Happy Preakness Day to All!
From all reports, it is absolutely GORGEOUS in Maryland this morning. The high will be about 80 with a slight breeze. The wind is blowing softly and the chance of rain is really non-existent. This sounds like the perfect weather for wonderful racing. All the best to each of the participants! My BARN 55 friend, MR. COMMONS, is a very happy guy. He is enjoying his time there…and from what I’m hearing, they have TONS OF LUSH GRASS to graze on right by the Stakes Barn. He must feel perfectly at home!
Steve Haskin of The BLOODHORSE did an interview with Dottie and John yesterday…and several questions were asked about ME! If you have a moment, I thought you might enjoy viewing it. Here it is!
All else is fine. I’m really feeling TERRIFIC and my guys at the barn are quite excited. There is so much going on now, not just with the last few months of the breeding season, but with the Preakness, and all of the Basketball Play-offs. Dialed In, one of the Preakness contenders, is by Mineshaft. He is a wonderful, well-bred stallion who resides at Lane’s End in our Stallion Barn. Astrology is by A.P.Indy. As you know, he has been a long-time favorite who lives here as well. He just recently retired from his Breeding Duties…but his accomplishments both on and off the racetrack are totally amazing.
So, I’m hoping this is really a fun, safe, and terrific race for all! It runs a bit after 6 Eastern Time! It’s getting EXCITING!
Enjoy your weekend!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
LovesRaceHorses
@Mary Coplin
You are absolutely correct. Zenyatta was a great closer and there is no one to compare. I guess it is just a race style, but the individual’s talent is considered in the style. Had Zenny
had a better trip she would have easily won the BCC 2010, but like she says racing luck is all a part of it.
LovesRaceHorses
@Jane C
Good point about Shackleford and the Belmont. Maybe too
long, course he can sit off the pace like he did with Flash Point.
Trina Nagele
@Kari Bussell–THRILLED to see you posting again! You’ve been missed! How are you doing?
Trina Nagele
@Anne from Paramount, CA—How exciting that your Rightful Image will be running Sunday at Hollywood Park. Best wishes to him for a safe and successful race. We’ll be waiting to hear from you on how it went.
LovesRaceHorses
@Barbara
I compeletely agree with you about security. Z has a special barn and special paddock that is not very far away from anyone to see
what is going on with her and I am sure she loves it. These horses are very very valuable worth Billions and billions.
There will be no one that gets to Lanes End and Zenyatta on the sly. So when folks start showing up on their doorstep at the end of breeding season there will be some diplomatic speech given to all of them. I doubt with the issue of her and her pregnancy that any LARGE GROUP FAN visits will be happening until the foal is born and probably a few months old.
So get out your videos and enjoy this site !!!!!
LovesRaceHorses
@Max
I understood that the foals personality come from the mare not the stallion as least all the foals at our barn act like the mares and not the stallion. In fact Ellen Parker made a lot of reference to the mares influence as much greater than a brief visit with
the stallion to “make the foal”. The mare formulated the foals personality. If the foal is ornery and not disciplined it well be an ornery foal. But if correctly disciplined by the mare or her band of mares it will be a fine foal. And I am sure Zenyatta will be kind but firm with her foal and not put up with any
biting and kicking etc… that is unreasonable.
notafanofensign
BE VERY CAREFUL !!!!!!!
ensign=max=zenyen
Some very strange information given about Paddy O Prada (no Injury)
and additional military security at Fair Hill was there when it was insisted that it was not.
OraJean Stevenson
Dearest Zenny & Team-Z,
It’s perfect racing weather here in LA, too. The Preakness was beautiful on NBC-TV. The race was disapointing because ANIMAL KINGDOM came so close to winning, but I was happy to see such a cleanly run race. I hope both top horses come back to face each other in the Belmont St. You’re right, this is very exciting.
Thanks, Zenny, for the lovely new photo of a very happy looking mare!! Fondly, OraJean
signofthetimes
@Trina
Thanks for the link to Paddy’s race. He is
Sooo talented. Hope he goes to BC this year.
Peggy
@ Laura J, so sorry Step didn’t win, but maybe he will next time. I saw the race on tape delay. I couldn’t see it real well but it looked like he did break from the gate pretty well didn’t he? I hope he came out of it sound. Keep us posted.
@Zenny love ya very much.
Congratulations to Shacklefords Connections. Great Race.
@Ensign, Thanks for all the info, A Question if you know the answer. I was just at thehorse sales in Ocala and in the sales book most 2yr olds from Kentucky said at the bottom of the page Foaled in Ky, but lots of them said Registed Fl Bred or Registered Ny Bred. When do they Register horses. With Yearlings do they usually tell you where there foaled or bred. Do you know much about this to comment. I hope I am making sense.
Holly Zemba
A.P. Indy has given the industry some totally awesome babies!!
Barb France
I love that photo of you…but wondering maybe why we only see head shots right now…maybe because….well, we’ll just have to wait for that announcement!!! Hooves crossed and just knowing your happy and healthy is what matters most.
signofthetimes
Remember Barb.
The foal gains most of it’s weight the last few months.
She has lost her lean racing body and had a healthy
Broodmare body. More fat to keep hormone levels.
Like the lean human athlete that can’t get pregnant
Is told to gain weight to improve hormone levels.
There is a post sometime Jan that had the growth and development
Of a foal. It was so cute. !!!!
RoxanneL
I agree with LovesRaceHorses comments about how smart horses are and how they can tell you about themselves. I’ve been on the stallion tours a few times at LE and am always amazed at how conversational Curlin is. Believe it or not, he seems to especially like to hear about Rachel and Queen Z. He shakes his head up and down like he’s saying “Bring em on–the more the merrier.”
Nancy
Abigail, I love your story about Northern Dancer. He must have been a character.
ENSIGN
For the ‘trio’ (who I won’t bother to name, I don’t think you’re fooling too many people here…)
Have HRTV? If you did you’d have heard Dale Romans discuss Paddy after the race. In the news? http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63167/paddy-oprado-treated-for-foot-bruise
Like I said last night….
.
And NO, the foal does not only get personality traits from the dam. While the dam provides 50% of genetics and all the nuture to the foal which can have a big effect on personality, many stallions stamp their foals with not only their looks but also their personality traits. Northern Dancer was actually a great example of that. Incredibly prepotent stallion.
.
@ Peggy,
.
Different states have different rules governing what qualifies a horse to be ‘state bred’, as many of them have lucrative state bred bonus programs and races in effect. For Florida specifically, to qualify as Fl. bred a foal must be foaled in the state and the dam must be a normal ‘resident’, OR a horse must be foaled in Fl. from a dam who’s normally from out of state but she must be bred back to a Florida stallion and that stallion cannot have stood outside the state in the past year. Most foals are registered within the 1st year/year and a half but they’re not always named. You’ll see that with many horses bred for the sales, that they are registered but not named. People buying a horse like to be able to give their own names, and it’s considered bad luck (and old horseman’s superstition) to change a horse’s name, though people do do it. See ‘Tice’/’Duckornodinner’ ;-)
ENSIGN
And because you can only include one link without getting ‘flagged’….
.
For the ‘triplets’…. I’m sure you’ll atleast appreciate the source…
http://twitpic.com/50rs19
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: I had a wonderful time yesterday at the Preakness. I took lots of pictures of Mr. Commons. He is handsome! Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Dottie and John to say hello. I was so disappointed. But I did get a glimpse of John after the race. It was a beautiful day and the race was very exciting. Animal Kingdom and Shackleford really battled it out as they raced towards the finish line. Thanks Dottie for posting your interview. Zenny, I am so happy to hear that you are enjoying your days at Lanes End. You did make a footprint in the horse racing industry. I read this years attendance at the Preakness hit an all time high. And attendance at the Kentucky Derby also hit an all time high. I think that is because of YOU!!! I think people were so impressed with your Breeder’s Cup races–it has everyone going to the races. Take care Zenny, Love, Linda
Shari Voltz
Dear Zenyatta Good Morning sweetheart. While I ran this morning I was thinking of you and that beautiful interview John and Dottie gave. I love when these reporters ask about YOU because You have made me more aware of racing. I even made my little bet :) The horses in the Preakness were all so awesome. Each and every one of them were special in their own way. I enjoyed all of the pre Preakness show too. I hope you get some sun and rain free outside time today. I love you special girl. Hugs and Kisses from Shari XXXOOO
@ Ensign thank you for all of your information. I will show the children the site that shows the horse embryo. That was really cool to see. It is ALL about education. I think your one smart person :)
@ Dawn yes I have a special bond with Brooke. If you met her you would see her intelligence and goodness that shines through :)
Also I will mail the book on Funny Cide out this weekend. I really want you to have it. God Bless :)
Abigail from Montreal
to everyone who commented on the Northern Dancer post and anecdote — I love to be part of the conversation! For those asking about mare vs. stallion characteristics: Northern Dancer only appears once in Bernie’s pedigree, the the 4th generation on his dam’s side. However, Bernie is 5X5 to Nearctic (fifth generation on both sire & dam’s side) and 4X5 to Bold Ruler (4th on AP Indy’s pedigree & 5th generation on his dam’s side). So the Northern Dancer influence is mild & especially because it goes from ND through a daughter (which could be a more potent influence) and from that daughter to a daughter (a less potent influence). But Bernie’s dam, Cara Rafaela is a quality broodmare, so that means she has many inherited qualities that shone in relation to AP Indy.
As well, ND descendants didn’t necessarily carry the “difficult” gene — they were more likely to get things like a “mind of their own” and a heart that just won’t quit, especially once you get passed his immediate descendants. But they are pretty much all horses with personality plus, right down to Yeats or Rachel Alexandra or most recently, Frankel.
Anyway, a long post to say that there are “rainbows” of other extremely interesting influences when Zenyatta & Bernie get together, reminding us that a thoroughbred is as unique as an individual person!
Dorothy Hopper
Zenny, I think that you should wait for your next date until after Shackleford wins the Belmont. With two lines of Dr Fager, a little Secretariat blood along with Northern Dancer, Mr Prospector, Roberto, and Le Fabuleux, well, you can see his gorgeous conformation and he showed his powerful endurance along with some good speed yesterday in the Preakness.
Enjoy your day, we actually have sun today in Michigan.
Cathy Marshall
Dorothy Hopper, I agree. That would be some baby! I always liked Dr. Fager. I saw him at Arlington Park back in the day.
ENSIGN
@ Abigail from Montreal,
.
I’ve greatly enojoyed the ND conversations as well. The blog is a joy to come to when there’s open conversation without rampant hostility : )
If Shackleford wins the Belmont he’ll certainly be ‘bucking’ his pedigree. Could never see Zenyatta going to a son of Forestry but who knows what might happen in 5 or 10 years… That’s the joy of TB breeding, every season brings so much hope and so many possibilities :-)
ENSIGN
@ Shari Voltz,
.
You’re far too kind. Wish my job were half as important as yours is :-)
Sue and Tony
@Ensign, thanks for the links and information. This horseracing stuff and related business facinates us.
Zenny…have a gorgeous Sunday. Are you enjoying brunch?
Peggy
@Ensign
Thank you so much for all the great information. So much appreciated.
@Zenny Love Ya very much, I’m fixing to go to brunch now, hope you’ve had your’s and have a wonderful day to you and all.
signofthetimes
Dear Zenny,
Hope you have a wonderful day today. Keeping every one on task
And enjoying the sun and KY bluegrass. Abigail loved the info
about Northern Dancer. Your blog is so great and so full of
Wonderful history. On to the Belmont. Everyone have a great Sunday
so good to have relaxing time.
XXXOOO
XXXX OOo
notafanofensign
Oh forgot to ask Abigail. Have you done a blog on Quiet American. I remember Eric Chronfield was so enamored
with Quiet American mares. Astrology is AP Indy and a
Quiet American mare. Could you enlighten us? I love your
points about the thoroughbreds being individuals with their breed characteristics of heart and courage. I am sure there are more.
Thanks in advance
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Congrats to Shackleford, not surprised he won after his Derby effort. Was pulling for AK as this would have been a better scenario & ratings for racing over the next few weeks. Quote from Dale Romans in BH Mag on Paddy ” He WAS NOT vanned from the track but was vanned from the test barn back to his stall when a “sore foot” was discovered. Both he and Shackleford are already back at CD. Enjoyed hearing John’s interview on NBC. Hey Zenny – He was wearing his “Z” hat! Made me feel like we were waiting to see you race again. Mr. Commons ran a good race and was involved early. Looking forward to seeing more of him. Have a good Sunday big Girl! Peace & Love
Max
Here is a nice little article about some of the horses in the Preakness. It talks about Mr. Commons and explains the origin of Mr. Commons’ name. Apparently, he was named for the headmaster at the school of his owner’s children. Mr. Commons ran well yesterday and maybe he will run again in the Belmont. He really looked good going into the starting gate.
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=22177