Dear Friends,
It is almost time for this year’s Third Jewel of the Triple Crown. On Saturday, the Belmont will run in New York. I’ve heard that it is very warm there right now…but it is supposed to rain and cool off by the weekend. As a matter of fact, they DID cancel racing in NY today due to the heat! Let’s hope the weather really cooperates for a fabulous Belmont and a wonderful weekend of racing!
Belmont Park Race Course is a huge track. It is actually a mile and one-half racing oval. It is also a track that has a nickname…THE BIG SANDY….due to the surface. From everything I’ve heard, the total environment is very pretty and the barn area has lots of trees and grass for grazing. Sounds terrific to ME!
Yesterday, they had the post-position draw. Twelve horses entered the race with the Derby Winner, Animal Kingdom, drawing post 9….and the Preakness Winner, Shackleford, getting the outside draw. Right in the middle, in post 6, is Nehro. He finished 2nd in the Derby and skipped the Preakness to prepare for this race. His rider is Corey Nakatani, who we know as he also rides my pal, CLOUD MAN, whenever he runs! A few other horses who ran in the Derby are also entered….so it should be a terrific Belmont! Good Luck to All!
In 2007, MY TEAM ran my barn mate, TIAGO, in the Belmont. From what I’ve heard, they had a wonderful time in NY. Tiago ran 3rd in the race which was won by Rags to Riches in a close photo beating Curlin. Hard Spun was 4th. It really was a strong field and a very exciting race.
At that time, they had the DETENTION BARN in New York. Every horse had to go to this special area 6 hours before running. The staff from each barn would accompany their horse and sit there pre-race with their entrant. As I understand it, they have now eliminated this procedure.
In his files, John had a photo of TIAGO in the DETENTION BARN. He is looking about, checking everything out, and getting acclimated to this new stall. Tiago was post 2….and in the stall directly to his right in this picture is Curlin. All horses would get ready for their race here…and then go directly to the paddock. It was truly a very BUSY place, for sure.
John also had a cute photo of Tiago getting a bath after a morning of exercise during his time at Belmont Park. You can see a bit more of the lovely barn area in this picture! Oh, I see my friends Frank and Frankie with him! They look TOO CUTE!
I wonder who will win the Belmont this year? Have fun handicapping the race!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Dona
@Charlotte – Sorry I didn’t acknowledge Kelso. Although i never saw him in person, I watched him run on Tv many a time. He won the Jockey Gold Cup back when it was a 2 mile race. A true warrior.
Holly Zemba
Hugs to you too Zenyatta!! I love the pictures. Again more info I learned from you about the detention barn, and I hope it cools off for the race. I didn’t even ride my horses the last couple of days due to the extreme heat!
Jackie
Good Evening Queen “Z” again. I thought I would share this article I in my files. This writer says it all!http://www.brooklynbackstretch.com/2010/11/08/the-zenyatta-effect/
Hugs and kisses
Jackie
tony and sue
Zenny, you would have loved Belmont. Distance was your forte and speed your game.
You are the best of the best in our eyes.
Irene Caty
Hi Zenny, I think you miss barn 55 as much as they miss you. How are you feeling these days? How about Wink Wink is the sweet little foal of yours doing good? I keep wondering about you daily. We here will be watching the Belmont race and remember the horses that raced in that race the past. Secretariat stands out in my mind the most. When I think of your racing career, I put it on a par with Man o War. He had his accomplishments as a Male and you had your accomplishments as a female but the story is so similiar. I really did’nt know Man O war or Secretariat but I do know you and your racing career and can do my comparison. Take care of yourself and Wink Wink and know i love you very much.
KIMBERLY
Zenny, I believe everyone on this website really wished we were watching YOU
run again!!!! We all love you Z.
Michelle
I would have loved to see you at Belmont and I would have loved to see you face the great Rags to Riches. WOW that would have been awesome.
AJ from CA
@Dona – I remember the handsome Silky Sullivan and really loved his races coming from dead last but for some reason he wasn’t always consistent in his wins and that’s what made Zenyatta so special since she was and seriously I do believe that how she lost to Blame will only enhance her legacy in the minds and hearts of people.
candi cartier
am worried and hooves crossed all the horse at the belmont race are all safe and sound it’s too hot and a long race am pitty with this horses on the heat pray everybody are all allright.good night my beautiful lady zenyatta sweet dreams be careful and taking care yourself love always candi from florida.
Bonnie MacRaith
Technically Zenyatta came in second in her final race but in doing so she displayed such courage and heart that I have almost forgotten that she didn’t beat Blame. She ran a much tougher race than he did and so in my heart she won and won big! Many believe that she ran her biggest and most challenging race that day and proved herself as a great racing mare to be remembered for a long, long time. I think she went out in great glory, it was really perfect the way she did it. She showed that her depth was far greater than many thought.
Bless you Zenyatta! You gave us so many thrills….you’ll never be anything but the best ever to me!
Trina Nagele
@KAREN GOGUE and all who want to celebrate Dottie’s birthday—I’ll gladly do anything to help organize D-Day (Dottie Day)! I would be happy to serve as a clearing-house for people to contact “off-site” until someone comes up with a better way for us to communicate without tipping of “you know who.” Here’s my info (and I hope I don’t get “awaiting moderation” for posting it).
Phone: (805) 525-3630 (Leave a message—that’s how I screen calls.)
e-mail: trinambn at yahoo dot com
Can’t wait to hear your ideas!
Trina Nagele
Dearest Z—Good night and sleep tight. I hope the weather cools down for all the horses running at Belmont this weekend.
@Jackie—Thanks for that link to “The Zenyatta Effect.” Great article!
Snoprinz
Thanks for that bit of information about the Belmont race and of your Barn 55 buddy, Tiago. I’m praying that all horses and riders run a great and safe race this coming Saturday (safety is first and foremost). The Belmont race certainly reminds me of Big Red and his spectacular finish.
Vicki B.
@Karen Mitchell – Congrats on your #44, isn’t it great! Even though I knew the measurements, and had seen Dawn’s picture, I was still surprised at the size, too. I like your having a mirror behind — great idea!
Cara ezzell
Thanks for all the inf and photos z and dottie. I kn6w tiago but i was not aware john was his trainer! Cool! I remember that race so well. I’m a curlin fan but when they made that final turn and curlin and rags to riches were battling it out down the stretch, i couldn’t help but start jumping up and down screaming for rags to riches!! You know z, it’s a girl thing!! Wink, wink! Hope you’re doing great and have them get you a big screen tv to your paddock so you can watch the race! I’m pulling for animal kingdom or nehro. Much love and big hugs to you baby girl, cara from texas xxxooo
susan Benoit
A lot of history at Belmont Park. when I look at the track I can almost see Big Red running down the track, I have watched it so many times. we saw Rags win. Very emotional for a lot of us ladies in the audience. thanks to Tiago for giving me the tri that day! wish you could have run there
Alexandra Bowdoin
@Bonnie, The 2010 Classic was indeed her most challenging race. I bought a photo from TLT Outdoorphotography where Z has her EYES CLOSED…She had so much dirt kicked back at her that she was running blind and TRUSTING MIKE to pilot her. It is the most incredible photo of her. Z has so much Heart and Courage and Trust in her! Have a GREAT DAY EVERYONE…
Sunny Boyd
Halloooooo Zetty,
good morning most stunning mare :)
What a little cooling off can do, 6:30 am greeted me with 68 degrees, I feel like running with you in your paddock, or kicking up my heels and high hoofing ya’.
I saw a pic of Master Of Hounds being fanned on high at the Belmont stable. He liked it, too, was really letting his mane blow in the air. Hoo, that feels good. :) :) :)
Well, I’m sure you’re already out and about, your nostrils keeping up with the goings on from the last time you were in that exact place, picking up the scent of a possum maybe, or racoon scuttling across. Or maybe just an itsy-bitsy little ole’ field mouse having nibbled on that same blade of Kentucky Blue Grass you’re about to munch on?
However it may be, have a swell day :) :) :)
Kathy Kimber
@Judy B. Love watching the 40length come from behind win of Silky Sullivan he was a character and a great favorite of mine.
I remember Rags to Riches Belmont. I remember thinking as she and Curlin dueled down the strech. I was at the track watching on closed circuit and I had placed a bet on her. Sweet. She seemed to look him in the eye as the dueled and she seemed to say “Not today Mister, Not today” When she crossed first there was dead silence except for me who was screaming her head off and then the cheers came. I loved and respected Curlin too but it wasn’t his day.
Lastly Dear Zeny as great as they are you are the Queen have a great day and watch the Belmont.
Hugs
Ida Lee
TOO CUTE INDEED!!! Tiago has always been one of my favorites..I really miss seeing him race. And, of course, then there was the 2007 Belmont, probably the most exciting race ever (aside from all of YOUR races Sweetheart) Rags to Riches was unbelievable..I was recuperating from surgery and when I heard my husband screaming “OMG the Filly is after Curlin” I got up from my bed with a pillow to my stomach to protect my stitches and went running to the TV. It most certainly got me out of my post-surgical blues. Of course, today when I’m blue, I just come in to check on what you’re doing my Queen and always get a smile on my face. Love you…
Robyn Mullhausen
Zenyatta, you are TOO CUTE! ;) Enjoy watching the Belmont tomorrow. We’ll all being thinking about you as we watch the race, but there will never be another you.
Dona
AJ from Ca – Silky’s connections say they think somehow in his early training he got the idea to give everybody a head start. His trainner admitted, they often wanted to see how far behind he could get and how fast he would run. Shoemaker said there was nothing you could do with him until he decided to run and then it was “hold on for dear life”. What a character.
I know most of you were not involved in the bitter fights concerning Our Queeen on the bloodhorse blogs but believe me it was nasty. A certain writer was so anti-her, he was horrible. I don’t read his pages nor will I ever. I’m not in the forgiving business. The take on her was about the surface she ran on and unfairly blamed her where she raced. No horse in history, Secretariat, Man O’ War, Native Dancer, etc, Ever, ran consistently from behind and won. A true closer is always a prisoner of the pace and excuses fly like birds when they lose but not our girl. Pace never mattered. Maybe, easier if she had pace but she still won and that’s what makes her so GREAT. Everything else about her is just icing on the cake but what a cake. Some folks may not be aware of just how hard it is to win in the manner that she did but love her anyway. That’s totally cool.
FYI – A bill was introduced to ban horse slaughter today but it’s not going to be easy, getting this passed. Everyone needs to contact their Senators and urge it’s passage. Wallis of Wyo says it’s being held up by emotional people that don’t appreciate how the horse slaughter business would create tax paying jobs. How in the world did she get elected? UGH.
Terry Crow
@Judy Berube-Very funny. Next time you watch Let It Ride, let me know the name of the horse that Trotter ends up with after taking his poll. I have some interesting information about the initial and current versions.@Charlotte Farmer–It is very difficult to compare horses of different eras. You can’t go by time since even the horseshoes are not the same.@Anne from Paramount–I am going to use those two plus Brilliant Speed.@Joan-Very good analysis. Most handicappers ignore split times.@J Smith-Won’t be there but I hope that we are in the same place sometime. Your comments are usually spot-on.@Judy Berube, Charlotte farmer and Kathy Kimber–Glad you enjoyed that Silky Sullivan race. I was there at Santa Anita and, as I recall, it was an allowance. Before the race started, I remember a man saying Here Comes Your Thrill Race. Boy, was he right. It is a shame that Silky became a cropper in the Derby. It would have been a great story.
Cynthia H.
To Zenny fans attending the races tomorrow, Belmont day, at HP: I will try to meet up with you in the paddock prior to the first race. I may not make it, but will try. I will defintely be down to check out Tizi Gianni for his race. I will be wearing a green silk hat. Hope to meet friends old and new during the course of the day
Susan in TN
Hey, fellow Z fans! I have been tied in knots trying to get a newsletter for River Edge ready to go and have not really gotten to respond to all your posts and check out the interesting links-and I still don’t have the time! It’s not the writing, it’s the TECHNOLOGY!! (and my lack of know-how)-anyway, I enjoyed everyone’s comments and passion and will get back on the Zenyatta train soon!
Diana.A
i will watch the race, hope they have a safe ride….thank you so much for sharing. love you girl!
Phyllis James
It is so nice to be informed about your team mates. I was wondering about your friend, Pirate Queen. What is she doing now? I’ve not heard about her lately.
The Kennedys in San Diego
@Dona — Our guess is number of us were involved in reacting to JS’s comments about Zenyatta on Bloodhorse.com.
Barbara C
Zenny, I’m so excited too, I’ll actually be there for the race! We’re driving down tonight and will be there all day tomorrow. If you let me know how, I’ll take some pictures and send them over to you. This should be a great race, the first time the top 7 finishers in the Derby run in the Belmont. Plus I beleive there’s another horse in there that maybe finished 12th or so. Still can’t wait to be there with all the excitment. Have a great weekend!:)
Eveline
Hi Zenny, my Belmont pick is Mucho Macho Man. It’s his turn to shine. I love Ramon and MMM got his new Nike’s on.