Happy Saturday Everyone!
Springtime is in the air and everything is getting so busy. It is a very exciting time in Lexington now as Keeneland opened yesterday for their race meet. I never ran at this race track, but my dear Barn 55 Friend, HARMONIOUS, won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Race here last fall. It is a very special time and everyone LOVES to go RACING in this town!
Today, Kentucky Derby Preps are taking place in New York, Illinois, and California. My friend, MR. COMMONS, is running in the Santa Anita Derby this afternoon. His stall was just 3 down from mine when I was at Barn 55…so I’m wishing him all the best! HOOVES CROSSED…for sure!
We also have the update for our contest! Isabelle and Cheva, 2 of my very special friends, drew the names out of the bucket for us! As you can see in the photo above, they are in the barn office at Hollywood Park. Oh, there are lots of photos of ME all around. Now this is TOO CUTE! The bucket we used for this drawing is on the desk. All 64 of the cards from Wednesday’s winners were placed in this bucket, mixed up again and again…and the drawing began!
Here are the names of the 32 people who will move to the next stage:
1) Ingrid Esguerra……………..Miami, FL
2) Sharon Peck………………..Seattle, WA
3) William Uecker……………..Boerne, TX
4) Linda Henderson……………Seminole, TX
5) Karen Mitchell……………….Berkeley, CA
6) Sherry Drish…………………Kearneysville, WV
7) Linda Edwards………………Lawrenceville, NJ
8) Thomas Ronholm…………..Rochester, NY
9) Valerie Franklin…………….Davison, MI
10) Margaret Lewis…………….Sausalito, CA
11) Guido Sanchez…………….Ewing, NJ
12) Cathy Lassilo……………….Tacoma, WA
13) Heidi Kruckenbert………….Vallejo, CA
14) Lynn Meier…………………..Thousand Oaks, CA
15) Michelle Cross………………Decatur, AL
16) Pam Giles……………………Newman, GA
17) Helen Soloman……………..Van Nuys, CA
18) Willie Tomaino………………Newport, RI
19) Linda Stokes…………………Groton, VT
20) Chris Balmes………………..Lake Oswego, OR
21) Dawn Conrad……………….Cedaredge, CO
22) Georgia Harper…………….Bellevue, WA
23) Vicki Vinson…………………Apple Valley, CA
24) Sarah Powell………………..Clemson, SC
25) Tammi Fry…………………..Houston, TX
26) Brenda Sprunger…………..Ontario, Canada
27) Ann Ransone………………..Walkerton, VA
28) Louann Cingel………………Union, MO
29) Lydia Ward………………….Batavia, OH
30) Mary Kay Adams…………..Bloomfield, NJ
31) Patsy VandenBerg………..Santa Rosa, CA
32) Brenda Freeman…………..Mobile, AL
CONGRATULATIONS to these 32 people! The next step of the contest will go to the SWEET SIXTEEN! When we do the next drawing, these 32 cards will be placed into the bucket…and 16 will be selected!
We are moving right along! Cheva and Isabelle had a GREAT TIME helping us!
Thank you to everyone! Cheers to a wonderful day of RACING and a HIGH HOOF to the 32 contestants named above moving to the next level!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
LauraJ
Congrats to the 32, and good luck.
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Reposting from #222
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@Everybody, good Saturday morning. Anybody feel like saving a life today? I’m posting a link to a horse rescue in California that needs immediate assistance to bail three horses out of a Nevada feedlot and transport them to safety. If they are not saved they will go to a Mexican slaughterhouse. This is the last day before the truck comes. Two are yearlings, and the other is a gentle gelding in his prime. I’ve donated to this rescue before and have talked to the president of the organization. It is a good outfit. Your donation is tax deductible.
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Here is the current rescue effort:
http://www.valleyviewranchequinerescue.webs.com/
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Here is the organization’s website:
http://www.valleyviewranchequinerescue.org/
Trina Nagele
@Laura J —Thanks for the link yesterday to the Zenyatta merchandise from the Breeders’ Cup that benefits the V Foundation for Cancer Research—I ordered a shirt.
Rosemarie Cola
Go Get’em MK! Bring that wonderful statue home! Zenyatta rules! peaceandlove, Rose and Joe Cola
judy berube
Dear Z Fans,
Just watched the Wood Memorial. Just wasn’t Uncle Mo. He finished third behind Toby’s Corner and Arthur’s Tale (a son of Bernardini. Hope he comes out of the race “OK”. Judy and Russ
Jan
Zenyatta,
Hope you are having a fun day. I bet you and the girls are talking about the races today. Good luck to the 32.
UNCLE MOE :( :( :(
Hernan Tovar
My dear Zenyatta,
Here I come, Am in again,
Thank GOD…
Love you.
Ingrid from South Beach.
Cheryl Smith
Happy Saturday, hope you are feeling well, love you
Lisa g
Congratulations Winning 32..Best of Luck for the Sweet Sixteen…..hooves crossed for all of ya.
Margaret
@Judy
Okay I wasn’t home so I didn’t see the race. But Secretariat did the same thing in 73. So is it possible???? Sure it is. Just something to keep in mind.
Robyn Mullhausen
Congratulations to those lucky people in the “32” who were picked. Good luck to you all.
Vicki B.
@Cheryl Kleist – I liked your story of your Breeder’s Cup Classic bet win. Sound logic. Congratulations!
Signofthetimes
What a big upset in the Wood. Mo came in third and tore
A quarter of his hoof off leaving the starting gate. Did
Not look like his usual and did not fire at the end. Congratulations
To the winner, whose daddy won the Wood, as a closer.
Waiting for the Santa Anita Derby !!!!!
Julia B
Hay Zenny – turned out to be a beautuful day ! Hope you are out kicking up your heels beautiful girl! Best wishes to the contenders for your awesome bronze!! Kuv to all !
Signofthetimes
The Mosses don’t own Mr Common !!!
Julia B
ooops Luv to all !
Regina From NJ
@CherylK: Awwwwwwwww, Cheryl, I don’t believe our Zenyatta would ever say, “Rachel Who?” I believe Zenny would compliment Rachel with kindness. She gave many people many thrilling moments while leaving her heart behind on the track. Sadly, she was not fortunate enough to live at Barn 55. It scares me sometimes how obsessed I am with Zenyatta. But–I also hope that every horse placing hooves in the starting gate gets a thumbs up. Thanks for listening.
Hello Zenyatta: I know you are as excited as I am for the 32. Good luck everyone! G’night. xoxoxoxoxo
Monica Horn
I’m with Kathy Kimber– it’s time to start a bio. I love books about racehorses and one about YOU would be a dream come true! Please Please Please talk to “your people” about it. PS- I am planning a trip to KY next spring. Being from NJ, I never got to see you LIVE at a racetrack. I would be driven to tears seeing you in person. Can we make a date?
Monica Horn
Forgot to mention a GREAT program being run at PARX in Phila, PA. It’s called “Turning for Home” So far 544 of your fellow equine athletes have found new homes thru this organization. EVERY track in the nation should have such a program so no horse has to go to slaughter or end up being mistreated. Look here:
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOr0woqDGBE
article: http://eightbelleslegacy.net/index.php?article=1048.0
Janie
Oh darn, I didn’t make the cut this time. Oh well, but at least mine was one of the original 64 cards drawn in your stall at Hollywood Park, Zenyatta. I also wasn’t able to make it to Santa Anita today for Mr. Commons race, which takes place in about 15 minutes from now (it’s 5:00 LA time right now). Good luck to him and John! And good luck to the new 32 hopefuls!
mj
Congratulations to the fortunate 32!! As for Uncle Mo-he didn’t want to load, but then, dear Z, you didn’t either the second time you had to load for the Classic that you won. Secretariat had his days too, so we’ll see. Meanwhile, rooting for Mr. Commons!!
Paula Higgins
Good luck to all of you who made the cut to 32! The winner will not be disappointed. I posted pictures of my Zenyatta statue on Facebook under “Zenyatta Statue” if you want to see how it looks on its wooden mount with the nameplate. Zenyatta, Uncle Mo did not fire today after grabbing a quarter. I miss you more than ever.Good luck to Mr. Commons.
LauraJ
Mr. Commons with Mike Smith up was third in the Santa Anita Derby. It was a game effort.
William
;-) This is getting exciting! Can’t wait to see the next drawing! Good luck to everyone! Good luck to all of those who are racing!
DJ
Dearest Sweet “Z”,
Congratulations to a great ‘Show’ for your team Sherriffs, and Smith! Mr. Commons might be ‘Mr. Extraordinary’ soon!
Kathy Kimber
Dear Zeny, I feel bad about Uncle Mo loseing. Wonder what happens now hope the injury is not to severe and will it keep him out of the derby. If Mr. Commons came in third that isn’t to bad his careet is early yet. I read where Black Caviar had won her consecutive start. The ladies sure have it don’t they
? How you doing Zeny breakfast brunch in the morning in your honor.
DJ
p.s. forgot to give Congrats to Jordanelle’s Rider Chantal S. for her great win on “Off The Wall” and her Place with “Circle the Moon.” That’s your ‘Girl Power’ “Z”.
Linda/Maryland
All of us are so possessed by her Greatness, Beauty, Kindness and Thoughtfulness. Even before your blog here started you would stop in the pre-race walk, dance a bit and stand for us to take pictures of you. You danced your way into our hearts. Rachel was not lucky enough to be owned by the Moss’s and trained by John. Not lucky enough to be in Barn 55. I hope she stays Happy and Safe all of her life. There are horrible things that happen to thoroughbreds who are not as lucky as you Zenyatta.
We know you will always be taken care of and that you will be happy.
I hope that you are as happy as you have made us!!
Love you Zenyatta~
Signofthetimes
Midnight Interlude the winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita derby
After a maiden. Very talented colt. This Derby trail is
Treacherous and really a crap shoot. Mr Commons 3rd and Comma to
The Top a valient effort to get second. Is Mo training too lightly.
Sweet Dreams XXXXOOO. Enjoy brunch with the girls tomorrow!!!!
Shari Voltz
Dear Zenyatta YEA to my friend DAWN CONRAD she made it into the top 32. I am so happy for her I have been praying really hard. Zenny I hope you had a good day but it looked like it was raining where you are. I hope you stayed warm and dry. I ran for the first time this morning (outside) since my injury. I was only aloud to run three miles. It felt good but I am sore. I have to use the treadmill tomorrow morning. I know you understand Zenny because you love to run too. It was a busy day here and I finally get to slow down now. I am so excited for my friend. I wish I could talk to her but I hope she sees my post. Well sweet girl it is late and I have clothes to take out of the dryer. I love you sweet girl. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses from Shari XXXOOO
@DAWN YOU GO GIRL :) :) !!!!!!!!!
Guido
Zenny – I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to have my name on the 32 list. Such an honor! Thanks to all for the opportunity.