Hello,
This is TOO CUTE! Yesterday at Hollywood Park, a few of the 2 year olds MY JOHN has in training breezed down the lane and galloped out nicely. To be honest, this one sure looks familiar to ME! I’d know those hind-quarters anywhere. (Although I must say, these days I am gaining a bit of weight! This comes with eating for 2 you know!) Blush, Blush!
This filly in the photo is my dear relative, Eblouissante! Here she is walking back to Barn 55 after her workout. Amy breezed her. “E” ( by Bernardini) went a very nice, relaxed 3/8ths with 2 other fillies….Minds Eyes (by Macho Uno) and Silent Poetry (by After Market). They each did a very ‘professional’ job for this stage of their training. The clockers got them in 38:80. John was quite pleased with the manner in which these fillies accomplished their lessons yesterday! YIPPEE!
There are so many details to be attended to at this stage of a horse’s career and development! Each of these 2 year olds has already spent time at a training center prior to coming to Barn 55…learning “the basics”. These lessons start with learning how to accept tack to responding to cues from the rider and how to successfully navigate the turns, the straight-away, and change leads.
Once at Barn 55, MY JOHN starts with each horse having a basic idea of what to do….to expanding upon these skills and introducing others that are required to be a race horse. Lots of gate work is necessary. They must also learn to change gears…when to slow down, be patient, handle other horses around them while running…and of course, how to pick up speed to finish strong.
As MY JOHN says, there are lots of BABY STEPS (no pun intended) to be achieved along the way to getting a horse ready for one’s first race…and hopefully the start of a long and successful career.
From all reports, ALL of the babies did a great job yesterday. I’m sending each of them a HIGH HOOF! Cheers to all…..and keep up the good work!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Michael Blowen
Thanks to Zenyatta, Dottie, John, Jerry and Ann for everything they do for these great athletes. John was the penultimate (or last) person to ride Noor. If everything goes according to plan, Noor will be permanently laid to rest at Old Friends in late August. Special thanks to THE VAULT, Abigail’s amazing website, for a generous donation to help with Noor’s transportation costs. All the horses at Old Friends are doing great. Of Particular interest might be the energetic half brother to Tiago and Giacomo..Falcon Scott..who regularly challenges Afternoon Deelites, Fortunate Prospect and Gulch to some friendly sprints…
Karen Gogue
@Sharon Call
Great post! I argee.
Karen Gogue
Uh-uh – AGREE! Should learn to spell! :(
Charlotte Farmer
@Diane S & Susan in TN – Thank you caring.
@Diane S – I am just blown away about the thoughts that Noor’s journey could be written up. Forget me the story is Noor’s. What a threesome, Noor, John Shirreffs, and Zenyatta. I have often thought of Noor as a Prince and Zenyatta as the elegant fair lady of relm as they stand side-by-side, Noor at 17 hands and Zenyatta at 17.2. What a royal picture. Forget William and Kate, we have our royalty.
@Kathy Kimber – Your prayers are being heard on Noor’s behalf.
@Judy Berube – Old Friends will be Noor’s final destination unless funding drops out.
@Signofthetimes – Thank you for your kind thoughts.
@Does anyone know how to pronounce Eblouissante phonetically?
@Dottie Shirreffs – I have said this before and will say it again, thank you for taking your time to do these posts on behalf of Zenyatta.
@Maggie N – I am with you about the book “Secretariat” not being for the faint of heart. Oh yes, you will cry not only at the end but there are things throughout the book that will tug at your heart. It is a definite eye-opener on life at a thoroughbred farm.
@Ascot – Maybe I read a prior post wrong, but did John and Dottie go to Ascot?
zenyen
@ Charlotte Farmer,
To hear John S say it, he pronounces it “Eh-Blue-Eh-Sant”
Linda
Great information.
zenyen
@Trina,
Correct, it should read ‘should NOT’ be bred. Just noticed that ‘stave’ should be ‘starve’.
judy berube
To Sharon Call and Z Fans:
Here’s the training video from John’s You Tube site http:www.youtube.com/user/johshfs05 Hugs, J.B.
Karen Gogue
All
Was that a little DANCE step little-big E was doing at the end of John’s last training video? Could we have another Zinger Rogers here? MMMMM…….you go girl!
judy berube
Opps, http://www.youtube.com/user/johshfs05
Hope I got it right.
Theresa Buck
we all miss you on the tracks but we understand family comes first…be careful and eat a balance diet…and we all love you muuah
judy berube
Sorry, didn’t work. Maybe if you google John Shirreffs05 you tube, hopefully it will take you to the site. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Charlotte Farmer:
I think a lot of Z’s fans will be donating to Old Friends for Noor and hopfully it will be all that is needed to have him safely there. We will be sending a check soon. Hugs, J.B.
Irene Caty
Hi Zenny, thanks for shareing the picture of Ebby, she resembles you in structure and you famous rear end but she dont have the great legs you have and is more the color of Bernie. I am sure she will be a good racehorse and make the family proud. I’m waiting to be able to see her run. It is great that your John is training her, she will get alot of love at Barn 55 by all. I wonder if Mike will be her Jocky when she is ready to race. Hello to Dottie and your John and all at Barn 55, they all do a wonderfull job and if it were’nt for Dottie we would not be able to keep in touch with you and I thank her much for that. Love you dearest Zentatta.
Barbara
What a great diary today! I really enjoy these postings it helps me with anxiety thank you so much! E looks fabulous and Queen Z keep on munching away! Thanks again!!! :)
Paula Higgins
E is just beautiful. Reminds me so much of Zenny-from the rear LOL! Can’t wait to see how she does as a 3 year old, if she is ready at age 3. Yes, these girls are all lucky to have John training them. If they are ready, they will race, and if they aren’t, he won’t push them too fast. It doesn’t get better than that. As for Lasix, there are 2 sides to this argument. I believe it truly does help them when racing, but I also believe that it creates issues down the road with stamina etc. Some people believe it weakens the succeeding generations and not that it actually hurts the horse you are giving it to at the time. It may mask problems etc. Hard to know.
judy berube
Know what Z Fans,
Maybe I need new glasses. I typed the link wrong. Here we go http://www.youtube.com/user/jonshfs05 Hugs,J.B.
Kathy Kimber
Dear Zeny,
What a great post and Ebby is so lovely (of course she couldn’t be anything else).
@Terry Crow: You are not wierd. Loosing our pets is like loosing our family. Keeping them close is healing and comforting nothing wrong with that.
@Susan in TN; How is Lou doing? Hope the progress is still good. It may be slow but its worth it so stay strong.
@Charlotte Farmer: This is going to work for Noor keep the faith.
@Michal Blowin: Thanks for the posts and for the video of little Silver Charm.
Sally (B)
Z, my Miss Personality; I am tickled to meet your sis, “E”. Sure like her!! I will say it again, accept my heartfelt thanks to John and his “baby steps” in training you and all the wonderful future race horses that come his way; and to the owners that listen to John. Ann, Jerry & Dottie have been a huge part in you Z and how you are cared for. I believe and hope all will learn from all of you!!
How many hands is “E”? love you guys.
love with 2 kisses on your soft nose; one for baby Z
p.s. Sweetie, yes you will get bigger because of baby Z, but you will look ravishing and glow from inside. Wait and see!!
Sharon Call
@Trina Nagele. LOL, LOL, LOL. Thanks for a much needed laugh today. That was SO funny!
@Karen Gogue. Thanks. I was half afraid I would get attacked for my viewpoint.
@Paula Higgins. I agree. There are always 2 sides to every story. I think there should be a lot more study done before the decision is made to pull that drug from American racing. I think it should go beyond a group of people meeting and discussing it. As far as affecting progeny, that would take generations of close medical follow-up to make an accurate determination. It truly makes me wonder what the reaction would be from the racing industry as a whole. I guess we’ll see in time.
alene
All I can say is I love you Zenny!!!!!! No horse is better then Y O U….Lots of Hugs and Kisses, Alene :-)
Sally (B)
hands tall? sorry
Sharon Call
@Sally B. I believe the last I read was that E is 16.3 hh. She’s going to be a big girl. She still has some growing to do.
Sharyn
Love that picture of your sister – she sure does resemble you!! With “your John” training her now only good things can come – he sure does know how to work with these horses – just look at your crowning achievements!!
By the way, you are suppose to be gaining now with that special baby you are carrying!!
Thanks again for posting – just love learning all there is about the racing world….
Sharon Call
@Susan in Tn. So glad that you got to spend some time with your daughter and Lou by both of your sides. When you get a chance to go to River Edge, please let me know how Chester likes his fly mask. I’m looking forward to the photos of him.
Celeste
How beautiful! It is so much fun to learn about the early training of these two year olds and to follow your little sister. Thank you so much for sharing with us!!
Kathy Kimber
@Terry Crow: Great idea to contact Bill every little bit helps. Everybody does even a little bit we can get it done. Hugs to you.
Kathy Kimber
Dear Zeny, Once again send our dear Dottie a big thank you. The posts are so informative you describe things so very well for us. Have a great night sweetheart.
Signofthetimes
Dear Zenny
Love the pic of the human Bobby Frankel
At Ascot. Love that European formal dress.
Hope you are enjoying the KY bluegrass, the
Sun and your BBF’s. Eat healthy for two.
@Abigail from Montreal
Really love your blog on Rags, Rachel and Zenny.
The power girls!!!!! Really looking forward to part
2. The pictures you chose for them are so beautiful.
Kathy Kimber
One more thing I read today that Animal Kingdom was injured in the Belmont. I was afraid he might have been. We are lucky it wasn’t worse. I just hope he heals up OK. Hopefully they want to race him this fall. He is such a good horse I just hope all works out for him. Hugs and peppermints to you AK