by Mike Curry

Nicanor, a full brother to ill-fated 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Barbaro, has been entered in a one-mile maiden special weight race on Saturday on the main track at Gulfstream Park.

Nicanor is slated to contest the eighth race on Saturday, which will be held between the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and the Donn Handicap (G1). The race drew 12 three-year-olds and one also-eligible entrant. Nicanor will break from post four.

Gretchen Jackson, who owns and bred the three-year-old Dynaformer colt with her husband, Roy, said on Tuesday she was looking forward to his career debut.

“I can’t wait,” she said. “All of our ‘babies’ are exciting to see, but I have to say it’s probably a little more exciting because he is Barbaro’s brother, and he does really look like him."

Trainer Michael Matz said on Tuesday he was also considering a 1 1/16-mile turf race next weekend for Nicanor, but he said he hoped Saturday's race would fill because Nicanor is ready to run.

“There was a race last week that was seven-eighths of a mile, it would have been nice to start him there, unfortunately, he needed one more work,” Matz said. “He’s ready to run right now, whether we run him in a 1 1/16-mile race on the turf [next weekend] or if we run him a mile on the dirt."

HorseRacing Television will show the race live as well as provide bonus pre- and post-race coverage of Nicanor's career debut. Also, the Horse Racing Radio Network will broadcast the race live. Pre-race coverage on HRRN will begin at 4 p.m. EST.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor

For a feature story on Nicanor, click here.

For a list of entries, click here.