Good Morning,
It is hard to believe how fast time flies by. The sun is now setting on another Triple Crown Series. The 2011 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont are in the recoord books and congratulations to all 3 winners: Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, and Ruler On Ice.
The Belmont on Saturday was very exciting! I have to admit, I was like Max and Sharyn. Per their comments in the responses, they were watching Bernie’s son, Stay Thirsty, cut to the rail in the stretch and close steadily to be 2nd. So was I! I have to admit, I did cheer him on a bit. After all, he is Bernie’s son! GREAT JOB, STAY THIRSTY!
The winner ran a terrific race. My sincere congratulations to RULER ON ICE and his team. I would like to give a special SHOUT OUT to Jose Valdivia as well. He is a terrific guy! MY TEAM knows him very well as he used to ride in California. WE are so happy for him. We’d also like to thank all of the people who work so hard to make racing and these events so special!
On an industry note, it was GREAT to see the ‘handle’ for Belmont day. I’ve heard that they bet over 70 million dollars. This is so encouraging for our sport! PEOPLE DO LOVE RACING! YIPPEE!
Again, my heartfelt congratulations to all! Now we move forward to other exciting racing events. We have lots of 2 year old action beginning. This is always fun to monitor the new faces, names, and pedigrees of the adorable “babies”. The summer seasons at Del Mar and Saratoga are always highly anticipated. Several other tracks also add to this great mix. Then on November 4th and 5th, all eyes will turn to Churchill Downs who will again host this year’s Breeders’ Cup. There is always so much going on in our sport! All of this activity is so much FUN!
It is TOO CUTE that Kari mentioned in the responses that TIAGO was not only 3rd in the Belmont…he was also 3rd in the BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC. He accomplished this in 2008, the year I won the LADIES CLASSIC.
In 2008, it was the first year they made The Breeders’ Cup a 2 day event. I ran on Friday afternoon in the LADIES CLASSIC. Then TIAGO ran in the CLASSIC the next afternoon. He truly ran a terrific race! TIAGO finished a very, very competitive 3rd…closing tons of ground and flying at the finish. What a great weekend of racing it was for both TIAGO and I….and of course, MY TEAM as well! Such fond memories we have!
Enjoy your day! I hope you had fun over Belmont weekend…and picked LOTS of winners.
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Sharon Call
@Barbara Wood. Thanks for the link to Frankie the Foal. The video of the vet was very informative and well-done. I made a donation to Frankie’s fund. I must say Frankie’s future is looking brighter and brighter as the days go by and I hope that trend continues. I got tickled when the vet said Frankie is very “opinionated” about what she likes and dislikes, when she’s tired, etc. If she can do that, she has to be feeling better.
Margie
@Cynthia H: oh my gosh! I will be very happy to pass on your greeting to my sister. She will be so happy about this. You’re right; I’ve been in that little back cubby hole and chuckled at all her little homey things – so like her. She loved her years at SA with all the great people like you, but especially the horses. She is loving her retirement and being a full time grandma (two grandsons). Life is good :-) We watched Zenny’s last race together…
Roxi Cook
This seems to be the Year of the Long Shot. I’m glad you’re not still racing since you were always the favorite!
Alexandra Bowdoin
@Everyone, Royal Ascot starts tomorrow. Be sure to set your DVR for the week. Goldikova runs tomorrow I believe?? Bets made daily on the color the Queen is wearing!!
Terry Crow
@Kari Bussell-Thanks so much for the link to Tiago. The looks on Dottie’s and Ann Moss’ faces were enough to keep me “Forever Young.”@Susan in TN–So glad to hear about Lou. Unfortunately,after the Belmont,I can’t afford to send anything but good vibes from California to Tenn.@Cynthia H-You were very fortunate to see Zenyatta in that 2009 Breeders Cup race. I have shared this before but in light of your post it bears repeating. I was in the race book in Las Vegas that day. Struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to me and he expressed the opinion that it was amazing that, with her running style, Zenyatta had not been unduly bothered by traffic trouble. I told him to be prepared to be astounded. The whole crowd in the race book got to their feet and cheered when Zenyatta crossed the finish line. I have not heard noise like that before or since.@Barbara C-I hope you get to see Hollywood Park before it shuts down and don’t miss Santa Anita. I am going to go on a race track tour across the US next year as sort of a bucket list thing.@Sharon Call–I had mentioned at the time the Indy 500 was contested that it didn’t make much sense for the drivers to crash their cars in the first 5 miles of the race.This is the same way I feel about the Belmont. Some action needs to be taken. For me, it is similar to the incident with Life at Ten in the Breeders Cup last year in that it should have been avoided.
Kathy Kimber
Dear Zeny,
How are you feeling? I know you are enjoying the lazy days. The Belmont was so exciting. Love you big girl
Terry Crow
@ Charlotte Farmer-Dona has a good idea. Give it some consideration.@Judy Berube–You are getting as bad as I am. Not one person in 10,000 would know what that meant when you said my blood is rare.
cheryl
While at the grocery store, picked up the new July issue of a fat glossy magazine—Cowboys and Indians, full of all the trendy western stuff. Looked at an article about remarkable horses. It included Reckless the little horse/pony who played such a big part in the Korean war hauling amo, and a few others. Right in the middle—-you guessed it, ZENNY! It’s a nice bit about her with a big color picture of her and Mike winning. Z the gift that keeps on giving!
Jamie
You are the best Queen Z. You brought so many new fans to racing…. and hey, I won my first pick 4 on Saturday. The late pick 4 at Hollywood Park, what a thrill. It made up for not choosing the Belmont winner…. LOL
Hugs, kisses and much love to you and your team.
Cynthia H.
@Terry Crow: Thank so much for sharing that memory of Zenyatta’s astounding 2009 Breedes’ Cup win. There was universal standing and cheering all over! Wow—even from “hardened” bettors!
Cynthia H.
*Breeders’
Cynthia H.
@Margie: Love this, Margie! She is so missed, and spoken of fondly by everyone. Thank you very much for passing along my best wishes. I am glad that life is good for her. The racetrack is a very small place, as I am sure you well know! I am sure we will meet sooner or later! WIsh it could have been at a Zenyatta race.
judy berube
To Terry Crow:
I know. I hope everybody gets to see “Let It Ride”. They will all understand and I’m sure, because we all share the love of horses and racing, will get a huge laugh out of it. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
To Especially Horses:
Really enjoyed your post. Hugs, J.B.
Karen Gogue
@Dawn Conrad
dms
Kristen Please e-mail me – glitches again from my end. Minor, want to respond to you! Thanks! Karen
Oh, and Arlene N. too!
Kathy Kimber
@Charolle Farmer I too think Donna has a good idea please give it some thought. Hugs
Kim J
I was just watching a replay of last year’s Vanity Handicap (clearing out my DVR…but NEVER Z races!) and realized it was exactly a year ago…6/13/10…where you won your 17th in a row in a thriller! Love the call on that race too…the announcer was probably the most excited one in attendance :)
ZENYATTALOVERAMY!!
that picture makes me sad the triple crown already over!:(:(:( but breeders cup will be here before you know it! and great job stay thirsty indeeed! i really thought he was going to win at the stretch but icy niped him:( and poor AK you know i usually dont believe in luck, but in that race it really was just unlucky for him:( Anyway hope your having a great day! And i pray you and your baby will stay safe and healthy:) FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN AMY.
Margie
@Cynthia H: thank you for your kind comments about my sis. She’s pretty cool and I love her a lot. We go to the casinos together – lol – she may have left SA but she still likes a good bet! She described to me once the roar of the crowd when Z was there. You never know, SA is just a hop, skip and a jump away – but I, too, wish it could be at a Zenyatta race. I never got to see Z run (live), but I went to Barn 55 and met that most magnificent girl. I got to pet her and look into those eyes and I’ve never been the same since, and happily so. Charlene will be so excited by these posts! Have a great evening.
Sharon Call
@Terry Crowe. Good analogy. It was something like an almost car crash. Everytime I watch the film clip, I get a little madder and a little madder. Inexcusable move by Maragh and his excuse wasn’t much better. Hope the stewards see it the same way. Anyway, we’ll all know later in the week. I will be watching for that avidly, you can bet. There are enough injuries on the track as it is, racing doesn’t need someone that pulls something like that. Oops, here I go again. I’ll shut up now.
Vicki B.
@Susan in TN – I’m glad Lou is doing better, altho with upchucking, sounds like not out of the woods yet. But meds are so unsettling to a body, it’s not surprising. Hopefully things will resolve.
Ellen Zachary
Zenny, thanks for the great post and the Belmont wrap-up…you are wonderful and missed…love, Ms Ellen in Denver
Teresa E.
Hi all, wouldn’t it have been great to see Zenyatta let her do her ‘thang’ at the large Belmont Park? That is one thing she never got to do that I wish she would have been allowed to do. The way she comes from behind would have given her a huge advantage. Ruffian was as big as Z, but she had to be in front all the time, set time records and was undefeated in her short racing career (excl. the horrible tragedy of the match race) I would have loved to see Zenyatta put her flowers she won, walk over to The Greatest’s gravesite, and put her flowers there. Ruffian was only 3 years old and accomplished all that. Can you only imagine had she lived? Z, glad you are safe and sound, but I would have loved to see that….
Nancy Bickford
Hi Zen! Any word on perhaps allowing the public to come and visit you now that you are comfortably in foal? I’d love to see you in person. I’ve only seen you on TV and have some friends who’d like to see you as well, including equine photographer, Tony Leonard, who although he can no longer photograph horses, still would like his picture taken with you!
Terry Crow
@Cynthia H-Now that Oak Tree is out of the picture, a sore subject to be sure, are you going to be working at SA during the fall meet?
Signofthetimes
Article mentioned Ruler on Ice was the only horse in the
Belmont that won twice in the slop. How cute!!!
Dear Zenny
Hope you had a great day!!!!
Kathy Kimber
I’m so glad Frankie the foal is doing well bless her sweet heart she has been thru so much. I’m glad she and Lily are bonding so well now too.It seems she has wonderful caregivers thanks for the updates on her.
Zenyen
@Theresa E – Unfortunately Belmont did away with the detention barn too late to lure Zenyatta to the Big Sandy.
@Nancy Bickford – There is no such thing as ‘comfortably in foal’. A mare can slip a pregnancy for the least little reason. The only safe ‘in foal’ is when the foal is on the ground, up and nursing.
Cynthia H.
@Terry Crow: You bet! There will be a new name for the meet, and I have heard it mentioned, but cannot seem to recall it. I believe we open Sept. 28th, and will run through Breeders’ Cup.
Irene Caty
Hi Zenny, it seems that racing is full of long shots lately. I lost all my Belmont picks and did get a third place on Gio Ponte in the Manhattan Race. There is nothing like when you raced and the crowd was all excited and started yelling Zenyatta, Zenyatta. There was always so much excitement in the crowd and tears of happiness to have seen you win. That was an experience of a lifetime that one just dont ever forget. Hope all is going good with you Zenny and also with Wink Wink. Love you much.