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
ZENYATTALOVERAMY!!
your buddy (And my fav) blind luck won!! she is a great filly! you must have whispered some of your exspert advice with her when you were at santa anita last year:) and that pic is wonderful! you so pretty i wish i could have seen bernys face when he saw you for the first time:) hahaha! LOVE YOU ZENYATTA! FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN AMY.
Dawn Conrad
@Charlotte Farmer – Oh, Charlotte, what fantastic news. This diary is such a special place and so wonderful how we can help to make things happen for each other when we need it! How wonderful of Terry Crow. Zenny would be proud.
Roberta Smith
Our beautiful Zenyatta! You look absolutely gorgeous! XXXXX I love you!
Jenna
Saw Z running the Vanity on TVG this morning….I heard “Zenyatta” and ran to the television (I was watching Ascot). She is looking so good in this photograph. So beautiful.
Have a wonderful evening. Thank you, Dottie, for all that you are.
Nighty night.
Sunny Boyd
Good evenng Zenyatta,
by the time you gained all your ‘infoal’ weight, your legs will look like toothpicks. Haha :) :)
Looks like motherhood is truly becoming you, you look marvelous.
Good luck to everybody at the races, come home well.
Good night, Sweetheart, Good night
Pamela J Hebert
Motherhood becomes you Zenny. Thank you for your explanation today about the weight assignment. Congratulations to Blind Luck in The Vanity. Miss seeing you race you’re still The Greatest!!’ XOXOXO
Cheryl
You are such a gorgeous girl!! I have been playing with my horses all day and then came in to watch the races. I just love all the aspects to thoroughbred racing, the pedigrees that determine if a horse will run on an off track or be able to go a certain distance is very interesting! Are you leaving the junk food alone like I told you? You must be, because you look just absolutely wonderful! If you have a filly you could name her Zendances and then she could run in all the races you won and win them too! LOVE YOU
Karen Gogue
@John Shirreffs (and Dottie)
Thank you for allowing Trina and JSmith into Barn 55 after the races today. They do say ‘one in a million’, that you certainly are. No one like you have I ever had the pleasure of meeting, you are “THE MAN”, thank you again.
Paula Higgins
Congratulations to Jerry and Ann Moss and John and Dottie for their win today!
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny, you look great!! You definitely look like you’re heading back to the barn in a big hurry to checkout the races. Take care Zenny.
Linda
Dawn Conrad
@Karen Gogue – Hope you enjoyed the races today, had to be so wonderful to see John and Dottie, we can all agree, they are definitely “one in a million”!! So happy that Trina and JSmith got to visit Barn 55. Pure magic!!!
@Trina and JSmith – Hope you got to give Ebby and all the other fantastic horses in Barn 55 lots and kisses and pats? Let me know what you thought. It is such a wonderful place. TOO FUN!!
Stephanie
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE “PROFILE” PIC!! You are seriously developing a belly there girl! My jaw fell when I saw you! Can’t wait to see what you look like in Dec/Jan. TOO CUTE!!
Bridget
Yes, it would be TOO CUTE, ((((Z))))!
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta, the Vanity was great – Blind Luck was unbelieveable, just like you!!! St. Trinians got caught behind horses but rallied to 4th. I was thinking that if you, Blind Luck and St. Trinians ran in a 3 horse race, you would all be racing together as closers. You probably would have just looked at them as if to say, what are you doing back here? Love you, Angel in Disguise. Stay comfortable, keep dry, eat well for two and have loads of fun with your BBFs. You look so beautiful as an expectant mommy.
Signofthetimes
@Judy B
Thanks for the classification. Yes, I saw the Belmont
Race on HRTV and your video. Nice treat. Also
Enjoyed video of Goldi race. Thanks again. I don’t have
Much luck posting videos, technically challenged.
Delrene
Zenyatta – You just look terrific with the Kentucky blue grass and blue sky above. Congratulations to Blind Luck – I’ve always liked her ( almost as much) as I love you. She is pretty amazing to watch too. But as all the posts mention, it really itsn’t quite the same without you. It was a special time.
Enjoy your special time. Thank you again Dottie for all the information you take the time to share with some of us “novices”
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
You’re welcome. I was so impressed with the way Street Game won. Led almost from the start and just kept increasing his lead. Street Cry really has some beautiful runners, especially Z. Hugs, J.B.
Sheri
Wow i have always wondered about those things! Thank you for sharing! That really would be amazing if you had a foal to win the Vanity….but whatever happens, we will always love you and the foal! :D Love You Zenyatta! :D
DJ
Good night Sweet “Z”,
You have never looked more beautiful! I believe your little one will win the Vanity and I still like “TOUCHE AGAIN”!
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Good try El Vino, it was a very tough race you were in today! You are always in the money but we have to share our victories right?
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To the Dumplingz Gang: Oh please tell! What a wonderful adventure you must have been on! I can only imagine..complete with humor and hugs I am sure :) Bless you all for representing our “Z” Family.
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Karen Gogue
@Dawn Conrad
I know I had a blast – didn’t win any money :( but loved every minute today with the “adorable groupies”. SOOO fun!
Lynn ..... (nearby Hwd Park) California
Hi Zenny,
I just love hearing about you and seeing new photos of you too.
Thanks …. Much love… Hugs :)
Irene Caty
Zenny, you are the Vanity Queen and that is unforgetable as is all your other races. What a beautiful picture of you and I see you still carry that Zenyatta style even with a bit more weight. I am so excited for you being in foal and we will all be going crazy when the time comes for you to give birth, until then, eat good and be sure to stay safe. I am checking in late so I know that Blind Luck won the race and she ran it in a come from way in the back like you use to do and Switch came in second. I liked all of them but was glad to see Blind Luck win. Sending you my love as always and thanks so much for shareing this lovely picture of you.
Mary
Hi Z…..Love seeing a picture of you from today. I think we might can see a little tummy there …so cute. But you are so tall…I am sure you will carry it well. :)
I watched Awesome Maria race today…she was awesome. Still not the excitement from when you raced but was fun to watch her…did you know Uncle Mo has a serious crush on her? I saw a video of him going crazy when he saw her walk by his stall…now that was “too cute”…. those crazy guys…. Hugs to you Z…
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, you look absolutely beautiful. Maybe big girls just do not show right away. I watched Your Vanity, did an exacta, St Trinians should have showed…Awesome Maria was once again, Awesome. I love you, Big Girl..nighty nite. Lisa g.
Linda/Maryland
I watched your Vanity today and missed you winning it, but it was a good race and Blind Luck ran a fine race.
Love you and Miss You Zenny~!!!
Lisa g
@Hernan: Got your message and went back to #275 post. At work I am restricted on some things online, and I am very sadden by Tiz Zoe. Don’t forget the injustice done to Exceller, in Sweden, and it did not have to be. The farm offered to buy him from the owner, but chose not to..to sale to a slaughter house instead. I would have gone to jail, before I would have taken any horse there…but she said legally she had to, and he was scared..he smelled the blood…let’s not go there in Zenyatta’s World. I think about it, I get so angry. Do not think about it, think of all the great races today and that beautiful lady on this page, checking out today’s races. I watched the Vanity live, and I kept waiting to hear him say…Here comes Zenyatta from behind..this is unbelieveable….this is perfection…it is Zenyatta…4th time in a row…Dreaming.
judy berube
Dear Hernan Tovar and Lisa G.:
What happened to Tiz Zoe. Can’t find anything about it. Just that she was vanned off. I read your post, Ingrid, that said she had passed on. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Susan in Tn.:
Haven’t heard from you today. Hope everything is going well. Hugs, J.B.
candi cartier
my queen you look like you can still race you look so strong and very healthy and gorgeous.You are so beautiful we missed you and love you taking yourself and the baby eat healthy foods good night my queen zenny.
Lisa B
Dear Precious Zenny,
Went to Hollywood Park today to watch the Vanity just as I did the last 2 years. It was a great race. Congrats goes out to Blind Luck and her conections. Switch ran great too. I must say that I truly miss the thrill that you brought to the track. Congrats to Loro, the Moss’ and your John (Team Z) on their win in race 5. Miss YOU so much!! Love YOU OOOXXX