For what it's worth, Matz actually won with a first-time starter on Saturday, his first debut winner since July 2007.

From Bloodhorse:

As his racing debut nears, Nicanor continues to work steadily at Palm Meadows Training Center. He completed a five furlong work handily in 1:01.2 over the dirt track Jan. 25, which ranked eighth out of 38 works at that distance.

“He’s working well, and he had a very nice work this morning,” said trainer Michael Matz.

Barring something unexpected, Nicanor will make his racing debut either the weekend of Jan. 31 or Feb. 7 at Gulfstream Park. Additionally, jockey Edgar Prado will be aboard. Prado rode Nicanor’s famed full brother Barbaro to victory in the 2006 Run for the Roses.

“Edgar is going to ride him. He’s probably going to run in a week or two,” said Matz. “He’s getting there, getting close.”

The 3-year-old Dynaformer colt has shown the ability to run on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces during his workouts, which leaves his connections with several options.

“There is a dirt race next weekend, and there is a turf race the following weekend,” said Matz. “He will go in one of the two races. We have to see how he comes out of his work, and see what we want to do--run him on the dirt or run him on the turf for his first start.”

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