Hello Everyone,
From Del Mar to Saratoga…which opens today….HAPPY RACING!
This is truly the DAILY DOUBLE of summer racing in our sport. It kicks into full swing today! You have Saratoga which starts the day on the East Coast…and then Del Mar on the West Coast to round out your day of thoroughbred enjoyment! During the next several weeks, there are so many options, so many great horses, an abundance of stakes races and LOTS OF FUN!
Even though it is exceptionally warm on the East Coast today, in the mid-90’s and a heat index of 100, the NYRA stated that the race meet will open on schedule. There are 2 stakes races on their program, the Sanford for 2 year olds and the James Marvin Stakes for older horses. The latter drew a field of very accomplished stakes winners going 7 furlongs. Both races will be very competitive and fun races to watch.
Each coast offers deep racing fields over the entire weekend. Have a great time handicapping, watching the races, and analyzing all of your selections! Additionally, HOOVES CROSSED for great racing luck for all of YOU!
Again, please take special care of yourself in this heat. It is really important for you to monitor your physical activities and stay properly hydrated! I know something about this. MY JOHN always monitored my hydration levels when I was at Barn 55. Due to my size and weight…and then in consideration of my physical activities as an athlete, this was a very, very important part of my overall well-being. That is why I know the great importance of monitoring one’s HYDRATION LEVELS!
Happy Weekend to all of my dear, dear FRIENDS!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
signofthetimes
Oops, two of the same links sorry:
Here is the other summer race 2006 Bernardini:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMdS0A8EwmQ&feature=related
signofthetimes
@ Karen G
Thanks so much for taking all of this time to put together
everything. We miss hearing from you, but know that you
are making something very special. Thanks again.
You are awesome !!!!!
signofthetimes
Here is article on Haskel contenders: It is going to be a great race.
Has anyone heard if Shakelford is committed to Haskell or WV Derby?
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64172/breens-haskell-contenders-in-final-drill
judy berube
Dear Ensign:
While searching for confirmation of Vertigineux being bred to Street Cry, came upon your post in Diary #294, which I apparently missed. You posted that Z will be having a full sibling born in 2012. As you have never given us information that wasn’t true, I am absolutely thrilled. Prayers of safety and excellent health for Z, LIS, V and their foals. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Here’s an article I found on Shackelford and the Haskell. Hugs, J.B. http://www.monmouthpark.com/haskell/news.aspx?id=5132
judy berube
Dear Karen G.:
Same as Signofthetimes said. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Max and Signofthetimes:
Think we would all react the same way if someone threw a bucket of ice water at us. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Thanks for the Bernardini videos. Love him. Hugs, J.B.
Shari Voltz
@ I don’t know if I am included but the Breeders Cup would be easier than going out to CA. Can I be included? Also I watched the Bernie videos. He is so talented. Zenny and Bernie will have a SUPER HORSE. Also does anyone know who is going to be in the WV Derby? Mountaineer (where the Derby is held) is only 25 min from my house.
Gary Moulton
@Baby Results – 07-24-11
.
@SARATOGA – Race 9 – “Overdriven” is for real and looks like he can go a lot further. 30 cents to one is not my kind of bet unless it’s a sure Zhing. My three came 2nd, 3rd, & last.
-$6.00
.
@DEL MAR – Race 7 – I was right about one thing in this race, it was a big price. My bumps came 4th, 5th, & 7th. The dollar tri pd $1,436.20. One of those would pay for the rest of the summer and then some.
.
-$6.00..-$41.00 going into tomorrow.
judy berube
Dear Gary:
You’ll catch one of those tris soon. Lucks got to get better. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Shari Voltz:
Getting to Churchill would be easier for me too, but don’t know if I can save enough by the Fall. Need the time to save up for next year. Hugs, J.B.
Marshall (girl's name)
What a fantastic Sunday posting!! Thanks to everyone who has contributed! Zenyatta, my love, you attract the most wonderful folks!
Congratulations to the Mosses on Cloud Man’s win!
@JAG, Thank you for the link on Awad’s passing. Glad he was in a loved place at OF.
@Abigail from Montreal, Thanks so much for the touching account of John Gosden and Rewilding. Sweet and sad, too.
judy berube
Dear Gary Moulton:
Haven’t played Saratoga yet. But just checked the entries for tomorrow. In the 3rd race, two year old son of Bernardini, No 4 Spare Change. Morning Line odds 5 to 1. In the 6th, two year old filly, No. 9 Dancin N Prancin. Morning Line odds 8 to 1. Made me think of Z. Hugs, J.B.
Marshall (girl's name)
Great, I cut myself off before I got done! To continue:
@Kari Bussell, Johnny Carson was The Man! No equal at present, nor likely to be!
@DJ, That drink sounds good to me(also, the swinging on the porch)!
@Brenda S, How wonderful that you had your incredible father until he was 94! Thanks for sharing him!
@Diana_NV, Bless you, back!
Sunny Boyd, Yes! I do remember–“See the USA in your Chevrolet”, Dinah. This ad tune was from her night show. The afternoon show was later.
@Terry C., I am still laughing:”… bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy…”!!
@s(in San Diego), Love the post from Keith — if I had the space, youth and time(I live in town)! Best wishes, but put me down as a last resort!
@Gary Moulton, Thanks for the Paul Mellon poem; had to get a tissue! It’s beautiful!
@Anne from Paramount, CA, Thanks for the comments about our “Z”.
@Terry C., Love the “hanging” joke! Thanks, also, for the Jack Benny & Burns/Allen memories!
Have a good week, everyone!
Sunny Boyd
@ Terry Crow
what a riot :)
Good evening Zenyatta,
we had a little cool down here, no rain though :(
truly hope some of it went your way
Have a quiet restful night <3
Sunny Boyd
@ Marshall (girl’s name)
I guess I saw the afternoon show then, never saw her in an evening show, but I do remember that song though.
And, oh man, did she have the guests, even though it was an afternoon show.
Sue Fredrick
@Sign of the times, thanks for the links to Bernardini’s races he was gliding over the track just like his wonderfully sire A P Indy.
Barbara Wood
Sweet Z–bidding you good night. I see that your heat advisory is even worse than ours because of the humidity. Praying for your safety and for the safety of those who aren’t as well taken care of as you. This summer is one to remember for sure. Seems that the west coast is the only place that’s habitable. Love you always.
DJ
To Marshall: It’s a cyber cocktail. The ‘climate’ predicts the “Spirit”! You are always welcome to partake :)
DJ
For those who would like to share an Evening Prayer/Hymn:
……………………………………
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God our Creator triumphantly raise;
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who guideth us on to the end of our days.
His banners are o’er us, his light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night:
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,
As forward we travel from light into Light.
His law he enforces, the stars in their courses,
The sun in his orbit obediently shine,
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The depths of the ocean proclaim him divine.
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing.
With glad adoration, a song let us raise:
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving,
To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise.
…………………………Anon.
Signofthetimes
@Judy B
Thanks for the recent link on Shackelford. I was hoping
He would go to Haskell. It is shorter distance so
He may really turn it all on and win this great race.
Glad you enjoyed videos of Bernie. I had never seen
All three together. He won them so easily. He is truely very talented. Invasor just had more experience. But he really put
A in a great effort in BCC.
Just more experienced
Jane C
Well my dear Zenyatta, I am writing this on the evening of Sunday, July 24th. It has been one year to the day that I met you, along with my friend. Who could have known that within a couple of months time or so you would have hundreds of people coming to see you. But that day it was just you and me and my friend. Your John and your Mario were at Del Mar. But Dawn was there and Bob and that special cat and Zardana. We never even thought at that time that we could bring carrots or mints- we thought that they would have been taken right away from us. Security was extremely tight at that point. So we brought nothing! Nothing but our total love and awe of you. And boy did we get that. When you came out to the grassy area it just took our breath away. We had just a wonderful quiet hour with you. You sniffed our hair and nudged and posed with us and were just the best thing that we could have imagined. I could not have been more excited if you had been Elvis!!! I kissed your nose and smelled such sweet horse!!! And no way Elvis would have ever smelled like that!!! Anyway, I also wanted to say to your John – we are the same age you and I, but you have the same kindness and just inborn knowledge of the horse that my dad had – he didn’t get to fulfill his dream of being a professional trainer – but he loved his horses, did Jim O’Hara – and you do remind me of him. He was hands on and was just guietly knowing and caring and was always their “best” friend. Don’t ever change John. You are the best. Love always to Z. Let’s hope for a March 6th birthday for baby.
Jane C
Anne from Paramount, CA
Hi again Queen Z…hope you had a good Sunday with your gal pals, staying as cool as possible. @Kennedys, Chantal’s favorite horses: one was from Canada, whose name was not familiar to me and since I did not write it down, I don’t remember it. For modern day horses she said Game on Dude–said how he “floats” when he runs. If I may give my opinion (and even if I can’t, LOL), I feel she was being somewhat self serving here, (and hoping her answer would get back to Bob Baffert)although I guess one can’t blame her. Game on Dude is the reason she is currently in California, having made that decision to stay immediately after her controversial win in the S.A. Hcp. Trevor, always good with a follow up, further explained about the race, the horse and Chantal’s part in it. In answer to another question she says it is important to work hard in the mornings so trainers know you are around (for possible future mounts), but not so hard that you don’t knock yourself out in the afternoons when you are in a real race. Jockeys do not get paid for working a horse in the mornings she said. A funny: when someone asked Chantal how she keeps in shape, Doug O’Neill interrupted and said, “That question was for me right?” Cracked us up. @Brenda S, I have read that Funny Cide book. Good! Recommended reading. I enjoyed seeing him here at S.A. several years ago for the BC. It’s just plain NICE and special to see a Ky. Derby winner in person. A good and safe week to everyone, humans and horses! :)
judy berube
Dear DJ:
Thanks for tonight’s prayer. Hugs, J.B.
Dear Signofthetimes:
You’re welcome. Bernie was very talented. What a great match between him and Z. Hugs, J.B.
Dear Z Fans:
Thank you for all the wonderful posts and links today. Hugs, J.B.
Diana S
@YAY! It’s raining – hard -in Phoenix! Whoever did that rain dance – I owe you a tall cool one!
drippy-stu in tempe
Delrene
I am in total agreement on the “Battle of the Ex’s” I say NO, NO, NO. ( I think it was J Smith post. Lots to read today.
I attended Del Mar on Saturday and it was a beautiful day, some nice races, the first one with Chantal on Palio Prince with a win set a nice tone and I had fun. Funny though, everytime I ran down to the paddock, I always thought of how much more exciting it was when we knew Zenyatta would be in a race. Every time it was a filly/mare race I would find myself, thinking, “quite beautiful, but not as big and beautiful”. They are lovely, just the same and as far as I read, all horses and riders came out in good health. It was nice to be right in front at the paddock in the Big Race to see Graham Motion, the trainer of Animal Kingdom and the great Edgar Prado.
Bet they were enjoying our weather.
I will e mail and write to Mike’s facebook page and to Del Mar. I agree it is far to risky for horse and rider. Match races aren’t a good idea for the sport at all in my opinion. I don’t think it’s a very classy move on either Chantal or Mike’s part to participate. but then again I don’t like the term for one of the big race day’s “Cougar” program. I find it offensive ( again just my opinion).
Sad to no end about the bad news this weekend at the racetrack, Norway and Amy, dear young singer, perhaps you are finally at peace.
I decided to watch some of the Zenyatta link’s as they are so uplifting and the music is incredible. Thanks to all who posted those links.
Blessings to all and stay safe and happy and hydrated.
Diana S
@Barbara Wood & Other BC-Dreamin’ Dumplings: I subscribe to BloodHorse and always get pre-ticket announcements. I remember there are group packages. I’ll get some advance info and post it when it’s available.
@I’ll need help from the mistress/es of the backside – you know who you are! – and the “party planner wizards” who were coming up with great ideas in previous posts.
diastu with big mouth
Kari Bussell
Luck …coming to HBO this fall…Are You Ready?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdvcQJuK6Q8&NR=1
Diana S
@Shari Voltz and Anyone Else With Little Cartoon Question Mark Over Head: In my opinion, the only geographical restriction to the Western Regional Dumpling Convention is – – – the gate at SA. In more western terms, “Y’ALL COME!” Hopefully the welcome mat will be out for any of us west-of-the-Divide types who show up for any “Eastern Regional” or “Plains Regional” Conventions?
diastu no moss under feet