Va. Derby loses Nicanor to leg injury

Scheduled to cover for an employee Saturday in North Carolina, I was seriously considering scenarios in which I could do some work ahead of time, skip out for half a day (and by that I mean 12 hours) and travel to New Kent, Va., to cover the Virginia Derby-G2 at Colonial Downs.

No need, now. Nicanor's out.

Nicanor, the baby full brother of ill-fated Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was scheduled to make his stakes debut Saturday at Colonial. But trainer Michael Matz said the Dynaformer colt injured himself in a workout this week and will be scratched.

Rats.

That doesn't mean the Virginia Derby won't be a decent race. Colonial Turf Cup champ Battle of Hastings returns, as do rivals from that race, Lime Rickey, Take the Points and Straight Story. The latter is in at an attractive 10/1 morning line considering he nearly beat Battle of Hastings in the Turf Cup.

Also in are Kentucky Derby starter Hold Me Back (5/1), Affirmatif, Churchill Downs G2 winner and Japanese-bred Florentino, El Crespo and Safety Valve.

So I still would love to see the race in person. I think it will be a good one.

But Nicanor was the only name that would make me pursue the nonsensical -- scramble to get last-minute credentials; sneak out of town when I should be at work; drive almost three hours there (and then back) to stand by the inside rail near the finish line.

I hope he's well, I hope all have a safe trip Saturday (including those fans who are driving to New Kent for the race), and that the finish to the Derby as as rousing as that in the Turf Cup.

I'll be watching on CBS.

Barbaro's baby brother could be Va. Derby-bound

If you didn't have enough reason to watch and care about the July 18 Virginia Derby-G2 at Colonial Downs, the Virginia Thoroughbred Association's blog states that Nicanor -- 3-year-old brother of the brilliant but ill-fated Barbaro -- has been pointed to the race by trainer Michael Matz.

Barbaro, as anyone not living under a rock (and a few who have been) would know was the unbeaten champion of the Kentucky Derby in 2007, but suffered a grievous injury in the early stages of the Preakness Stakes and was retired to fight for his life. He died more than eight months later, in January 2007, at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School's New Bolton Center, where he had been treated ever since breaking his leg in the Preakness.

Nicanor started his career with three races on the dirt without winning, but rocketed to impressive victories on the grass in his next two starts. That's unsurprising, considering Barbaro broke his maiden and was a graded-stakes winner on turf before switching to the main track for the Derby trail. I happen to believe that, had he lived to prove it and been given future races on the lawn, Barabro would've been known as being at least as good a grass horse as he was a dirt-runner and probably better.

The Virginia Derby has become one of the best turf races in the country apart from the Breeders' Cup, and should soon have earned recognition as a Grade 1 race. It's last five winners are Gio Ponti, Red Giant, Go Between, English Channel and Kitten's Joy, all went on to be Grade 1 winners, the latter pair champions. Colonial Downs is an absolutely beautiful, pastoral place to visit and it's quite near Colonial Williamsburg and not too far from Virginia Beach for those looking to make a week of things.

And this year, the Virginia Derby could feature Nicanor.

I'm scheduled to work that Saturday at home North Carolina. ... Crud!

But now what's your excuse for not going?

Barbaro's baby brother better on grass; go figure

Nicanor, 3-year-old brother of ill-fated Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, wired a field of second-level allowance horses today in a 9-furlong turf race at Delaware Park.

The Lael Stables colt is now 2-for-2 on the grass, and I'm left wondering what took trainer Michael Matz so long to get him on the lawn. He placed twice in three straight starts over dirt tracks, but seems clearly a more talented horse on turf, as his maiden-breaking 104 Beyer at Delaware on May 13 suggests.

Barbaro also broke maiden on grass, at first asking, then won the Laurel Futurity and Tropical Park Derby-G3 over turf courses before he was sent to the dirt on the Kentucky Derby trail. Were I in Matz's position (I wish) I think turf would've been my first choice for this Dynaformer colt, as well. (Not sure whether any of the first three starts might have been taken off the turf.)

The Blood-Horse is suggesting stakes company might be in the offing next out.