Happy Wednesday, Everyone!
This is TOO CUTE! Here are my 2 very special friends, Carmen and Michelle, drawing the SWEET SIXTEEN cards. These people will advance to the next level of the ZENYATTA BRONZE CONTEST! I must say, I just love the fact that I’m dancing right over Carmen’s shoulder while all of this is happening! I feel like I’m really participating in all of these activities right along with YOU and my BARN 55 Friends!
As you can see, these girls are really following directions. Carmen has her head turned away from the bucket and Michelle’s eyes are closed tight. Each one drew out 8 cards. What FUN! And, of course, there was NO PEEKING!
Here are the names of the 16 people who will move on to the ELITE EIGHT!
1. Heidi Kruckenbert……………..Vallejo, CA
2. Louann Cingel…………………..Union, MO
3. Valerie Franklin…………………Davison, MI
4. William Uecker………………….Boerne, TX
5. Dawn Conrad……………………Cedaredge, CO
6. Pam Giles………………………..Newman, GA
7. Karen Mitchell…………………..Berkeley, CA
8. Ingrid Esguerra…………………Miami, FL
9. Ann Ransone…………………… Walkerton, VA
10. Vicki Vinson…………………….Apple Valley, CA
11. Sharon Peck……………………Seattle, WA
12. Cathy Lassilo……………………Tacoma, WA
13. Georgia Harper…………………Bellevue, WA
14. Thomas Ronholm……………….Rochester, NY
15. Linda Henderson……………….Seminole, TX
16. Sarah Powell…………………….Clemson, SC
Congratulations to ALL 16! It is also interesting to note the number of different states represented at this level. The next step will be the Elite Eight. Those cards will be drawn at the end of this week.
This is getting exciting!
Have a wonderful day!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Kathleen Marsh
I wanted to thank you Dottie for this website. I read it everyday but I seldom post. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you doing this for us. In addition to my own horse, Zenyatta is the most special horse in the world to me. Anne was so right when she said Zenyatta is a gift!
Janet Cutting
@christine — almost forgot— Thanks for the eagle website– I have it in favorites- Isnt technology amazing–
@Kitei– like your thoughts on the postcards.
@L.S.and Kathryn- I thank-you too.
Cindy from LA
@kieti
Love your ideas for the postcards. Especially putting
Them on a wall in The Zenyatta lounge which is a place
For the ladies of the backside to hope and dream!!!!!
Cindy from LA
@Janet Cutting
It is great to hope and dream. Z in your backyard !!!!!
Wow!!!!!
Jan
As a fellow Texan good luck to William and Linda. ya”ll bring home that Bronze :) and also to the other contenders :) Hope you are well and happy big Mama. Waiting for more pictures.
Dani
It’s nap time for this sleepy horse…
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http://todmarks.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Day-31-Aug-27/G0000KwkGudhaIdk/I0000wiTAT8P1mIo
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Ann Moss must have been wearing her ruby red slippers and clicked three times to come up with that over the rainbow photo. It’s almost indescribable – something out of a fantasy.
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Thanks to Cheva and Isabelle who drew the lucky 32 and to Carmen and Michelle who just drew the even luckier sweet 16. It’s nice to see Barn 55ers too. I’m sure they are enjoying their part in the contest. Such a good idea to have them draw the cards. Elite 8 next – the excitement builds. Congratulations to you all.
.
Zenny – I’m having a big fruit salad for dinner tonight and thinking about you. It’s got all your favorites – pears and apples and bananas and some other fruits you might want to try some day like strawberries, kiwi, pineapple and blueberries. If you were here I would gladly share. :)
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Wow, looks like there are many nice pics in that there office! And want to say good luck to the people who made the cut and are now in the remaining sixteen. It is surely getting to be exciting and I am getting a bit anxious-I am in the remaining sixteen. I never even thought my luck would hold out this far.
Hope you are having a nice week Zenyatta and that you are spending time in the sun and taking in the Kentucky breezes. Keep on a shining bright my bright star Zenyatta! Love & Blessings to you!
Valarie Franklin
@Janine: I can’t believe I’m still in!
@Sally: Where in MI are you??
@LS: Thanks for the info on LEF and everything. I understand that they can’t let visitors see her, I just appreciate this blog to help Zenyatta keep up to date with all of us! We are so lucky to have her and her Team!
Karen Mitchell
Dear Z and Teams, I’m still higher than a kite about making it to the Sweet Sixteen. Thanks to all the many who have wished us all good luck in the contest. What a fine group of people you are who comment on Z’s diary posts.
@Trina Nagele – special thanks to you for the HURRAYs to Dawn Conrad and me. Much appreciated.
Shari Voltz
Dear sweet Zenyatta the sun finally came out towards the end of the school day. I hope Kentucky got some sun :) I hope you and the girls had a good day. I love you beautiful girl. I want to say Congrats to all 16 as they move on. My students and I are excited to see who wins the bronze. I told them about Dawn my new friend so now she has 22 little people plus the other teachers I have told and my furbabies crossing fingers, toes and paws for her(Ha-Ha). Good night Queen Z I have to get ready for school. I hope tomorrow brings you sunshine and sweet blue grass. Hugs and Kisses from Shari XXXOOO
@Dawn I am just so excited for you :)
@Christine I have the eagle cam up in the classroom. We check on them each day. I have been to the zoo where they are located. I love the Virginia Beach-Norfolk area. My husband was active in the Navy in his younger days. Take care :)
karen g
Since my name is Karen too, must root for Karen!!!! Good luck to all really! (but Karen’s gonna win!) :)
Janet Cutting
@L.S.– well…. (stomping my feet) ok ….. your right….
sandra gomez
GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO WILL MAKE THE ELITE EIGHT.. YOU TRULY ARE LUCKY PEOPLE!! “THE chosen ones”!!! I LOVE YOU, ZENYATTA, YOU ARE SPECIAL IN ALL OF OUR HEARTS!!
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. Hello beautiful, hope you and the paddock gal pals had a marvelous day. Still amazed I am in the running for your magnificent bronze. It just makes my heart burst with happiness. Please say hello to everyone at Lane’s End. With everything going on at the farm right now, we certainly appreciate the effort they put into sharing you with us. Good night, gorgeous. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
@Shari Voltz – Hope your day was wonderful too!!
@Karen Mitchell – Sister or little sister, coming from you, they both sound great!
@Abigail – You are amazing!! I love “the vault” so much and of course, Giacomo is very special. Such fantastic history and pictures. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us.
@Margie and Sandy – Thank you!
@Robbie Pfeufer Kahn and Trina – Thank you both for the support you expressed for the lovely Karen Mitchell and myself. What fun!
@Anna M – **ALERT** I was so sorry to read about the beautiful foals that were lost. How heartbreaking to see such a precious soul come into the world, only to be lost much too soon. We admire their ability to get on their feet right away and run beside Mom within hours, but we are reminded that they are also fragile babies. The equine artist Fred Stone has a wonderful picture he did called, A Century of Heroes. He wrote that the colt in the painting represents the hopes and dreams of a new century. He goes on to state that the colt had a strong personal effect on him for many years. Just after he photographed the colt for the art work he would create, he was informed that the colt had died of pneumonia. Mr. Stone stated that years later, through this painting he was able to give the little foal the life he would never have.
Peggy
To my little sister Dawn, yep I’m older too 57, boo hoo, Anyway, enought about age. I wish you a huge huge huge Congratulations. Wow the sweet l6 so wonderful. I am so so happy for you and everyone. Not much longer now. So exciting. @LS, yes Thank you for explaining Lane’s End Policy. I want to see Zenny again I think as much as anyone, but I sure don’t want to make them frustrated . They are such a wonderful staff and so very wonderful with the visitors. They are just over the top wonderful in my opinion. I think they all know we love her, but I guess its just a Catch 22, whats best for the mares and us?????? A dilema for sure. I am optomistic, though. Only one thing I feel for sure, It want happen during breeding season, unless its something very very out of the ordinary. Better go for now. Love you Zenny very much.
Dawn Conrad
@Shari Voltz – YOU ARE JUST “TOO CUTE” MY FRIEND!!!!!! Thank everyone for their support! I have to say, I really love having those 22 little people and your furbabies on my side. That certainly brings a tear to the eye!
Dawn Conrad
@Peggy – Hey, 54 or 57, with all we have in common I think that is close enough to be called twins. What do you think? Do you leave for the sale this weekend? Remember to pick me out a beauty! You shouldn’t have too much trouble sneeking just one back, right? We can share.
Kim S
Congratulations to the “16”!!! This is almost as exciting as one your races Zenny. :)
@Dawn Conrad—Way to GO!!! Hooves are crossed for you.
Good luck to everyone.
@ Anna M–so sorry to hear about the losses of the foals. Those wonderful babies have some angelic human and equine caretakers now. And of course we can’t forget all the other animal angels that will be there.
We are all here to bring strength and a shoulder when needed. And Zenny has strong shoulders for the foundation. Thanks once again to Dottie and Team Z for this one-of-a-kind gift.
Happy thoughts and lotsa love to all
MK
Well, Sweet SIxteen and never been kissed… by Zenyatta! I didn’t make the cut this time (Jersey is out!) but send my best lucky wishes to those who remain. I figure I’m a sprinter: made it out of the gate and held on but tired at 5 furlongs. Thank you again for this wonderful contest. I appreciate all the posters and especially, Dottie – you make this experience awesome.
Rose: maybe you, Joe, and I can meet at Monmouth Park sometime this summer. We all love Zenyatta! We could have a fun day in Oceanport… :)
Quarterhossgal
Good evening Queen Z, hope you had a wonderful day. In regard to seeing Zenny around Derby time, just think of how many people will be in Louisville at that time, I’m going to bet that at least 99% are fans of Zenyatta. Even if Zen was at a farm like Rachel is, there is no way to safely handle that many people. We are so fortunate to have the updates we receive from Dottie just be thankful we still have a connection to Zen. All of us would love to see Zenny but as been said before the HORSES come first.
Robyn Mullhausen
Good luck to all!
Regina From NJ
@Dawn Conrad: I was so excited to see your name on the list, I forgot to read the Diary and had to go back mid-way thrugh the posts. hahahah!
@ Anna: No words can ever compensate for the loss you feel. But, words are all I have–I am so sorry.
Hello Zenyatta: Guess what! I am so tired tonight that I could just be like a horse and sleep standing upright. : ) ZZZzzz—G’night. xoxoxoxoxo
Kathy
So glad to see that my fellow Ney Yoker Thomas is in. Hope he checks out region X for model horse shows!! His entry would be a crowd draw!!
Linda in NJ
Oh Zenny! Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo! My name did not make this round! Oh, Great Big Elephant Tears! Very disappointed! However, I feel very fortunate that my name was selected in the first 2 rounds. Thank you Dottie and Team Z for all your efforts in making the Zenyatta Bronze Contest so much fun!!! Congratulations to the Sweet Sixteen and wishing all of you the very best of luck in the next round.
LauraJ
@Georgina, there are other fun things you can do during your days before the Derby. Can I assume you’ll have a rental car? In the Louisville area, there’s the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Louisville Slugger Museum if you like baseball. Lexington has lots of horsey things to do. I highly recommend a visit to Old Friends if you like to get up close and personal with horses. They run three tours a day for the paltry sum of $5. Or, you could see about visiting Our Mims retirement home for broodmares. The Kentucky Horse Park is worth several hours. You’ll see Man O’War’s grave as well as the final resting places of other great champions, TB and non-TB. Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide and Champion Cigar reside at the Hall of Champions. The museum is wonderful. Some of the breeding farms may be open and offering tours; try Claiborne or Three Chimneys. Mammoth Cave National Park is about an hour south of Louisville. An hour past that is the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. My Old Kentucky Home is between Lexington and Louisville. There is also the Bourbon Trail tour of distilleries. It’s also fun just to drive around the Bluegrass region. Have fun!
Dawn Conrad
@Kim S and Regina – So many wonderful individuals wishing me well is just overwhelming! Thank you both so much.
@LauraJ and Georgina – Laura the suggestions you made are great. There are so many wonderful things to do and see in and around Louisville and Lexington. Georgina, Claiborne is one of my favorite places of all. Of course it was the home of Secretariat and so many other legendary champions. In addition, they are very generous in letting you get close to the stallions. Pulpit is amazing and a real sweetheart. So many of the farms are terrific. I would call right away if you want to visit one, Derby week is pretty hectic. Have fun, I envy you!!
Cindy from LA
@LauraJ
Did not realize that there was sooo much
To do in KY. Thanks for sharing will keep all this
In mind for Breeders Cup in Nov. Would really
Love to go to Old Friends!!!!!
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
hope your days have you munching on that good Kentucky Blue Grass, when you’re not crunching mints, or carrots, or sloppin’ it up with pears. :) :) Heehee
The photo by your Mom Ann is really special, very unusual, great alertness on her part to snap the camera on just the right time. :) :) :)
Congrats to your 16 lucky fans, it’ll be sthg to get your beautiful statue.
Of course you don’t need a statue of yourself, you have yourself to look at every day, have you ever seen yourself in a mirror? Do you recognize yourself? Do you flash a smile, ha ha? Do you blow a kiss at yourself, and say: “well, hello, there gorgeous?”
Well, it’s time to turn in, sleep tight, and sweet dreams of all your favs <3<3<3
Vicki B.
@Vicki – I have enjoyed your enjoyment at still appearing on the list, since we happen to have the same first name. And while you’re up in Apple Valley, I’m down in L.A. near Hollywood Park. Good luck on this drawing!
Peggy
Hey Dawn, yes twins for sure. I am leaving going down to the sales on Sunday. It’s about 2hr45min away, I’m going to leave about lunch. I hope i’m not anoying people at my keeping talking about it but I am soo soo excited. I’m a little worried about the traffic on sunday as we’ve got lots and lots of the spring breakers still out there on I-75, and its going to be easter that next sunday. I’m out there everyday going back and forth to work and it has just been unreal this year. My brothers going too. As for the horses I have been going through the book and you know I have to look for the Secretariat line and there are so many in there for the sales. I don’t know I just have a feeling theres going to be a really great colt again coming from his line. Just a Good Feeling. I’m just going to be in heaven or close to it for sure. Or like Bob Baffert said like a kid in a toy store. And, yes yes yes I need to try and sneak one out. A beautiful Chestnut Colt…..Or a beautiful Filly. There are so many from the book that I want to see. OMG….I’ll close for now wish me luck getting there. Love to you Zenny and sweet dreams.