HAPPY BELMONT DAY!
Today is such a fun day of racing! There are so many quality races taking place around the country this afternoon headed by the 143rd running of the BELMONT.
From all reports, it is still rainy and wet in New York. It is supposed to rain until early afternoon and then level off to a 40-50% chance of rain until early evening. The track surface, both turf and dirt, at this time is listed as ‘good’. Of course, all of this can change at any moment….weather being weather! Let’s hope all is comfortable for everyone!
The Belmont Stakes runs at approximately 6:35 East Coast Time. The horses usually leave the barn area to walk to the paddock about 30 minutes or so prior to post time. Thus, today’s 12 entrants will be leaving their stalls around 6ish and head to the paddock for the race. It is such an exciting time for everyone! Just imagine, you are participating in a TRIPLE CROWN RACE. Then, the ANTICIPATION of the race and how it will develop is so much fun. Racing is so EXCITING! My best wishes to ALL 12 of today’s Belmont starters. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
I’m thinking I will sit back, relax, and enjoy watching all of the great races today. In looking over the entries, I see ZAZU’S friend, Turbulent Descent, is running in the ACORN today at 2:34 NY TIME. Then at 5:39, my dear friend, Gio Ponti, is running in the Manhattan Stakes for the 3rd year in a row! I have such great memories of running with Gio Ponti in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic. What a guy! I really want to wish him well.
If you are not going to the race track today, these events…and many other races…will be on television. I know MY TEAM at Barn 55 and my friends at Lane’s End will be checking in on the updates, races and results all afternoon.
HRTV and TVG will be showing many of the day’s activities. Then a channel named VERSUS will be showing several of the stakes starting at 2 eastern time. At 5, the programing switches to NBC for the balance of the NY Stakes and the Belmont.
VERSUS is a relatively new channel that is going to carry quite a few races today and in the future. On your computer, if you go to NBCSPORTS, then click on TV LISTINGS, they will provide you with the TV schedules for today. If you put in your zip code, they will tell you the exact channels you need to go to in order to find the races you want to see on both VERSUS and NBC. This is really good to know. We have DISH and now we know exactly what channel to program in so we are ALL SET and READY TO WATCH GREAT RACING!
Which horses do you think will win today? Have fun handicapping!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Barbara
Sweet Zenyatta! It will be a fun day I love Turbulent Descent and I hope that all of the horses have a safe day. Thanks for this posting! :)
Olivia
Cannot wait for today!! Wish you could come to New York, but today will be amazing either way! Go Animal Kingdom!! :D
Sandy
Most exciting day. Havre De Grace whom I love and also Gio Ponti! I’m sure you remember him and since he won’t be running against you I will be cheering him on! Have a beautiful day Zenyatta!!
Kira
Aw Zenyatta you’re so sweet! I don’t know at this point who will win, I’m just hoping everyone gets through it okay! No more injuries!! :)
Carolyn
Going to be an exciting Belmont for sure! I am rooting for Animal Kingdom, as I have liked him since the Spiral, and bet him accordingly in the Derby. :)…just am so hoping the track won’t be muddy..but that’s horse racing…sigh.
Zenyatta, you look wonderful!! in your recent pics posted here…Thank you!! Dottie for this site…it can’t be said enough how much we all appreciate it!
LOVE YOU Zenyatta!!…you are truly a marvel of horsedom. I thought waiting between your races was hard…this next nine months is going to be excruciating…lol…but thanks to your website, it will go by quicker, I think.
SAFE trip to all in the Belmont. Good luck Graham!!
The Kennedys in San Diego
@Sandy — we also like Havre de Grace. Do you know that she is currently rated #1 in the latest NTRA poll?
Kari Bussell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbqVu8n6bFk
This is a link to Tiago’s Belmont also of course has Rags to Riches and Curlin..He ran a really good race that day. He is
one great looking Horse. One of my favorite videos is a slide show of You!
Zenyatta I love you my Queen, will you please tell Tiago I love him too!….Just like the Queen Tiago ran one heck of a Breeder’s Cup for those new fans who may not know!…..Happy Belmont Day Zenny Fans!
Max
Queen Z. You are as helpful (with such good information) to your fans as you are talented and beautiful. That is a great picture of Tiago. John could have a second career as a photographer. His timing for capturing the right moment with horses is amazing.
I am hoping for a safe trip for all of the contenders in the Belmont. My special hopes are for a win by Bernie’s colt, Stay Thirsty. Bernie would be so proud as would his cousin, Uncle Mo. Bring it, Thirsty.
Ann Maree
Hi, Zenny,
I’m still pulling for Mucho Macho Man because of his wonderful story and the stories of his connections. I’m more sentimental in my choices, although I know many base their choices on how they will bet. He’s tall, like you, and he puts his heart into his races, even when he has lost his shoes a couple of times!! I think they have fixed that problem, according to the reports. I find it interesting and exciting that for the first time the 7 finishers in the Derby will be running in the Belmont, and three of the horses have run in all three TC races.
Have a fun day! Hope you get lots of paddock time and some carrots! Big hugs. Your friend, Ann Maree
Hana
I’m so hoping for Animal Kingdom. <3
His colors remind me of a mini-Secretariat, kinda XD
Kelsie
I’m so excited! I love Saturdays! Praying for the best of luck and safe trips to everyone today! Love you, Z!
Lisa B
Love YOU precious Zenny!! So excited to watch the races today. I am rooting for Turbulent Descent in the Acorn and I really like MMM in the Belmont. By the way… Your John looked good last Sun. I saw him in the saddling barn with Guest Star at Hollywood Park. Enjoy Your Belmont Day. Take care, Love YOU OOOXXX
P.S. Are fans allowed to go on tours of the barns at Hollywood Park? If so do you have to make an appt? I sure hope so I would love to see your stall!!!
Gloria
Hi Big Mama Z! Yep, Belmont has a great card today for sure. Gio Ponti is also my dear friend as I bet him with you in the exacta in that Breeders’ Cup Classic. Whoo hooo! Thanks for the info on the different channels showing all of the races today. I always forget about Versus. I also have Dish. I can only imagine the excitement of owning a horse or knowing a connection in any of the Triple Crown races, but I know on days that YOU raced, God, I could barely handle it. Whew! I was just glad when it was over. Hahahaa! And I didn’t even own you, Zen! Thank you again for those exciting times. You and all of Team Z really have made it a TON OF FUN!! Hope you are doing great, beautiful girl! XOXO!!
Cathleen
I love, love, love Turbulent Descent (almost as much as ZAZU, whom I love, love, love, love — that’s 4 loves! LOL!) so I’m rooting for her today. Enjoy your day big Z! Cathleen XOXOXOXXO
Cara ezzell
Hi queen z! I know you wish you out there but like you said ‘take time to smell the roses’ and enjoy just being a horse! Like all great athletes, you’ll always have that ‘track instinct’ and love to run. I’m kinda pulling for animal kingdom or nehro but my heart really likes brilliant speed b/c his sire is dynaformer so he is a half brother to barbaro! I really just hope they all have a safe race!! Much love and big hugs to you baby girl, cara from texas xxxooo ps – i’m sponsoring a horse from trott named scrumpy. He looks like such a sweetheart!
dunie
What would we do without you, Zenny?
Debbie
hi Z! what fun watching all of the races, I just want all to be safe!! YOU have a wonderful day watching and grazing YOU gorgeous mama xoxoxo love YOU
Elaine
No races are as exciting as when you were running! My sweet sister sent me the DVD that Hollywood Park and TNG made of you (Zenyatta: A Living Legend). I loved watching your races again….especially the Breeders Cup. I was in the stands right where you “made your move”. It was so exciting. Is there any change another DVD will be made to update everything? You are so beautiful….I love watching you racing, dancing, in Barn 55, playing in the pasture. You are incredible!
Lois Gillespie
Dottie and Z, thanks much for the information on today’s racing schedule. All my chores are done and I am set to watch an entire afternoon of racing. I am still hoping for Animal Kingdom – I think he is the real deal. Your 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic races were still the best though – safe racing for all.
Snoprinz
Thanks for the info on the Belmont Stakes. I pray that all the horses and jockeys have a safe race to the finish line. Good luck to all the contenders. As for you dear Zen, may you have a fun day rooting for all your buddies. Take care big Mama.
s (in San Diego)
just praying that the carpet layers finish the job in my house before the coverage begins, otherwise will be watching everything on a very small screen TV upstairs. Prayers for safe trips for everyone today!! Enjoy Everyone and especially you Dear Z.
Cathy Marshall
Happy Belmont Day to everyone! I hope all the horses and riders have a safe trip, and the day is very special for all. Enjoy! Love ya. Zenny!!
Pam Zacek,
Good luck to all that is running in the Belmont today, and Wow, Zen sit back, put your hooves up and enjoy watching for once, huh, and I hope you have a few snacks handy for the fun of watching instead of being the one there, High Hooves to all running, and Safe ride, goodluck to you all,
Terry Crow
@Judy Berube–It is people like you that make this place something special. One does develop a fondness for some of the equines we have seen in our lifetime. But, in their own way, all are special. Too bad Hot To Trot isn’t running. Interesting that Z’s old friend Gio Ponti is running today.
Lisa g
@Sandy, I love Gio Ponti’s owner. At the Eclipse Awards he said that in 2009 Gio ran against Zenyatta and came in behind her, she was running again in 2010, so he chose another race, and came in 2nd behind Goldikova. Wow, the women.
Kim
As always, SUPER helpful information. I would have missed some of the undercard races had I not read this. Thank you Z!
Lisa g
What does a guy have to do to win a race???I thought it was cute.
Sharon in Seattle
I also cheer for Gio Ponti, the horse who put his heart and soul into running against the two greatest mares of our times, Zenyatta and Goldikova!! Safe trip to ALL!
Joy
Hey Sweet Girl, thank you for showing the pic of Tiago, he was a great horse and one of my all time favorites. I miss seeing him so thank you for showing his pic. I’m hoping Mucho Macho Man wins today. He’s a really good horse with so much potential… Enjoy the races my love!!
Katie
I think it might be Nehro who takes the wire since he didn’t run in the Preakness. He was second in the KY Derby.