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
Abigail from Montreal
THE CUTEST STORY about Macho Mucho Man & his friend:
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/06/10/mucho-macho-man-friend.aspx
Maria K.
It’s too bad that Turbulent Descent did not win. I wanted her to win that race so badly. Oh well, maybe next time. I am glad to see Jose Valdivia won a big race. It’s too bad for Animal Kingdon. But, thank God he and John Velasquez did not get hurt and all horses came home safely. Zenny, Stay Thirsty (son of Bernie) ran a great race and came in second.
Sarah Powell
Congrats to Stay Thirsty for running a good race – just read all the later posts looking for info about Lou from Susan in TN.
@ Susan Glad your daughter got somewhat good news – hopefully he will completely return to normal – will keep both of them in my thoughts and prayers.
ZENYATTALOVERAMY!!
to bad it was a disapointing belmont,but o wellyou never ever know what will happen in racing! i hope your having a great day! FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN AMY.
LauraJ
@Charlotte Farmer, two suggestions (just brainstorming). (1) Don’t rent a pickup; rent a small U-Haul. They expect those to go cross country. Plus, you can lock them. You could even do a one-way rental and fly home. There is probably not a big price difference. (2) I bet you could find people here who would be willing to put you up for the night so you wouldn’t have to worry about lodging.
Quarterhossgal
Zenny…what an exciting Belmont Stakes! Congrat to Ruler on Ice. Johnny V and Animal Kingdom are amazing athletes! How AK did not go down and how Johnny V. didn’t come off is a miracle. I was cheering for Gio Ponti too, he is something special. Any horse that finishes second to Queen Z is outstanding!
It was a great day of racing from the east coast back to Hollywood Park. When Zenny was racing it was much easier to pick a winner!
tony and sue
Wow! What an exciting race. Another upset during a triple crown race. Zenny, looks like we’ll have to wait for your foal to race a few years from now to get another triple crown winner. ;-)
Zenyen
@Maryann,
I think I’ll take the assessment of the man who works every day with the horse. If he says the ROI can be a little crazy than so be it.
Tere Thomas
I have learned so much about horse racing from you Miss Z. Thank you for that and so much more. Love you and can’t wait to see the little one!!
Charlotte Farmer
What a Belmont. Congratulations to Ruler on Ice and what a heart stopper for all of us who watched Animal Kingdom almost go down. It was really nice to see Penny Chenery there and that sparkle in her eyes. What a lovely lady.
@Susan in TN – Lou is in my prayers that all will be well.
@LauraJ – I like your brainstorming. Will check into it and thanks for the offer to have places to stay.
I e-mailed Michael Blowen with an estimate of costs. Cost for disinterment, tax included, will be $647.26. The real choker is in the transporting due to gas costs. Roughly figuring, round-trip Old Friends Equine and Saratoga would be looking at $1,704.00+/-. Then factoring in the vehicle we get close to a grand total of $4,828.00+/-.
I will share the e-mail I received from Michael today: “Charlotte, I think the expense (gas prices) of sending a truck would be more than using a professional carrier. The Hall of Fame is very excited. I’ll look into some transportation options from our end. Thanks so much…Michael.”
E-mail back to Michael from me wherein I said that I had checked about using a professional carrier, not cheep.
My mind drifts back to something I read about Whirlaway. Whirlaway died at Haras de Jardy in France. Calumet had his remains dug up and returned to Kentucky for reburial in the Calumet’s Farm Cemetery. All I am trying to do is figure out how to get to Kentucky, what an endeavor it must have been on Whirlaway. I definitely would have wanted Zenyatta’s Guinness.
@ Margie – You are right it has been quite a journey these past two years, especially since last September. Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would be doing something like this.
Prayers will help and to all of you who give me and Noor such kind words I cannot say enough. I will close out tonight as I am going into brain fade. I have shared this with so many I hope all of you enjoy it:
>It has been 61 years since this Irish horse of royal breeding showed his princely stride on American soil.
>The tracks on which Noor raced were transformed into his royal court, securing his place in the record books as testimony to his power.
>It was during that time that the great Citation came from the east. Five times Noor and Citation went head-to-head to see who would wear the crown. Those who were witness to their meetings declared that both showed the greatness for which they were bred.
>The year was 1950, and it belonged to Noor.
KIMBERLY
Hi Queen, I saw John and Mikey today at Hollywood Park. Wish they were there with YOU!! I miss seeing you!!! California will never be the same without you Z…
J Smith
Woooo Hoooo! Who said Stay Thirsty the other day? Yes me. Who knew Ruler On Ice (& Thirsty) love mud? Me. Who had a ticket to show on each of them ME! Imagine if I’d done an exacter, or some kind of boxing, we’d all be going out for dinner right now, even though a lot of u would have to get on a plane. Also congrats to Tiz Gianni, Star Billing, & their fabulous trainer, your John. Both came in second in their races at HP today.
Interestingly, 10th race at HP was for 3yr old filly’s. The winner, Sarah’s Secret, has same sire as Animal Kingdom, and the 4th place finisher has the same sire as Shackleford. Plus, there were a lot of Irish bred horses in the race, like Master Of The Hounds, so it was like the Belmont West for Filly’s. Oh, bye the way, I cannot take all the credit for picking ROI, Pants On Fire kept saying he would win on his FB page! Thanks Fire. They are stablemates.
Signofthetimes
@Judy B
Thanks for the DRF link great article. Really enjoyed
It. When will there be a talented sturdy young colt
To win the Triple Crown again????
Cynthia H.
Thank you for this great post dealing with one of the greatest of American races, the Belmont! Thanks to cherished memories of Saratoga Six and his wonderful sire’s prowess in the mud, it was possible to pluck a winner from amongst the entrants. It was just as much fun having the chance to speak with you today. Your dear John’s horses did fantastically—wow! What stellar days lie ahead for Tiz GIanni and Star Billing! “Apple Annie.”
Keely
I didn’t realize Gio Ponti had so many fans here! I was at Belmont Park to watch the big races and let me tell you, when he was pulling up close for the win I was squeezing my husband’s shoulder so hard like a woman in labor! He ran beautifully and a HUGE congrats to his team, especially Christophe and his stellar so-trainers! They’re an incredibly kind, friendly, and comical group.
The Belmont Stakes was such a great race this year! The energy and excitment in the crowd was amazing. The horses ran fabulously and were quite a sight in the pre-race parade of horses into the tunnel.
In regards to saying “Ruler on Ice” was “crazy”, or whatever exactly the trainer said. Before judging his horsemanship skills, please remember a few points. While it may not have been the best choice of words to represent the breed on a national syndicated show, keep in mind that track folks have their own language that seem innocent and completely normal to us, but may be misinterpreted by others. Thoroughbreds haven’t been bred with temperment as the main priority like you would find in dogs or other breeds of horses. TB’s are bred for mostly for performance so they are more likely to be hot. Yes, we do affectionately call a few of them “crazies”, but we love, love, LOVE them just the way they are. You have to love what you do and who you work with to commit to the sometimes very taxing lifestyle of working with these wonderful creatures.
Even though I’ve worked with some “crazies” I would give anything to make them happy, keep them healthy, and make sure they know they’re loved.
Great post Zenny! I almost bought a gorgeous signed photo of you today at Belmont, but someone bought it before me! Argh!!!!!!! Maybe next year!!! Until then, I’ll enjoy your wonderful posts and dream of the day I get to pet you! Someday my love!
relientkislove
Wow, Ruler on Ice! That was an exciting race today (:
Peggy (N)
@Zenny love you very much.
@Susan in TN, I will keep you and lou in my prayers and your daughter. Please keep us posted.
Holly Zemba
Happy Belmont Day to you too Z!!! Congratulations to Ruler on Ice!!!
judy berube
To Signofthetimes:
You’re welcome.
Maybe Z has a colt??? We can dream. Hugs, J.B.
To J. Smith:
That’s some good handicapping. Congrats. Would have been a fun dinner together. Thanks for the update on John’s horses. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Z,
Goodnight and Sweet Baby Dreams. Judy and Russ
Karen Gogue
@Keely – well said and beautiful, thank you.
Karen Gogue
@JSmith – love your ‘yes, me’ and ‘who? me’! Too cute!
J Smith
@Karen, too bad you couldn’t come today. It was very nice to meet Anne from Paramount & her husband. The food trucks were there, so it was a good food day too!
Karen Gogue
@JSmith I got “kidnapped” by my daughter – a small Bar-B-Q Belmont party! I didn’t have time to post here. Although I had a blast, would rather have been @ Hollywood Park and met you both. But good times for all was had – we all stopped and smelled the roses today! Thank you.
Karen Gogue
@Susan in TN – I have faith that Lou will pull thru. Will ask an Angel for an Angel Kiss for him. LOL
Karen Gogue
@Judy B. (Hugs) Did my E-Mail get to you?
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, good morning to you beautiful. I am up early and watching the Belmont again, and still cheering for Thirsty. I cheered for him way after they crossed the wire, it was his track..distance and mud. A wonderful 2nd, he did great. Bet your man is proud. Watched alot of your races earlier yesterday morning. Have a wonderful, beautiful day…I love U so…LIsa g
Barbara Wood
@Keely–great post! Thanks! I just didn’t know how to put into words what you said.
zenyattaloveramy!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ZENY! from your biggest fan AMY.
Donna
Just wanted to let you know Z that Havre De Grace was brilliant yesterday, she is named after a small town on the bay in MD not too far from me.
The last time I saw her she won the Apple Blossom beating Switch,
I am sure Z you remember that tough little filly which you ran down in race #19.
I think you would have been the perfect Belmont Horse, a mile and a half would have been perfect for you also I could have seen you on the turf too.
Have you seen Black Caviar in Australia she is an amazing sprinter 13 for 13.
I can’t wait for Royal Ascot Goldikova, Frankel and Canford
Cliffs.
Z you are still the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!