Barbaro Full Brother Nicanor Wins in Turf Debut
Trainer Michael Matz's Modest Schedule Pays Off for Placed Colt
May 14, 2009
Each day a senior citizen dies. Every day a new baby fills the nurturing arms of an exuberant parent. A million new possibilities are born again and again.
Every year a champion Thoroughbred passes on. Each year 35,000 new foals come to life. Of these great numbers, just a few dozen four-footed individuals will fulfill the dreams of several hundred two-legged hopefuls.
Hope has a way of springing anew.
So it does for the connections of Nicanor, full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro. Breeder-owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson and trainer Michael Matz lived and died with Barbaro's breakdown in the 2006 Preakness Stakes and the colt's ultimate euthanization eight months later when laminitis took its toll.
Now, after cause for a breath-catching start in January, Nicanor is cranking up. The colt sported blinkers for the first time in his first turf run, and according to Matz seems to have focused in on the main goal of the race track -- winning.
Nicanor Completes Sizzling Turf Debut
He hung, he charged, he sizzled. Nicanor debuted on turf May 13 to the tune of a 15-1/4 length drive that wowed. In a maiden special weight event for three-year-olds and older horses at Delaware Park, Nicanor cleared his thirteen foes for a controlled lead early on under Rosie Napravnik.
Nicanor went the first quarter of the 1-1/16 miles turf event in a quick :24.34, and had plenty in the tank when Napravnik signaled for more entering the stretch. Barbaro's brother exploded in a familiar turn of foot that drove him farther from his rivals with each muscular stride.
In his fourth career appearance, Nicanor traveled the distance in 1:46.31 on firm turf.
Nicanor and Barbaro were homebred by the Jacksons. Stallion Dynaformer and broodmare La Ville Rouge, by Carson City are the blushing parents and granddaddy.
Grabbed Quarter Ended Nicanor's First Chances
Nicanor's racing debut on dirt on January 31 for the Jacksons and Matz was fraught with anxiety. The colt grabbed a quarter and finished tenth. Nicanor's connections held their collective breath as Nicanor galloped out his first race.
A quarter grab is an injury to the rear portion of a horse's hoof caused by the horse clipping, or striking his own foot. Generally, a small portion of the hoof is damaged, or even torn off. It is not an unusual injury. Healing is a matter of time and patience.
The hoof can be patched so the racer can continue his profession in a reasonable time, as will Friesan Fire in Saturday's Preakness after a clipping in the Kentucky Derby. Bob Baffert-trained Midnight Lute was able to compete and win in last October's Breeders' Cup World Championships while patched for a serious grab.
Sometimes, a bad grab needs additional work and time to heal, ala Big Brown, who was unable to make the Breeders' Cup in 2008 after ripping a large portion of his right front foot in a workout. BB had a history of quarter cracks that added to his problem.
Nicanor Follows Barbaro's Turf Wins
Nicanor captured his first career win from four starts a week before the third anniversary of his brother's 2006 Preakness. Between January and his turf debut yesterday, Nicanor finished second twice at Gulfstream Park on dirt, March 7 in a seven furlong event, and on March 28 in a one mile race.
Matz reported Nicanor loved the switch to turf, something Barbaro also did well, as the Derby champ won two turf events by a combined 16-1/2 lengths before conquering dirt.
Matz indicated that Nicanor's near future definitely involves grass.
