Happy Monday to ALL!
The 137th Kentucky Derby is now history! Congratulations to all of the connections of Animal Kingdom on his victory. This is such an amazing race and so historical to win. It is a victory to cherish forever!
When my dear friend, GIACOMO, won in 2005, the entire barn got to celebrate the victory. Frank Leal, in the above photo, was Giacomo’s traveling partner on the road. They really got to know each other very well. When John’s Kentucky Derby Trophy arrived, he brought it out to the barn and took pictures of everyone holding it. He thought this would be a wonderful keepsake for each person to have forever!
Frank looks great here…and so very happy! He is holding the TROPHY in one hand and cuddling Giacomo with his other hand. What an absolutely amazing time!
MY JOHN has always believed that it is very important to share the horses with the fans. When we went to Del Mar that year, John put Giacomo in the front stall so everyone could get a chance to see him. Then after training hours, he would allow fans the opportunity to have their photos taken with the 2005 KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER! This is in the same manner in which he shared ME with the fans! Groups of people showed up every single day! Giacomo was a great sport…as well as all of my Barn 55 Family!
Thank you for all of the kind words and thoughts you are writing in the responses. I’m really doing GREAT! I am hoping to be a MOM by next Mother’s Day…and I loved every single moment I shared with Ann, Jerry and Dottie last week.
Alyse and Sea Gull are now in another paddock as their schedule is a bit different than mine. They are right across the path…so I see them all of the time. We can chat across the fences to each other and keep in touch.
I am still with Pirate’s Queen (PQ for short) and now have Mona de Momma and Tasty Temptation here with ME! There’s just 4 of us in our big paddock. It makes it so at ease, cozy, and nice. We all get along beautifully and have become wonderful friends. I’m having SO MUCH FUN!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Lynette Lucas
Zenny – Glad to hear you are doing so well and thank you for sharing photos of Giacomo I loved him!! I’m glad you had a great time visiting with the your team this past week!! Do we get to see any photos of the visit?? Love you!!! Hugs and Kisses from Roswell,NM!!!
Henrietta Wolfe
TOO CUTE!!! I LOVE IT ALL!!Twinkle Twinkle Little Star ZENYATTA is THE BEST OF ALL!!!
Pam Zacek,
Hi, glad you got some new pals, and can chat across the feneces, with the others, and also, I want to specifie you are one lucky girl, to have had tha special trainer, I kept thinking, in that derby, when one Horse was scratched, golly, glad they did that, keep it safe , and healthy, think, of you alot , hope your a mom, next year, maybe be the best , to celebrate with you, for sure, have great fun. your the BEST anyway, LOve the Queen
Theresa Buck
Z you are to cute
Sally (B)
Z, my Miss Personality & Miss Congeniality!! Happy to know you have more friends there. This was a nice note to us. It would be such fun to meet all your family some day; and without John, would I have come to know you better!?
love & kiss on your soft nose
Mary
Zenyatta, I just love the pictures your team, and, of couse you, share with us all the time! I’m sure its your idea:)
Hugs and Prayers
Susan in TN
@ SHARON CALL: didn’t mean to refer to your dear Jess as a “him.”
@ VICKI B: love your description of “The Girls” as sphinxes! that’s exactly what they look like! i love that picture and use it as my computer background.
Debi Hamari
Beautiful Queen Zenyatta,
What a handsome boy Giacomo is! He is an amazing and joyful horse because he has been well loved and well trained. How lucky he is to be a part of the Moss family and trained by the best.
@ Ann Maree: Thanks for the link to his video. I fell in love with this beautiful horse.
Love and hugs!
Debbie G
Hello, my sweet, beautiful Zenny. Thanks for sharing the picture of Giacomo. What a handsome fellow he is. And what an awesome guy John is for always sharing the horses with the fans. I’m glad you’ve made so many new friends at Lane’s End, but I never doubted you would with your sweet personality. Loving you in Lexington :-)
judy berube
Dear Joyce,Barb and Z Fans:
Anyone who is interested in purchasing a photo by John Kaiser of Zenyatta can go directly through his website j.kaiser16@gmail.com. He has 8.5×11 prints available for purchase. Hugs, Judy B
WILD HORSES
I have to say racing just isn’t the same without you Big Z. You spoiled us and not just for a short period of time. For 3+ years you were the consistent thriller. Beautiful, graceful, exciting, stunning, dependable and most importantly HAPPY are just a few adjectives that described you. I know that all great things have to come to an end and I am soooooooooo happy that you are safe and sound and living your well deserved happy horse life at LE. You are the horse of my generation, I hope and pray someday another will come along that will hold a small flame to you! Lori
tony and sue
Zenny…you are just too CUTE! Love the update (again) and the news about your best buds. We also hope next mother’s day YOU are a mom…what a special one you will be. Amazing how your facebook friends continue to grow!
jayjay
Just wanted to say miss ya a lot. The days of having a standout whenever there’s a race is dwindling. With the Kentucky Derby, the place where you won the hearts of millions and millions of people when you ran like a freight train in the Classic made me think of how much this sport needs you. Hurry up with your babies, we need the Zen blood to revive this sport!
I still have my two $19 WIN tickets from your Lady’s Secret win. I’m going to frame it and hang it up in my office together with the program and the souvenir poster. Dad says hi and misses you too.
Sue Fredrick
Hi Zen, yes Giacomo is a stunner, I just saw him in Kentucky and got to pet him and feed him a peppermint. What a lovely stallion, and the people at Adena are really nice and accomodating. I hope to get news of your pregnancy soon, and then we can all heave a sigh of relief. Luv and kisses on your nose.
Kathy Kimber
Thans “Z” for answering my questions about the paddock numbers. You will enjoy your new friends and I’m so glad PQ is still with you she is very special she was your first new friend there. Your John is so fan thoughtful what a great person he is. It’s so very important how all your family care about the fans. I’m sure it’s as much fun for them as it is for us. Blessings to all. Have a nice evening sweet lady. Hugs
Samantha
Hey i remember Mona de Momma won a stakes at last years Derby! Have fun with your friends dear!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
So nice that you are sharing the wonderful pics with us all. Love that Giacomo, he is a sweetie too. John has always been so good and kind in regards to sharing his star horses with the fans, that is one of the things that makes him so special-he cares about everyone! Glad that you had a wonderful time with your family, Ann, Jerry and Dottie when they were in town for the Kentucky Derby. They love you so much just as all us fans do. Glad you enjoy your days with your gal pals there at Lane’s End.
I will always remember you and all that you have done for me Zenyatta. Love you lots!
jeanie langford
Just waiting for the good news. What happened to your other friends. Did they move to another part of the farm. At least you still have PQ. She is so pretty. Love you Z Hugs and KIsses
stephanie colella
What a great picture!!!! Buddies!!!
Paula Higgins
Irene Caty, well said. Thank you Dottie for these adorable pictures of Giacomo and Frank. He is a very handsome boy. I love the greys too. Anne Maree thanks for the link! I am so glad Zenny had her family visiting. I know she loves to see you all. It makes all of us feel good that her family goes to see her regularly.
Sue Noel
Had a really busy weekend so caught up on three posts today!
LOVED the photo of Ann with you Z,what a pair. It touched us all–it was lovely to read from so many how the love between you two showed so clearly . It truly was the perfect photo for Mother’s Day–and it surely WAS generous of Ann to share such a sweet and personal moment with you!My first thought was that it should be blown up and on the wall at your mom and dad’s–as another poster also said. I imagine that this is not the only such photo that has been taken of the two of you –there are probably several photo of the two of you “cuddleing” that are already displayed. How wonderful that you have a mom who loves you so much and that you love right back–the bond between you is so apparent!!
Some of the posts that were on that day were so special–especially Diana S. ( so perfectly and sweetly put,Dawn Conrad, and Amanda Gilliland. That photo really touched EVERYONE.
@Sharon Call-Thanks for the update on the horse in the “Black Stallion” movie!! Did you also read Farley’s “Island Stallion” about a big red stallion?? Not as well known ,I think, as all the books about “the Black”. My first horse was blue–a blue roan mare we named “The Blue Duchess”. I got her for my 8th birthday–October 2,1948! We had to move away from our 5 acre place about a year later and my folks had to sell her. It was such a heartbreak for me that I still start to cry when I remember her turning around to whinny at me as her new owner’s trailer took her down our driveway. In fact,I can’t see the keys on my computer very well right now! Glad you had your pink girl!!!
@ Judy Gadwood–Where do you find the webcam to Kentucky Horse Park?? Is it a link on their website?
@ Shari Voltz–I have come to look forward each day to your posts about your classroom so much—wish I had had a teacher like you at that age. It would have thrilled me so to be able to “talk horses” so much in class and to do class projects about them!!
@Dawn Conrad–I look forward every posting to your messages to Queen Z-they are so heartfelt and eloquent!! You are also so supportive of other psters,it is wonderful!
Queen Z, may you have sweet dreams of your visits of last week and tomorrow a lovely day with the sun on your back and a soft breeze to ruffle your mane!!
Sue Noel
Ooops! I’m making up words again!! I MEANT posters!
Sally (B)
Sweet Z!! I am so glad life is so great for you and those other horses owned by Jerry & Ann . All the horses written up so much up to the Derby; what happened? For most part the race went injury free. I thank God, for there are 20 horses (less 1 this year, Uncle Mo). I had a ball just being up at my friends for the K. Derby.
You are the horse of my lifetime, where as my friend is the best friend (though I may have a couple very good friends) of my lifetime. We love you so much!!
love with a kiss on your soft nose
Linda from Vermont
Queen Z, you are one lucky girl!!
May you always be blessed!
Paul
Zenyatta, I am happy for you and your buddies. I saw the Kentucky Derby as well and extend my congratulations to Animal Kingdom.
Tere Thomas
I love how easily you make friends and how much you love life you are the most special of horses. Giacomo is so handsome and what a tremendous honor and achievement to have won the Kentucky Derby – thank you for sharing the photos! Till tomorrow sweet girl love you!!
Abigail from Montreal
Hi Zenny!
Glad to hear about the “alma mater” posse members, Alyse & Sea Gull and that you remain in contact with them, even if they are across the road in their own paddocks. I loved the Giacomo photos and wanted anyone who’s a Giacomo lover to know that THE VAULT did on article on him a few weeks back, with some GREAT photos and quotes from Team Z. Here’s the address: http://thevaulthorseracing.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/kentucky-derby-2005-giacomo/
(THE VAULT is a non-profit horse racing blog that looks at the connection between great thoroughbreds of the past and thoroughbreds today. I’m the writer and I do this for fun AND to do my bit to support the sport, its fans and the thoroughbred horse.)
Janine
I was lucky enough to visit giacomo not once but twice at Adena Springs. He’s getting so much lighter now! The first time I visited lexington was in 2005, so when we went to the churchill downs derby museum and all that, everything was giacomo themed, included the epic video they show us. The next time I came back to lexington was in 2008 and we got to see giacomo! The second time was in 2010 a few days after I saw you at churchill. He’s a sweetheart, one of my favourite derby winners.
John is so nice to share the horses with fans, I think that’s really kind of him to do. I couldn’t believe how they had you out grazing for everyone the days leading up to your big races, it’s such a rare chance to see you guys up close. Usually as fans we have to wait until horses retire, and even then it can be hard to visit, especially for mares. So a huge thank you to your connections, there are so sooo many people with great memories because of you guys! <3
Sheri Osborne
This derby was great! And so was Giaccomo’s! Great weekend! Love you Z!!! :D
Karen Mitchell
Today’s diary post was special, as were all the comments.
@Sue Noel-beautiful post. The picture of Zenyatta and Ann had love and devotion written all over it.
@Lois Gillespie-thanks for remembering Barbaro and Michael Matz. His owners (their name escapes me) were wonderful and devoted like the Mosses. His jockey, Edgar Prado, was like Mike Smith. The assistant trainer and the rest of Barbaro’s team were also wonderful. I agree that Graham Motion seems to be from the same mold.
@Ann Maree- lovely post. Thanks for the link to the Giacomo video, which I watched again. He is beautiful (as one poster said, I, too, have had a lifelong fondness for gray horses). Mr. Drury’s commentary to the video was especially rich with detail and affection.
All the many commenters to this post who continue to praise John and team Z are right on. A spectacular job with a spectacular and otherworldly horse. Well done.