Decent Group, Return of Nicanor- Thursday Keeneland

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Scav

When does Matz every have a horse dead fit off the layoff. I always play against his horses off the layoff.

But maybe this is like speed holding on the lawn at Keeneland. Another thing I believe that isn't true

Every move they've made with Nicanor says they don't think he's much. And if that's the case, he hasn't proven them wrong yet.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Every move they've made with Nicanor says they don't think he's much. And if that's the case, he hasn't proven them wrong yet.

Except that they pointed him to the Virginia Derby before he got hurt. What are they supposed to do? Put him in a graded stakes route off a layoff? Why not at Delaware? I assume Matz still takes a string there. If only for convenience just run him in his backyard where he broke his maiden. Might as well, and it worked well enough the first time.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

Except that they pointed him to the Virginia Derby before he got hurt. What are they supposed to do? Put him in a graded stakes route off a layoff? Why not at Delaware? I assume Matz still takes a string there. If only for convenience just run him in his backyard where he broke his maiden. Might as well, and it worked well enough the first time.

C'mon. He ran a few nice races on dirt and they ditched that perplexingly quickly. Then instead of sending him to NY or Kentucky to try him against decent turf horses, they kept him at Delaware to beat up on slugs. I don't remember them campaigning Barbaro based on "backyard convenience" and "might as well" races. They've treated Nicanor like a good horse who doesn't have anything he's great at, and that's what he is. He had no excuse yesterday from a trip standpoint, and I don't buy that he was short either. He had 31 furlongs of works in him the last six weeks and a pair of bullet five-furlong works. What more could Matz have done to have him ready?

[prudery]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

C'mon.
What more could Matz have done to have him ready?

Exactly what he did--race him ...

Matz put him in a good spot off the layoff and the horse ran well until he tired at the wire .

No amount of works is a substitute for racing--and we do not have barrier trials in this country .

The horse is also a bit of a head case, and he ran hollow and upheaded .

I like Napravnik on him better than Leparoux also .

No one thinks he is Barbaro's shadow, but he is a quality individual with a few kinks .

I think he is better than you think, but no world beater .

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by prudery

Exactly what he did--race him ...

Matz put him in a good spot off the layoff and the horse ran well until he tired at the wire .

No amount of works is a substitute for racing--and we do not have barrier trials in this country .

The horse is also a bit of a head case, and he ran hollow and upheaded .

I like Napravnik on him better than Leparoux also .

No one thinks he is Barbaro's shadow, but he is a quality individual with a few kinks .

I think he is better than you think, but no world beater .

In addition to that, I don't think running at Delaware is negative commentary by the Jacksons/Matz on Nicanor. It may not be Saratoga, but it was good enough for Barbaro's maiden win as well. Clearly they make use of it on occasion. Not sure why you can only be a highly regarded horse at a KY or NY track.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

In addition to that, I don't think running at Delaware is negative commentary by the Jacksons/Matz on Nicanor. It may not be Saratoga, but it was good enough for Barbaro's maiden win as well. Clearly they make use of it on occasion. Not sure why you can only be a highly regarded horse at a KY or NY track.

Debuting at Delaware and shipping back to Delaware while Keeneland/Belmont/Churchill are running are two different things. And you still haven't explained why they gave up on his dirt career so quickly.