Nicanor rides again

Heidilady · Postby **Heidilady** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:33 pm

He's racing March 7 at Gulfstream under Jose Lezcano (Edgar's in the Big Cap on Monba for Pletcher) and Nic will be running in a $40,000 maiden race again Dubinsky again I believe.

Steve Haskin was saying that he felt Nic was sitting on a good performance and implying that folks were reading less into his first race than was there. I think his not romping called out the 'I told ya so's.

http://www.thoroughbredracingradionetwork.com Go here and check out March 5 (It has a download archive link on the left but you aren't really, it plays on the site). He talks about him near the end of his segment.

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:38 pm

I have no doubt nicanor will be a good horse, he just seems to have "it". I think his game will be going very long, and probably on turf.

dondogs · Postby **dondogs** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 3:18 pm

He ran a nice race, finished second

http://www.drf.com/drfNCWeeklyHorseDisp ... 7&raceNo=8

Heidilady · Postby **Heidilady** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:14 pm

I heard he needs more ground (having not been able to watch the race yet although I assume I'll be able to at some point). I was under no illusions that he'd make the Derby (he had that growth spurt break and then is still learning even early March) but I'm curious as to whether the midsummer races are a possibility or if fall is when he'll be coming into his own.

We could very well be seeing Nicanor and Lentenor vying for more important things next year at the same time. Nic's lil brother is supposedly quite a precocious lil bugger as far as doing the right things in training. I have heard Nic's a lot like a half-sibling, I think they said Man in Havana. Not Barbaro but another indication that the family's got inherent ability even if it doesn't pan out for everybody. I think Nic's got something there though, I'm sure they'll spot him in some good places and we'll get to cheer a victory.

dondogs · Postby **dondogs** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:23 pm

Someone put the race on youtube, quality's not the best, but some without access to paid sites may appreciate it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK5sU89Zhd0

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:38 pm

Thanks Dondogs. It was a good performance and he did seem to be coming back, probably could use more distance and will have benefited from the experience.

Incidentally, Man From Havana (by Quiet American) did not perform in training and was ultimately gelded and aimed for a non-racing career (don't know what happened to him in the end).

I'd hardly say Nicanor resembles Man From Havana. He looks like he's got some racing talent and he's now got some earnings. To me Nicanor looks (racing wise) as though his level of precocity is typical of many Dynaformer offspring whereas Barbaro was less typical. But even Dynaformer gets a significant number of good two year old winners, so perhaps Lentanor is your guy if you want something close to a Barbaro clone.

I have hopes for Nicanor down the road. The fact that he recovered from grabbing the quarter so quickly, came back and raced well (and seems to have a little heart, as he certainly didn't give up) perhaps might mean that he could become one of those beloved Dynaformers (Perfect Drift, Purim, Mystery Giver etc.) who gives us pleasure at the races for several years.

Heidilady · Postby **Heidilady** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:47 pm

geowarrior wrote:Thanks Dondogs. It was a good performance and he did seem to be coming back, probably could use more distance and will have benefited from the experience.

Incidentally, Man From Havana (by Quiet American) did not perform in training and was ultimately gelded and aimed for a non-racing career (don't know what happened to him in the end).

I'd hardly say Nicanor resembles Man From Havana. He looks like he's got some racing talent and he's now got some earnings.

Oops my bad, not Man in Havana (not Man From Havana at any rate so if I'm to be corrected at least be accurate), it's whoever the Saint Ballado brother was. That's who I meant, must've gotten the name wrong. Shall go look it up. (ETA: Holy Ground) And Nic's connections were the ones that compared him to his brother HG so whatever, I get the name wrong and you gotta just rub it in instead of figuring it out. All ya had to do was go "Oh you mean Holy Ground." HG is a stakes winner so whatever. I'm still right.

oliverstoned · Postby **oliverstoned** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:16 pm

Put em on the grass. (is that a Sir Mix-Alot song?)

Heidilady · Postby **Heidilady** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:08 pm

oliverstoned wrote:Put em on the grass. (is that a Sir Mix-Alot song?)

Hmm, I think if Nicanor got a 'round thing in [his] face' he'd try to pass it.

AscotStud · Postby **AscotStud** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:40 pm

He ran a nice race as I expected. Too bad the media only focuses on the bad or wrong aspects of the sport. I wonder how many people thought he would never run again given the doom and gloom reports from his frst start.

freshman · Postby **freshman** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 5:04 pm

dondogs wrote:Someone put the race on youtube, quality's not the best, but some without access to paid sites may appreciate it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK5sU89Zhd0

Thanks.

I'll have to search out a better quality replay to see Nicanor's expression and how he was being ridden; he certainly looked very keen. I wish I could make out how he handled his rider's rating and directions, how much help he needed in the turn, etc. Seemed like something happened there that I couldn't see in the blur and camera angle.

I liked him getting away sharp and racing out front, all the way around. Then getting headed in the turn, with the 10 horse drawing away--I like his second effort to chase the winner down. Very game.

Looked like he wanted to win that horserace!

dondogs · Postby **dondogs** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 5:26 pm

Statistical odds are against his becoming a superstar, however people win the lottery against much worse odds.

He ran a nice race, not shabby for his second time out. Matz did say he was a slow starter, and may still need some more experience.

Nicanor will be interesting to follow. I was not a big Barbaro fan, so don't have the Barbaro connection, but will watch his races. As far as a good horse to put money on, he may not be a good bet. A lot of "souvenir" wagers will be placed on Nick.

May the better horse win......................

Heidilady · Postby **Heidilady** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:58 pm

He got a 94 Beyer! Wow I didn't expect that would happen in a $40,000 maiden special weight for a place finish but I just heard. I guess technically I know it can but who expects it? I know we have some horses like I Want Revenge pulling in a 113 but by and large Nicanor's number compares pretty well with Derby trail horses, even the likely no-Derby Stardom Bound right?

Here's what the weekend's big races pulled in:
Einstein 100, I Want Revenge 113 Gio Ponti 104, and Stardom Bound 87. Even Nic doesn't get a whiff of the air at Churchill, Pimlico, or Belmont, he's sure doing nicely. Bravo Nic!

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:55 pm

Heidilady wrote:He got a 94 Beyer! Wow I didn't expect that would happen in a $40,000 maiden special weight for a place finish but I just heard. I guess technically I know it can but who expects it? I know we have some horses like I Want Revenge pulling in a 113 but by and large Nicanor's number compares pretty well with Derby trail horses, even the likely no-Derby Stardom Bound right?

Here's what the weekend's big races pulled in:
Einstein 100, I Want Revenge 113 Gio Ponti 104, and Stardom Bound 87. Even Nic doesn't get a whiff of the air at Churchill, Pimlico, or Belmont, he's sure doing nicely. Bravo Nic!

I am wiling to make a very nice wager I can guess when Nicanor's next race will be.

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:35 pm

Heidilady wrote:
geowarrior wrote:Thanks Dondogs. It was a good performance and he did seem to be coming back, probably could use more distance and will have benefited from the experience.

Incidentally, Man From Havana (by Quiet American) did not perform in training and was ultimately gelded and aimed for a non-racing career (don't know what happened to him in the end).

I'd hardly say Nicanor resembles Man From Havana. He looks like he's got some racing talent and he's now got some earnings.

Oops my bad, not Man in Havana (not Man From Havana at any rate so if I'm to be corrected at least be accurate), it's whoever the Saint Ballado brother was. That's who I meant, must've gotten the name wrong. Shall go look it up. (ETA: Holy Ground) And Nic's connections were the ones that compared him to his brother HG so whatever, I get the name wrong and you gotta just rub it in instead of figuring it out. All ya had to do was go "Oh you mean Holy Ground." HG is a stakes winner so whatever. I'm still right.

Um Heidilady, although I know of Holy Ground, I'm not sure if I could have figured it out, unless I'd read the comments from Nicanor's connections, which I had not. I was simply musing on the fate of Man in Havana and where Nicanor might fit in to the Barbaro legend in the end. Certainly no intention of rubbing anything in or correcting anything, just politely disagreeing with what I thought you said.