Hello Everyone!
I am so excited! Today there are so many wonderful races running around the country…but one in particular, The Vanity G-1 at Hollywood Park, really captivates ME! I LOVE THIS RACE! As a matter of fact, I WON IT 3 years in a row. The last 2 times I carried 129 pounds when recording my victories! In all circles, this is considered to be quite a bit of weight.
The Vanity is a HANDICAP RACE. In this type of stakes race, the racing office reviews the nominations and then ‘weight the horses’ according to their individual current accomplishments. This is done to try and make the fields ‘more equal’ and enable all horses entered in the race to have the opportunity to run competitively.
If a stakes race is not a ‘HANDICAP’, then the weights are allocated by age and set forth in advance when the race is being programmed. For example, in the Kentucky Derby, all horses carry 126 pounds. They do allow a few pounds for a female when running against male horses. This can range from 3 to 5 pounds depending upon the age of the female horse and the race.
In races as the BREEDERS’ CUP, weights are established in advance by age and sex. For instance, in the LADIES CLASSIC which I won in 2008 and my friend, LIFE IS SWEET, won in 2009…the established weights are 121 pounds for 3 year old fillies and 124 pounds for 4 year olds and up. (A 3 year old filly born in the Southern Hemisphere carries 116 pounds due to the age differential as to when they are born in that Hemisphere.) Thus, both Life Is Sweet and I carried 124 pounds in this race as we each won it at age 4.
Weights for the BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC are set forth in advance as well. No matter what one has accomplished, the weights are as follows: 3 year olds are assigned 122 pounds (Southern Hemisphere 117) and 4 year olds and older 126. They DO allow 3 pounds for all fillies or mares who may run in this race. Thus, I carried 123 pounds both times I ran in the B.C. CLASSIC.
Often, I do not think about what I have accomplished….but when races as The Vanity are scheduled, it is so much FUN TO REFLECT upon my achievements. Today is one of those days!
My racing pals, SWITCH, BLIND LUCK, and ST. TRINIANS are all competing in this year’s edition of THE VANITY. The weights they will carry range from 123 (Blind Luck) 120 (Switch) and 119 (St. Trinians). I know all of these horses very well…and truly want to wish each of them ALL THE BEST!
Perhaps one day I’ll have a baby of my own run in and WIN the VANITY! Now, wouldn’t that just be TOO CUTE!
Enjoy your weekend!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Lin F.
thanks for the interesting racing information. It is great to know these things, right from the expert!! You look as beautiful as ever.
Stay safe-
Lin
Dani
Wow Sarah. Your photo is just breathtaking. Thank you for sharing it with us. Just stunning.
DmamaKlock
On Vanity Day…………special thing for your team to won with LORO……. YOUR John & Dotty were interviewed. John did the talking and Dotty stayed off camera, she it TOO cute. But John talked about you and referred the question of your status to Dotty who answered off camera that you were doing fabulous. AND we can see from the picture that you are indeed doing fabulous :-)
Kim Noble
You look quite beautiful Momma Z! I respect little St. Trinians for trying so hard against you last year. That was the race I was sure I was going to have a heart attack! Cut that one a little fine there lady!
Karen
You are the best beautiful, Zenyatta. I love you.
Terri B.
Hey Lady. You look amazing. Your friend Blind Luck went from LAST to FIRST to win the Vanity. WOW. You would have been impressed.
Have a great one, Zen Love ya
LauraJ
Blind Luck wins The Vanity. Good efforts by all.
judy berube
To Laura J.:
Play Pool won the Stephen Foster at 36-1. My pick, Duke of Mischief, was 4th. Oh,well. Hugs, J.B.
Shari Voltz
Hi Zenyatta what a beautiful girl you are. You will have a very talented baby that will win many races. I love all the education and I learned something new today :) (Thank you Dottie). I also want to thank Sarah for the great pictures she gets for us. We love them and always look forward to seeing you sweet Zenny. I hope you have sweet dreams tonight. I love you very much. Hugs and Kisses, Shari
@ Dawn thank you for the info and talk last night. You are SPECIAL :)
@ Susan I LOVE MY PICTURES. Thank you again. I love ROOTBEER. He is too cute :)
Cathleen
A high hoove to Blind Luck winning the Vanity! Love your photo Z — you have that pregnancy glow! Cathleen XOXOXOX
judy berube
Laura J.,
Sorry, that should have been POOL PLAY. Messed that up. Hugs, J.B.
Charlotte Farmer
@ Terry Crow – Thank you, thank you, thank you. Bill Dwyre contacted me today asking about Noor and what was going on. He was so nice. I gave him background on Noor’s journey from the Aga Khan to Loma Rica, his races against Citation, and his connection to Zenyatta’s John. He said that he had spoken to John earlier. I ask him if John mentioned that he was the last person to breed Noor and only one of two men to ever ride Noor in retirement. He said that John hadn’t mentioned that, and was glad to know that. I said that Michael Blowen, of Old Friends, was gracious enough to offer Old Friends as a final resting place for Noor, and that we need around $5,000.00 to make this happen. “Not to worry,” he said. When this article is published, next week, you should have no problem with finances. My jaw dropped with that statement. What a gentleman.
judy berube
To Charlotte Farmer:
What great news. Hugs, J.B.
Ann Maree
Hi, Zenny,
I posted on your FB page your three Vanity wins for your fans to watch. You are sorely missed, sweet girl!
Well, Blind Luck finished first in the Vanity and she looked a lot like your come-from-behind finishes! She trailed most of the race but was unstoppable at the finish. Your old nemesis, St. Trinians who you ran down at the finish line last year, finished 4th. Switch finished Second, with Miss Match,3rd.
Just before this race, I caught Ron McAnally, the trainer for the winner of the Manhattan Beach S, the wonderful trainer of John Henry and Bayakoa. So happy for him…he’s a very great and humble man, like your John!
You look beautiful sweet girl….
Big hugs! Your friend, Ann Maree
Ann Maree
P.S. I notice that the date under mine and the previous post is June 19, but it is actually June 18. Don’t know what’s up with that, but thought I would say something.
Cynthia H.
@Charlotte Farmer: WOW, WOW, WOW! Many good wishes for all you have done, and congratulations, too!
Katie Clawson
Z! My mom and I were in KY yesterday checking out the North American Racing Academy and we drove by Lane’s End 4 times looking for you! I THINK I saw you too! Fly mask, 2 hind socks, same color and size! I can’t wait to see you again honey
Love, Katie(future jockey)
AJ from CA
Wow -how sweet it was to see Z’s racing colors in the winners circle with Loro today as well as John and Dottie there! Also a big salute to Blind Luck (who I was rooting for) to take the Vanity…she looked awesome and I think her owner is the gentleman who spoke so kindly of Z when he accepted an award for BL at the Eclipse Awards wasn’t he? A great day for racing.
Charlotte Farmer
@Zenyatta – Yep, looks like a little baby bump showing. Elizabeth Barrow asked if you were still getting your Guinness now that you are in foal. I would guess not, but I am planning on making the Chocolate Guinness Cake recipe from the link posted by Deborah Richman from Post 211. I will be thinking of you when we cut the cake. I will be rooting for St. Trinians in the Vanity Handicap. Racing is not the same without you in it.
Love you Zenyatta!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
You sure are looking good Zenyatta! Watched the Vanity today and Blind Luck came from behind just like you and went out wide coming on up and taking the win from Switch. Blind Luck got me pretty excited and she ran an exceptionally fantastic race. So happy for her and for her trainer and owner, Jerry Hollendorfer, today was his 65th birthday, and Blind Luck gave him an very special present with her first place win.
But, it’s just not the same, without you on the track, you are truly missed. I love you lots, Zenyatta!
Sharyn
Beautiful picture of you heading back to the barn to “check on the races”! Love it!! You certainly are enjoying yourself and thanks for all the info – I have learned so much from you – thanks bunches!!
Harriett Vaughn
You look terrific!
Signofthetimes
Dear Zenny
Blind Luck won the Vanity coming from last, but
Not dead last, like you but not quite as exciting. She is a very
Talented filly and it was Jerry Holenforfers 65 B-day.
Nice present for him. You look very beautiful eating
For two. XXXOOO
@Judy B
Thanks for posting the Royal Ascot race Street Cry’s
Son won. I watched it but strange watching them run
From the right and field is so wide with them all bunched
Up I heard the announcer state who won, but wanted
To rewatch
@Abigail from Montreal
Thanks for sending link to this site when you ad
a new post.
Sweet Dreams Zenny !!!!
Sharon Teel
Zenyatta, you look great! Love the the posts! Take care of yourself! You will be a great mother and your legacy will live on!
nina
Awesome Maria and Blind Luck looked incredible. We miss your races Z.
Gloria Jeanne
Hi Zenny – Fabulous photo of you walking in the sun. Love the vanity and all your Pals. Too Cute!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Love you and miss you much.
Kathleen Marsh
I know that you are excited for Loro. He looked so relaxed before the race, and just won so easily. Blind Luck was great!I must say that I was more excited watching reruns of your races than the acutal race—not to take away from her because she was very special winning today. I watched a really nice 2-year-old filly this morning named Maybe. She was at Ascot and her father is Galileo. Have you considered going to visit him sometime in the future?
Martha Kinkead
Lady Z, you look fantastic!!! Thank you for the information about weights. I love to read your posts. I became interested in racing because of Barbaro. I didn’t think that there would be another horse as handsome, but when I saw you, I fell in love with you,too. You are BEAUTIFUL AS BARBARO WAS HANDSOME. I love you both.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
The race that Street Cry’s son, Street Game, won was at Belmont today. I think it was the Prince Hill Stakes. The other link I posted today was a replay of Goldikova’s race at Royal Ascot. Is that the one you mean? Hugs, J.B.
Celeste
What a beautiful photo of you, Zenyatta!! You are still so gorgeous. Thank you for sharing the photo and this diary entry about the weights – I thought it was always significant that you carried more weight in your past races than any of the colts in the 2010 BCC. The Vanity was an exciting race today and it was fun to see Blind Luck win it in a come from behind manner – ahhh, brings back memories of my favorite race mare! Thank you for the wonderful diary and photo!