News of Lenny

Lentenor, Barbaro's younger brother, has been nominated for the Tropical Park Derby at Calder racetrack on January 1. This is a surprise move since he has not yet broken his maiden but there is no guarantee that he will get into the field. Popular wisdom also holds that Michael Matz may enter him in the 2nd race at the same park that day--a maiden race at 6 furlongs on the dirt in case he does not get into the Stakes.

I wouldn't bet the house on Lentenor running on the dirt track at Calder. It has tight turns and horses usually need to train there to win. The turf is more consistent across all tracks and barring a heavy downpour, it should be more of what Lentenor is used to. I will even go so far to say that if weather forces them to take the Derby off the turf, they will scratch Lentenor rather than run him on the dirt at Calder.

(You will note that I was obviously dead wrong about Tampa Bay Downs on the 26th so note all predictions are just that!)

If he does not get into the Derby, look for Lentenor to make his 2010 debut at Gulfstream during its first week. The dirt track there is more forgiving if they want to go that route. But I hope by then it will be a moot point.

Personally, I hope he gets in to the Tropical Park Derby. That race does not traditionally come up as a "big one" in terms of entries and it just might be the unconventional strategy that Lentenor needs to establish himself as a contender for that other Derby.

Keep your fingers crossed and note that the January 1 entry will keep Lentenor's pattern of running on or near holidays intact!