Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #240

ZAZU…in her stall relaxing! Photo by John Sadler

Good Morning,

HAPPY KENTUCKY OAKS DAY! What a special day! In our camp, we are CHEERING ON ZAZU! Look…even the fans LOVE Z’s! They are putting the initial Z on their front door! John just had to take this photo when he saw it!

ZAZU is in Post 6 in a field that is carded with a total of 13 horses. She will be right in the middle of the field when standing in the gate. With her running style, which is a bit like mine coming from off the pace, this is a very good post. Her jockey, Joel Rosario, knows her well and will hopefully get her in the perfect position at the start, let her drop back just enough and then finish strong. (Sounds GREAT to ME!)

We will all be wearing some PINK today as well. Churchill Downs has the fundraising for cancer awareness on Oaks Day! What a great, great idea to help with cancer research.

Zazu’s jockey will also be wearing pink…as OUR SILKS are pink and green!

LET’S GO ZAZU! You know I will be cheering you on!

With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z

Reader Interactions

160 Comments

  1. / Reply

    My adorable Zenyatta, You are a horse of a life time!!! So sad Uncle Mo is not running… Good luck Zazu,good luck Joyful Victory. Ingrid.

  2. / Reply

    Hello Zeny: Thanks for the information. Good luck to Zazu and her jockey Joel. I have been praying for a great and safe for them. Hugs, Marilu

  3. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta and Team Z — seeing those three richly deserved trophies brings back memories of watching your races on TV and seeing in person race twice at HP. The thrills as you came from behind every time and the deafening roar of the crowds were both mind-boggling. I had never heard cheering that loud and seeing you win literally sent chills up and down my spine. I don’t know if I’ll ever have that feeling again, but having you in my life has given me the gift of appreciating and admiring every horse, whether racing or just being and giving of itself to all around. That is a gift like no other. Thank you so very much. My greatest wish is that Zazu and all the other horses that run today, tomorrow, and every day and everywhere will come back safe, sound, healthy, and happy. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do, bringing so much love and hope into the world; you are wonderful beyond words.

  5. / Reply

    I will be cheering on Zazu as well! I just hope they all have a safe trip! Your man Bernie has a son in the Derby.. Go Stay Thirsty.. Love you, Zenyatta

  6. / Reply

    P.S. @Dawn Conrad –so glad you have been in touch with Nina Kaiser about your beautiful Zenyatta bronze #19. All the commenters here love Z so much — no one more or less than you — but you have the ability to express it so eloquently and with such richness that you capture our feelings like perhaps no other. Can’t wait to see your pictures of the sculpture in your home. Enjoy it with all your heart.

  8. / Reply

    Good luck to ZaZu. Prayers that she will have a good and safe trip. Hope you are doing well Z-you are probably glued to the TV set today-LOL! Have a wonderful day! xxoo

  9. / Reply

    I’ve got Mike’s mount (Joyful Victory) and Zazu 1-2! Good luck to all and hope they come home safe.

    Are you rooting for Bernie’s son (Stay Thirsty) in the Derby, Zen? :)

  10. / Reply

    Wishing for safe trips for all in the Oaks and Derby.
    Go Zazu! I hope to see Zazu and Joyful Victory finish 1-2! Gotta love those Tapit greys; especially when one belongs to the Moss family and one is piloted by Mike!
    Love, Ellen

  11. / Reply

    Z’s rule! Fingers and hooves crossed for Zazu – if you send her your special thoughts it’s sure to help!! Safe ride to all today and tomorrow – that’s the most important thing. (thanks Dottie and to John for all his pics!)

  12. / Reply

    @ ALL FANS OF UNCLE MO:
    The Mo was scratched. Now, no matter what happens tomorrow, I believe the wrong horse will win. Uncle Mo was born to win this race. I am so sad for the colt and all his connections. I hope he will succesfully recover from his infection in time to race in the Preakness.
    @ Zenyatta: Tell Zazu to run fast! She will beat the tails off the other horses! Go Zazuuuu!!!!

  16. / Reply

    Dearest Sweet “Z,”
    Can barely keep up with the K.D. Fever! Your trophy is beautiful and is the cherry on top of your racing career. You are the best!
    ………………………
    ZAZU – See you tomorrow at Santa Anita Frontrunner…”Let’s get dirty pretty girl!” You can do it since you are a mud-lover :) There are many shades of Grey, let’s Go All The Way!

  17. / Reply

    Ms Zenyatta…Cheering for Zazu! Sadness for Uncle Mo, glad his owners are taking precautions, but I really believe he was meant to have this Derby…so sad tomorrow. I love you Big Girl, ZaZu wins…Lisa g

  18. / Reply

    Go, Zazu!
    (To commenters from #239:)
    @Nina Kaiser—Thanks for saying what Z herself, as you put it, “was far too classy to say:” she deserved TWO Horse of the Year awards—and I would even go for three.
    @Terry Crow—I like your analysis about what convinced the Mosses to let Z run in 2010. That takes the sting out of her not having been given her due by the Eclipse committee for 2009.
    @Laura J—Thanks for the great info about Eclipse and the portrait of him by George Stubbs.
    @Cynthia H—What a beautiful tribute to Zenyatta! I especially loved the end: “Place yet another trophy in your cabinet, Zenyatta, invisible, but nonetheless real. You are the ‘Horse of our Hearts,’ forever.”
    @Debbie in CO—Well said! Zenyatta “will always be Horse of the Year, every year.”
    @Especially Horses—Here’s to your dog Archie, your cat Macho, and their almost-namesakes in the Derby.
    @DJ—Thanks for the link about how post position will probably affect the outcome.

    Thanks, always, to Team Z for letting us share in the glory of Zenyatta.

  20. / Reply

    @ Amber– Z slipped her foal, and we have had no word on if she has been ‘bred back’ yet..

  22. / Reply

    SWEET Z,
    WHAT A FABULOUS DAY FOR YOUR DEAR GAL PAL, ZAZU. WE ARE ALL ANXIOUSLY AWAITING HER ARRIVAL ON THE TRACK. SHE IS A BEAUTY…ZAZU HAS YOUR STYLE.
    MAY THE RACING GODS SMILE DOWN UPON HER TODAY. HUGS TO YOU :)

  23. / Reply

    Z, we are all rooting for Zazu!! I thought your silks were teal and pink…are they green and pink??
    Love, Katie(future jockey)

  26. / Reply

    Z is the favorite letter of many of us here who visit this site, at least that would be my guess! Thank you for sharing that front door photo – it is as you say – too cute! Best wishes to Zazu today in the Kentucky Oaks. She is such a pretty girl, too, as well as being talented. I’m also hoping that Joyful Victory will do well in this race as she is in the barn of another trainer for whom I have a great deal of respect, Larry Jones. I also sincerely wish all of Zenyatta’s Team from CA who are visiting in KY will have a very fun and very safe trip. Thank you, Zenyatta, for being our Queen!

  27. / Reply

    Go Zazu!!
    Happy Oaks Day everyone, and safe running to all our sweet equine athletes and their riders!

  30. / Reply

    zenny- just read posts 239 and 240.WOW- love the picture of your trophies! They represent so much and I know all your people are SO PROUD! Love you!
    @ CYNTHIA H:loved your post
    @ ALEXANDRA BOWDOIN and JUDY B: I saw the “Thoroughbred” show on PBS- really excellent, wasn’t it?
    @DAWN CONRAD,SUE NOEL,SHARON CALL: I’m with you,too, on the horse movies and books! Did you all see “Snowfire”? It used to come on regularly in the Chicago area when I was growing up. Never got old! Loved the Marguerite Henry books- especially “King of The Wind.” And I always watched “Fury” on Saturday mornings. Of course, I loved the Black Stallion books. The movie made around 1983(?) by Francis Ford Coppolla (sp?)was really good, if you haven’t seen it.
    GO ZAZU! It’s almost race time!!
    @ ANNA W and SHARI VOLZ and CLASS: sorry to hear about your Uncle Mo but happy that such young people can appreciate doing what’s best for him!

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