HAPPY MONDAY, EVERYONE!
I hope all of you had a great weekend. The Preps really put everything into a BIG UNKNOWN for the Kentucky Derby! It will be interesting to see how it all plays out during the next few weeks! This is such a FUN time of the year!
Yesterday was very exciting! EL VINO, my gallant workmate for many of my pre-race workouts, is now having a fun time on the track and winning his own races. He was such a great sport last year and really worked hard to assist me with my racing career. Now he is having his own success. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM!
When a horse is preparing for BIG RACES and competing on a very high level, the workouts need to be challenging and solid to substantiate the preparation. One needs to be extremely fit and ready for competition. In 2010, I ran in all Grade 1 races. As this is the highest level we have in our sport, my pre-race workouts were very important to my success!
EL VINO really helped out with this part of my training program! He was the horse who set the pace for me in many of my works. He was also part of the team drills John would orchestrate to often prepare me for my Grade 1 races. Words truly can’t express how appreciative I am of his efforts. As a matter of fact, John often said he deserved an AWARD of his own for being a fabulous SUPPORTING PLAYER!
EL VINO looks so comfy, cozy and happy back at the barn relaxing after yesterday’s victory. It was his second WIN in a row! Sunday was a rather warm day in Arcadia, so Frank and Ruben very safely set up a nice big fan by his stall to really help him enjoy the moment!
On his stall door, there is also a yellow sign which says SECURE AREA…DETENTION STALL…DO NOT APPROACH! In California, it is absolutely MANDATORY that this sign be posted by the stall of every single horse who is running that day…a minimum of 4 hours before his/her race. This sign is meant to indicate several things to everyone: 1) this horse is ENTERED TO RUN ON THIS DAY 2) the stall is MONITORED and SECURE and 3) this horse is not to be touched or bothered by anyone before the race except the immediate barn staff who will need to put the equipment on the horse and take he/she over to the paddock to run. This is one of the many industry precautions taken to protect the integrity of our SPORT. These rules are essential and extremely important!
I must say, it is deeply touching to see EL VINO again! I am so happy for him! Dottie was telling me that several people stopped her at the races yesterday and commented that ‘he had cotton in his ears’ just like ME…and they bet on him because he was my WORKMATE!
She also mentioned while in the Winners’ Circle, EL VINO literally bowed his head 3 times towards the camera when posing for his picture. It was as if he was sending ME one great big…”YIPPEE, Z, I DID IT!” This is TOO CUTE!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Linda Henderson
Hooray for El Vino! I’ll be cheering him on.
Nancy
HAPPY PASSOVER ZENYATTA………..I BET YOU COULD FIND THE HIDDEN MATZO!!!!!!!!
nina
Love his name. We toast to El( Gran )Vino!!!!
Sharon in Seattle
Georgia in Bellevue – still hoping for you to be our WA winner! You know, I’ll run, walk, fly, crawl or swim to Bellevue to see the bronze should you be the fortunate one!! : )
Linda Henderson
@Kirren, I just watched your video. It’s great! Thank you so much.
Charlotte A. Farmer
Everyone needs good friends and both you and El Vino were there for one another. I too am wondering Zenyatta, do you know if Mr. Commons will be heading to Kentucky?
Love you!
Dani
Z – Your friend El Vino’s race really was exciting. It’s too bad you couldn’t have seen it. He pulled a Zenyatta coming from 9 lengths back. Just in case anyone doesn’t know, you can catch replays of the California tracks’ races on calracing.com. You need to register but it’s free and it’s just your name and address. For El Vino’s race click on the 8th race at Santa Anita from yesterday the 17th.
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A big thank you to Suzanne Thomas and her wonderful photos posted on Backside 55. She always does a great job. And isn’t ‘Vino’ photogenic? Such a sweet face. It’s great that he is now finally able to come into his own. You had a great and wonderful friend and workmate in him Zenyatta. I’m sure you miss the comraderie and the competition. I’m sure he misses you too.
.
It’s nice to learn about all the protocal that goes into race day. I’m sure you can never be careful enough. Nice to know all the horses are treated like VIPs. But then I’m sure all of John’s horses are treated that way every single day. They must love living at Barn 55.
.
Kirren – thank you for the beautiful video – very sentimental and the music is just perfect for it.
DJ
Goodnight Sweet “Z”,
A little happy-hour treat: Found footage of you and El Vino ‘sparring together.’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6_qq3GIzR0
DJ
Forgive me…did not mean to leave out “Sarbonne” :)
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
my, what a beau El Vino is, his blaze runs all the way down to his nose where it turns pink. I bet he made your heart beat faster and put your best hoof forward at your workouts. I bet he’s still thinking about your dance moves, and your beatiful dark eyes, and those white socks are still making his heart flutter. :) :) :)
Hope today treated you and your paddock pals well, with an all you can eat grass, oats, carrots buffet. Have a restful night and sweet dreams of all your favs.
Lynn ..... (nearby Hwd Park) California
Hi Zenny
I love the informative posts. You really put a lot of effort in it to write it all out. Always appreciative.
Have a wonderful week.
Holly Zemba
Thanks for the info on the sign!!
Regina From NJ
KIRREN DOLAN–How can I ever thank you for sharing those sweet memories? You have put together what her adoring fans would consider some of Zenyatta’s finest moments. Wouldn’t it be just wonderful if you could one day capture what ZENYATTA, herself, would consider her finest moments which I believe would be the life she is living now?! Maybe one day that might happen—-so keep your camera ready! Thanks again.
EL VINO-How lucky you are to be at Barn 55. You gave us another sweet moment in time, and you look so “at home” in the Winner’s Circle.
Good luck to the Elite Eight —
Good luck, Dawn. I hope to find you still on the track and running for the bronze.
Hello Zenyatta: I loved the scoop about Dention. Love you -G’night.xoxoxoxoxo
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: Hope all is well with you today and you enjoyed your weekend. Thanks for introducing us to El Vino. I was watching the Santa Anita races yesterday, but I must have missed this one. Darn! Congratulations to El Vino on winning his second race. He is certainly a very handsome guy. And congratulations to John and Mr. & Mrs Moss, too. This is exciting because when we come to visit this summer hopefully we will get to see El Vino and Mr. Commons and your former home/stall at Barn 55. Take care Zenny. Love, Linda
KIMBERLY
Hi Queen, Thanks for all the information about El Vino. He is quite a handsome one. I bet that was incentive for you to run your best around him!!! I mean’t to say PAST HIM and everyone else…Have sweet dream big girl! Nitey Nite!!!
Linda in NJ
P.S. Zenny that is too cute with El Vino’s 3 bows. You taught him well.
Kirren
Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments on my video! It means so much to me to continue to share Queen Z with fellow fans!
Mary
DEAREST ZENYATTA
TODAY A MAN I MET AT THE PIONEER CASINO WHERE I WORK CAME UP TO MY BLACKJACK TABLE AND HANDED ME A BAG AND SAID THIS IS FROM ZENYATTA…WHEN I GOT MY BREAK I GOT TO OPEN THE BAG AND IT HAD A HORSE SHOE, A BREEDERS CUP PROGRAM AND A POSTER FROM THE 2010 BREEDERS CUP. THE MAN SAW ME AT THE BREEDERS CUP IN 2009 AND WALKED UP UP TO MY GAME AT WORK AND SAID I JUST SAW YOU AT THE BREEDERS CUP, I TOLD HIM OF MY LOVE FOR YOU AND WHEN IT GOT TIME FOR THE 2010 COMIN UP AND I HAD TO TELL HIM I COULDN’T BE THERE HE TOLD ME HE’D BRING ME SOMETHING FROM CHURCHILL DOWNS…AND ALL THESE MONTHS LATER TODAY WAS THE DAY!!! HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU LOOK IN THE POSTER!!! I HADDN’T SEEN ONE BEFORE AND NOW I AM SO EXCITED!!! YOU LOOK AWESOME!!! I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’M GOING TO HANG IT UP BUT I’LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I DO!!!
I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR FRIEND EL VINO, MY HUSBAND SAID HE WOULD HAVE BET ON HIM HAD HE KNOWN THE HISTORY WITH YOU TWO…LOL… NEXT TIME
ZENYATTA I LOVE YOU
Wayne C
Do you have a second date planned with Bernadini? :-)
Karen Mitchell
Dear Zenyatta, thanks for another wonderful and informative post. Everything I learn about TB horseracing makes me more appreciative of all you have done and of the sport in general. What athletes and ambassadors you all are.
@Kirren-thanks for the lovely video. It made me remember again how much I love Z and her whole team, how beautiful she is doing anything and everything, and what a wondrous being she is.
@Kathy Beyers-my heart goes out to you for the loss of your mom to cancer. I lost my husband to cancer (3 different kinds) a year ago and I am still so sad. Wish I had been at Santa Anita to take that walk. Years ago I worked as an RN at City of Hope and that is a fantastic place.
@Dawn Conrad-I’ll be crossing my fingers and toes that you make it to the Final Four. That is my greatest wish right now. But I also wish very good luck to the other seven, as I know it is a privilege and a thrill to still be in the contest and so, so, so close to winning that bronze.
To Zenyatta, I hope you are sleeping now and dreaming of all the people and things you love.
ira
i was there yesterday and saw him win. he looked great. you would have been impressed!
ira
i also had the chance to walk the track to help raise money for a cancer cure. John and Dottie were walking too. Earlier in the day, John signed my Thoroughbred Times Zenyatta booklet.
Meredith
So Zeny,
who are you going to pick for the derby?
Lynn ..... (nearby Hwd Park) California
….
@ Mary, I love your Pioneer Casino story. And you got the winning bag of goodies!
Theresa Buck
ms Z I was wondering when you gonna try the mother thingy again?
karen lamb
My Dear Zen, You and yours inspire me everytime I come to the website. You all remind me how important it is to be nice and to stay thoughtful of others, especially children. Being a retired one-room school teacher I miss that part of my life as you must miss racing. But like you having fun with my friends and my family (yours being Team Zenyatta) is such a lovely part of life. You and yours are beautiful inside and outside. Thanks for the daily inspiration you all provide to millions. friend, karen
Anne from Paramount, CA
Hi Queen Z and everyone else. I haven’t posted on this site yet, but read through it a couple of times a week and feel as though I “know” many of you. I “met” LauraJ on a Blood Horse site a while back; she introduced me to Little Silver Charm, which was great fun. Anyway, I am writing today to tell you all and especially you, Queen Z, that yesterday YOUR Mike rode our horse in the 6th race. My husband Rod and I are in a partnership with a couple of horses and Rightful Image is one of them. The trainer is Mike Machowsky, so no “Z” connections there, BUT Patrick Valenzuela (P.VAL)was scheduled to ride “Rightful,” but he was delayed getting back from Oaklawn where he had been on Saturday. So, the switch was made to your MIKE!! I have to tell you that Rightful Image is very tall–I’m 5’2″ and it is hard to reach up to give him a nose smooch when we visit him–I think he is 16 hands. So when we met Mike briefly in the paddock, we teased him that he was used to tall horses. He just grinned. Anyway, sure enough he was behind–quite a ways behind and zoom–here he comes between horses then on the outside and finished second. It was his best of the four races he’s been in. Very exciting!! I screamed at Mike to pretend he was on Zenyatta! So, you can add that to your thoughts about yesterday’s races, Z. You are always with us in some manner.
@J Smith, I did not see the news last night and had a good laugh reading about that sign of the Zenyatta Women’s Lounge.
@ Mary, I too loved your Pioneer Casino story.
@ anyone who was at Santa Anita yesterday, I did not go on the walk, but made a donation. Sounds like it was great. On another occasion several years ago we were able to go into the starting gate (at Hollywood Park), but that’s a story for another time. Fascinating!
Good luck to all still in the contest.
And yes, Z.of course congrats to your friend El Vino!!! Hooves crossed for everyone to have a safe ride.
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. It is a little after 10:00 and there is a steady rain falling outside. That should make the spring flowers very happy. So glad that El Vino won his race at Santa Anita. What a special friend he was to help you so much while you were in training. That’ what friends are for, Zenny. Now he can take a bow and know you are there cheering him on. It must have felt good for him to kick back and relax in front of the fan. Maybe even a Guinness perhaps? How great that Team Z was celebrating in the winner’s circle again, just where they belong. Thank you too for continuing to providing such great racing information, such as the detention sign description, Zenny. You and Dottie are just amazing. Hope you stay warm and safe tonight. Sweet dreams. Hug and kisses. XXXOOO
@The Santa Anita Group – It sounds like you all had a great time at the races this weekend. Heather, how wonderful that you daughter got to meet and speak with John. Several of you spent time with Dottie also, too fun!! The walk on the track to benefit the fight against cancer is amazing.
@Cynthia Holt – Beautifully written.
@Janet Cutting – Thank you very much.
@Sue Noel – Your are too sweet. I know what you mean about praying that the horses and jockeys come home safe when they race. That is my greatest wish.
@Karen Mitchell – You are just the best!
@Mary – Aren’t surprises just so much fun! When you least expect it, a little magic happens.
@Regina – Thank you also. It certainly is exciting.
@Kathy Beyers – I too have lost loved ones and struggled with cancer myself. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. I am sure your mother was watching.
@Shari – Have a great week!!
judy berube
Dear Kirren:
Just watched your beautiful video of Z. How lucky you are to have been so close to her. Thank you for sharing. Hugs. Judy Berube
S (in san diego)
@Kirren -Thank you so much for your video. I was there on Breeders Cup day and you just made the memories come alive. The entire video is beautiiful and the shot of Z and Mario under their tree, brought me to tears.
@Abigail – thank you for the picture.
Good night and God Bless everyone.