Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

bmg1993 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:32:35 GMT

I'm sorry but Nicanor is not exceptional. And there's no reason he should be. In thoroughbred racing, it is extremely hard to find siblings that are all amazing. There are exceptions like the Better Than Honour's and the Urban Sea's, but so far there's no reason to think that Nicanor will do more than keep on winning fairly mediocre allowance races. Don't get me wrong it'd be great to see him win and win big on the biggest stages, but the fact of the matter is that he is small, scrawny horse with poor conformation, not like his brother. Besides Barbaro, La Ville Rouge is the dam of a graded stakes placed horse who never amounted to much. Barbaro was above and beyond and to think that multiple matings of the same horses will achieve another champion is absolutley preposterous. If we are lucky, Nicanor will see graded stakes competition and earn his medal. But to think from birth that he is a champion from birth, to call him the best three year old in America, is unwarranted. The Jacksons and Michael Matz realize this and that is why they are letting him develop in to the racehorse he is. If he is not a champion, he is not a champion. While we would all like to see another Barbaro, I just don't believe that it's in the cards at this point.

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

Eilene Wood — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:57:17 GMT

There has been some discussion on Nicanor's height, how many hands tall is he?

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

JAJ — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:58:55 GMT

An non winners of two allowance race a "bottom run" race???? Are you for real, Jon, or are you just pulling our collective legs?

Any allowance is an UPPER level race.

Where do you get your information that he is ready for a stakes race? No one knows that, including Matz. Matz is only going to find out if he is stakes material when Nicanor meets stakes horses in a race. You find out where your horse belongs when you run them.

Nicanor moving up from maiden special weight to an allowance race filled with winners IS a jump in class. Don't underestimate how much better this field is likely to be than his previous competitors were, although he did have some tough company until he ran in his last race.

The trainer and owner's philosophy on how to develop a horse comes in to play as well. I don't know how Matz develops his potential stakes horses, but most trainers tend to try to win a few of their conditions before they take on stakes horses. In other words, they try to win first their MSW, then non winners of a race other than maiden or claiming, and non winners of two other than. That is the normal progression for developing even the better stakes horses.

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

jon from cockeysville — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:48:54 GMT

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, where Mine That Bird will be running next. I think Nicanor could beat him, and that possibly, we all know very well who the best 3 year old is in the country right now. No, not Rachel Alexandra, but Nicanor.

Average colts do not run their turf debut with a 100 beyer and by 15 lengths. Nicanor's closest competitor had a 62 beyer, vs the 92 for Nicanor so Nic was in an easy prep race. This upcoming one will either see him bounce, or be unstoppable. The fair question to ask is why Matz entered him in a 39,000 race if he's ready for a stakes race? Man O' War made his first start as a 3 year old in the Preakness and we're all worrying about Nicanor's next bottom rung race. I must be missing something.

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

JAJ — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:30:36 GMT

Re Nominations to stakes:

Some trainers nominate to a lot of stakes that they have no intention of running in at the time the nominations came out. Don't read too much into the turf stake nomination of Nicanor. Some of the trainers use a computer program that automatically nominates so that they don't have keep track of all the various stakes and closing dates at all the different tracks.

I'm not saying he won't run, just that lots of trainers nominate everything in their barn to every stake possible.

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

Ragsy — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:55:56 GMT

Stardusty Rose,

My love for Barbaro will never die and my love for the Baby Brothers of Barbaro is endless....I too believe that.... that wonderful BARBARO would have won the Triple Crown had he lived and never injured.....

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

yawn — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:31:36 GMT

"Yawn: FYI, Matz has already planned on running in VA.and as I understand it Nick has already been nominated. This I am sure is just a prep race." lobieb 12 Jun 2009 3:09 PM

lobieb, I'm aware of the 49 early nominations, but if you remember Nicanor was also one of the 401 early Triple Crown Nominees. I'm sure Matz will do what the Jacksons want, no matter what he feels.

He might run and do well, but I don't think he's up to compete well with many of those already already entered. There will also be some later nominations.

His running style is better than Barbaro's, much smoother, but I still don't feel he's up to finishing on the board in the Virginia Derby or the Virgina Turf Cup. www.colonialdowns.com/.../derby-noms.pdf

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

StardustyRose — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:54:40 GMT

Nicanor

Rabbit Tracks

Stevil

GREG J..... Would that be a good tri? And of course the exacta as well? :)

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

StardustyRose — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:52:06 GMT

lobieb..

I am not sure about this but I think that Prado said something along those lines at one time (about going back in the gate). I can just imagine how he felt. When our beautiful Barbaro broke down, Edgar was really never the same after that. He loved that horse sooooooo much. He is the reason that Barbaro got to live longer too. He handled that extremely well. Then of course the Almighty Doc, was remarkable with him. He had the best team in the world. I only wish ALL horses had the care that these boys and Barbaro did. :)

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

StardustyRose — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:46:50 GMT

Ragsy. Ask your horse. She may know that answser to who would have won the race that day. :)

lobieb. You were there OMG. I am sure that is a day you will never ever forget and probably one of the worst in your life. I too had no idea who won that race and didn't care. I believe a lot of people watched Barbaro being taken off rather than the race. Not to say the winner didn't deserve his fame for the day. It is sad that he had to win the race the way that he did. Ragsy is right. Why speculate? Then again, I truly believe that Barbaro would have taken the Triple Crown that year.

I lost it over Barbaro and he is right here on my desk and I look at his beautiful head in the sunlight everyday while on the PC. Man I love him. All the brothers too.

Greg J!!!!!

Exacta box please... LOL.. :)

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

Vevita1 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:07:14 GMT

I think that the Jacksons are wise not to push Nicanor. He is a jewel just like Barbaro. I'm sure they will make good decisions for Lentenor. Can't wait to see him.

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

Vevita1 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:01:05 GMT

I can't wait to see Lentenor run. I have a gut feeling that Lentenor is the one!! Good look to Nicanor and stay healthy!!

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

Penny in TX — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:21:13 GMT

Thanks Greg J for the info on Nicanor's next race. Love the comment, Nicanor, priceless. Yes he is.

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

Ragsy — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:04:26 GMT

Greg J, your right!! Nicanor is "priceless".... win your race sweet one!!

speculation... is just that... comparing Barbaro to Bernadine... never to know that answer.. so why try!!!! its just bs....also thats the reason oil has gone back up...speculation bs....

re: Nicanor Breezes Again; Lentenor Work Also Set

lobieb — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:17:08 GMT

I was there when Barbaro broke down and yes you are right I didn't even know who had won the race. He was pulled up right in front of us and my heart dropped into my stomach. Not the only one as the whole grandstand was starring at Barbaro and paying no attention to the race. Still think they should have scratched him when he broke through the gate but that is hind site.