty of other races to be had next year if Nicanor doesn't make it. Wasn't it Man o' War's owner who mainly bypassed the Kentucky Derby because he felt it was too early to run his horse a mile and a quarter?  Michael is being a protective guardian of his charge, just like Man o' War's owner was. I have always firmly believed that if Nicanor didn't have a very good chance of becoming a great racehorse that he would already be up at the Jackson's farm being a saddle horse enjoying a really good life.

By the way, Rockland just had another workout:

Date: December 10, 2008

Track: PALM MEADOWS TRAINING CENTER

Distance: Four Furlongs

Time: 50:80 Breezing

Track Condition: Fast

Surface: Dirt

Rank: 16/23

I hope Dynaformer enjoys the attention he will get when one of his boys is the next triple crown winner.There was a reason Big Brown didn't it was not meant for him.Have Faith!!

I don't know about anyone else but this blog is a nice break with reality.  I don't know anyone who isn't being effected by the economy and following Barbaro's brothers is a great diversion and a venue for hope.  Whether they turn out to be champions or not it's just great to watch and hope.

Thanks for the info - more pics please and happy holidays to everyone.

I have yet to hear one objective dilagent thought on why this horse WON'T be good or won't be able to compete at the Grade 1 level.  I have only heard 2 things: 1. There are 35,000 other horses bred each year for the same purpose (no kidding) or 2.  His brother was a derby winner, so he can't be that good, because siblings usually aren't very talented.

All anyone knows about this horse is 1. He was off the work tab for 5 1/2 months (not atypical for a 2 yr old Dynaformer) and his bloodline, a Roberto/Mr.Prospector cross is about as hot as anything right now.  What is it 8 or 9 percent of Dynaformer staters win a stakes race? How is that really dreaming?  To assume this horse won't be ready for Grade 1 competition in 5 months, when he is still 2, is as arbitrary as assuming he will be competing for the triple crown. Other than the fact he is 1 in 35,000---so is every other 2 year old- and his brother was a derby winner-there is no good reason.

Thank you so much for the news on Nicanor.  I pray for him every day that God keeps him safe and healthy.  I check this website every day for updates on our "boys".  All this is helping to heal the pain of losing Barbaro.

dona,there were very few horses who weren't on steroids in the derby and preakness and belmont. Agreed Matz will do what is right.

Oh no Dan, that's not true. Eight Belles wasn't on anthing and I think she would have beaten him but for the drugs and a inexperienced jockey. Can't recall hearing about another horse other than Big Brown. If you know for sure about one, name them. Must say there are a few trainers of ill repute in my book but Nick Zeto isn't one, nor Bob Baffert.    Grey K, When Anne Peters said take a look at Barbaro, I believe he had just one race under his belt, if that. I think she knew about him before he even raced because Three Chimneys, like other breeding stables keep an eye on their stallions offspring. By the end of 2005, everyone was watching him. His potential was obvious but only a few knew to what extent untill the Florida Derby.  

Big Brown got one dose of Winstrol-V per month-would have little to no effect on performance.  His last dose prior to derby was April 15.  Big Brown got the same dosage in one month that Olympic Sprinter Ben Johnson used daily.  I do agree though that had Eight Belles been rated more effectively, it would have been closer.

Amanda, every time that Nicanor has a workout will you keep us informed and if Michael Matz might have big news on Nicanor?

I wonder if Edgar Prado will get a mount on either of Barbaro's brothers? He would certainly deserve to, in my opinion. I just finished reading Mr. Prado's book, "My Guy Barbaro," and I truly enjoyed it. Mr. Prado loved Barbaro too. It would be nice to see him in the Jackson racing silks again, riding one or both of these horses.

We've got Nicanor racing probably early next year.  Then we have Lentenor arriving for training late in the Spring.  In February there3 will be a new brother -- another Dynaformer baby.  So much to look forward to!!

Dona, I am with you on the potential Barbaro had to be one of the top turf horses of all time, and we might get to see Nicanor or Lentenor fulfill the turf potential of their Dynaformer heritage.  It's not impossible of course that Nicanor could be ready for a Triple Crown race but it seems like Matz is downplaying that expectation and keeping a very low profile.  I guess in a couple more months we will know more.  There are Dynaformer progeny that race and win at two but if I were the connections, the "what if" of Barbaro's tragic story would be weighing pretty heavy and I'd be cautious and slow with this horse.  There are lots of late summer grade I races to test him, no hurry.  

JUST RECEIVED INFO ON NICANOR:

Date: December 12, 2008

Track: PALM MEADOWS TRAINING CENTER

Distance: Four Furlongs

Time: 50:80 Breezing

Track Condition: Fast

Surface: Dirt

Rank: 27/30

GO NICKY...

Virtual Stable reports that Nicky worked again this morning, 4f in 50:80.  Go, beautiful boy!

ALSO, NICANOR'S BUDDY, ROCKLAND HAD THE SAME TIME TWO DAYS AGO:

ROCKLAND

Date: December 10, 2008

Track: PALM MEADOWS TRAINING CENTER

Distance: Four Furlongs

Time: 50:80 Breezing

Track Condition: Fast

Surface: Dirt

Rank: 16/23

See Nicky had another workout today 4f @50.80.  Can his racing debut be to far behind in '09.  Go Nicky.

Nicanore, You go you great big beautiful horse. You are so loved by all of us!

Go Nicanor!  Another workout on the 12th!  

I just wanted to inform everyone that Nicanor had just another workout.  He worked four furlongs in 50.80.  This workout was in Friday December 12, 2008.  I am starting to think that he may be finally ready for his first race if they keep doing workouts with him.  

Nicanor worked 4 furlongs Friday morning 12/12 in 50.8 on the dirt track at Palm Meadows. Looks like he's back on a regular work schedule. YAY !  Ill be watching the GSP entries for him. GO NICKY!

I think it's good Nicanor is working steadily however they don't payoff for fast AM clockings. Like all things time will tell. A lot can happen between now and his first start. I'm sorry Barbaro didn't get a chance to show that his Derby wasn't a fluke. if we're lucky perhaps Nicanor can win one triple crown race. Wouldn't it be ironic if the one triple crown race Nicanor wins is the Preakness? Think about THAT one for a while.

Thank you aduckworth, for telling us about the virtual stable.  It keeps me up on Nicanor,Mr.Matz(et all)and Lael Stables.  Nicanor's regular works are definitely paying off and it's nice to keep up with him.

I bet he likes the warmth in Florida i hope he becomes a great racehorse just like Barbaro.

"Wouldn't it be ironic if the one triple crown race Nicanor wins is the Preakness? Think about THAT one for a while."

I think it would be a great moment if Nicanor wins the Preakness.  Kind of like finishing what his big brother left incomplete.  

Personally, I think I am going to cry if that happens!