HAPPY KENTUCKY DERBY DAY TO EVERYONE!
This is such an exciting time in our industry! I have had a great, great week. Ann, Jerry and Dottie were all here visiting and spending LOTS of time with ME! Then on Thursday, I hosted a lovely family who participated in a SAFE AT HOME Charity Auction. They pledged the winning bid to come and visit with ME and take a tour of Lane’s End Farm! Interestingly, at the same time David was bringing them to see ME, Ann, Jerry, Dottie, Mike Smith, Victor Espinoza, Angel Cordero and Brad Pegram were all here spending time with ME. Great photo moments…for sure! We all had LOTS OF FUN!
I have to say, I think my paddock pals are really enjoying the attention we are ALL getting. Pirate’s Queen absolutely loves everyone and goes right over to the fence the moment anyone comes to visit. I am also spending lots of time with my new paddock pals, Mona de Momma and Tasty Temptation. We are all GREAT FRIENDS and love every moment of visiting and grazing together. The Kentucky Blue Grass is lush and fabulous right now. We are SO FORTUNATE!
In addition to visiting with ME, members of MY TEAM were going back and forth to Churchill Downs each day to spend time with ZAZU! She really ran a wonderful race yesterday and finished 3rd in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. She was finishing with a nice closing kick and we are all very proud of her effort and performance. ZAZU is so pretty. She is such a light gray that she appears to be almost white. I wanted to share this photo of her with you…as you can see how lovely she is!
TODAY IS DERBY DAY! I’m hearing so much NEWS about ALL OF THE HORSES that it is really hard to pick one. I think there are always so many stories surrounding the Derby that make it FUN! Jon Court…has had an amazing career and this is his first Derby mount. Then to have it be for his father-in-law makes it all so, so special. Dottie was commenting…can’t you just see the family out shopping for DERBY HATS together! You have to wish them well. Then the female side of all of this is intriguing with the 2 female trainers, Katherine Ritvo and Kathleen O’Connell, and the female jockey, Rosie Napravnik, all having wonderful opportunities in this year’s RUN FOR THE ROSES.
MY TEAM won the Kentucky Derby in 2005 with GIACOMO! They have commented a zillion times, it is the thrill of a lifetime…and a true moment you will never forget. It will always be a part of you!
May all of the horses and their connections in this year’s DERBY have a safe and wonderful trip! May they experience MOMENTS OF A LIFETIME!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
J Smith
@Janet. Awwwwe, hope your kitty does well. It’s so true, we can learn a lot from animals. Re. Zazu’s coloring, don’t know if u know, but she has 2 grey 1/2 sisters the same age and color, thou I think Zazu is lighter. They all race very well & can be found on facebook! Of course, what disconcerting horse doesn’t have a fb page!!! Their names are Joyful Victory, who came in right behind Zazu in the Oaks (ridden by Mike Smith) & Dancinginherdreams, who is taking a bit of a break, she needs to eat more. Their sire is Tapit. I don’t think he has a fb page but u can find pix of him if u google his name. The other grey family of sisters are Awesome Maria (Uncle Mo’s girlfriend) and Hey Maria, their sire is Maria’s Mon. I don’t think he was grey though, can’t remember. Soooo many horses, so little time. Opps I’m supposed to be cleaning the house, better run.
Kim S
Hope everyone is having a Happy Mother’s Day. And here’s hoping we will be wishing you, Zenny, one next year. The photo of you and Ann is TOO CUTE!!!
Wouldn’t it be great if the Mosses started a Zenyatta greeting card line with John’s photos of all the horses? I would definitely be a customer. :)
@Paula Higgins–I can’t watch a foal being born without tearing up no matter if it’s a Thoroughbred, Mustang or whatever. All babies are special but horse babies are just so much more so.
Speedy recoveries to Comma at the Top, Archarcharch and Pants on Fire, so sorry for their misfortunes.
Everyone have a great week and lotsa love to all.
Melissa
Zazu ran a great race, hope she continues to improve and we get to see her again at the races soon.
Rosemary McCauley
Congratulations to Zazu for her placement in the Kentucky Oaks. I have seen her race at Santa Anita and she is indeed very pretty. Zenyatta, glad you had so many visitors and had a great weekend.
Delores
Hi My Precious Z, what a beautiful picture of Zazu. I believe all the horses from barn 55 are the most beautiful horses, expecially my Zenyatta. I am glad you are having visitors from your family from California. I know they miss you as much as your fans do. Love you lots Z, XOXOXOXO
Marilu V
Hello Zeny and Dottie: Thank you for the beautiful picture of Zazu. It looks like a painting.
I was lucky to go to Santa Anita twice when Zazu was racing those weekends. First time in my life – for the Zenyatta poster and second to bring my son who has never been to the races. THANK YOU ZENY FOR OPENING MY EYES AND HEART TO THE WORLD OF HORSE RACING. You came to my life when I really needed it. It has changed me forever!!
Zazu and Turbulent Descent had a great rivalry from what I saw and heard. I saw Zazu win one race against Turbulent Descent. A month later lost to him by a head. I wonder how he would have done if he joined Kentucky Oaks. I read his trainer chose to let him race on turf because he is great on turf.
Congratulations to lovely Zazu and God bless her with many more wins! Hugs, Marilu
Sally (B)
Sweet Z! I was happy for Zazu to place 3rd. I cheered all the way to the finish!!
She is a pretty horse. I am up at my dearest friend & hubby & with mine. Saw the Oaks! Now the Derby! Such tradition is bestowed on this race. To win this can not be forgotten ever. Hurrah for Giacomo for there are so many horses in this race!! Poor Uncle Mo, he not being whole,scratched. Love to see them think about the horse. So who will win this Derby!? love and a kiss on your soft nose
Paul
Zenyatta, I’ll bet that you are really enjoying all these people spending time with you including Angel Cordero. Your stable mates are enjoying all the attention as well. It’s a party that you wish would never end. Congratulations on the effort that Zazu put forth in her race.
Debbie
I was pulling for Zazu!! She is such a beauty & I know she’s your pal. She did a great job. I also love her name because my champion show dog,a whippet, has a daughter named Zazu who is also a champion. & whippets are fast like you Z! That’s why I always root for Zazu.
Hugs from Los Angeles / Monday
WILD HORSES
Zazu is a cutie pie. I saw a HRTV diary segment on her after she won the Las Virgenes a few months back and she loves the camera too. One of the grooms or hotwalkers was walking her around and she could’t get enough of looking at the camera. She looks like she has a cute personality.
Barbara Sanders
Well, I did something I’ve never done before thanks to you Z. I hosted a Kentucky Derby Party here in CA. at my home. I went to the track and got a WIN ticket for every horse running and handed them out to everyone when they came in. We also had a separate pool that everyone could put some money into and bet on their own special favorite. Needless to say I bet on MIKE. It was so much fun. Everyone wore their Kentucky Derby hats and I wore my ZENYATTA hat with all your autographs on it. I will have to do this every year.