Good Morning,
Here is the activity from last evening in Saratoga. The view above is from the Art Gallery Walk…which goes around to The Buyers’ Lounge. Many potential bidders have assigned seats located right around the sales ring. You may use these seats during the auction or bid from wherever you would like.
The sales area is open to everyone. Any fan may attend a sale and observe what is happening from various areas in the sales pavilion. It is really quite a fascinating process to watch. There are so many facets to our industry that all work together to make it such an interesting and challenging business.
This Saratoga Yearling Sale is conducted in the evening…so people ‘dress’ for the occasion. At this point in a sale, your ‘homework’ is basically completed as far as deciding on the horses you’d like to bid upon during the session. You have reviewed the pedigrees to see how the individuals would fit into your racing and breeding programs. The physical examinations of the horses have been completed by the prospective buyers and their teams.
Another important step is to have your veterinarian examine your prospective purchases IN DEPTH to be sure the physical condition of each yearling you are interested in meets your satisfaction. He or she will check and double-check the horse’s throat (for breathing purposes), basic conformation, and x-rays.
If the yearling passes all of the requirements you may have for purchase, you then need to ‘mentally appraise’ the horse. In other words, how much do you feel this horse is really worth in today’s market….and most importantly…how much are YOU willing to spend to own this colt or filly? This step is truly very important. You want to be sure you have really decided in your own mind how much this horse is worth TO YOU!
Then…let the BIDDING BEGIN!
Last night’s auction was very active. People really want to purchase and own good horses. They look to the future and the hope of running in BIG RACES! That is the driving force behind our industry. Obviously, a high purchase price does NOT guarantee success…but it must be considered. After all, LOOK AT ME! That is what helps to make this sport so much FUN!
At this time, I’d like to send a HIGH HOOF to my dear BERNIE. His yearlings sold for very substantial prices. Hip #1 was an “OUT”….which means she was withdrawn from the sale before it started. This may happen for a number of reasons.
Then the action really began. BERNIE had a colt sell for $750,000…and fillies sell for $950,000 and $600,000…to name a few.
The ‘sales topper’…which means the highest price horse sold during the entire session….was a Medaglia d’ Oro colt who is a half brother to the Kentucky Derby winner, SUPER SAVER. This yearling is named Superfection! His winning bid…….$1,200,000. WOW!
The Saratoga Yearling Sale continues this evening! HOOVES CROSSED that everything goes well for all of the horses and the participants.
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Sharon in Seattle
I’m with you, Kennedys in San Diego – I always cheer for Gio Ponti!
Kari Bussell
Zenyatta- My Queen, thank you & Dottie for all the information and for all you both work so hard at continuing. I will always be grateful. Yippe- your Bernie is making quite the name for himself….no horse in today’s times will catch up with you though. I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather (if you can call it that)…I am so full of JOY for EVERYTHING you and your team have done for me…I will ALWAYS love you ALL!….BUT MOST OF ALL YOU ZENNY!!
signofthetimes
@Abigail from Montreal
Wow!!! I did not see the Rock Hard Ten foal/colt yet. Will have to look at the video. RHT looks like a statuesque body builder. The filly at John’s barn, ? name, by RHT has a natural female body builder look. She is absolutely beautiful and talented. Really love Hip #115, Galileo. Also all of Bernies are absoulutely gorgeous. Need to remember to train a yearling is an extra $20,000 for the year.
signofthetimes
@ Lisa G
Thanks for asking. Katlyn is definately missed around the house.
My 2 year old Vizsla, that loves the Zenyatta statue, misses her.
He went up to a young great dane, same color and size and was licking her like he did Katlyn. However, it was definatley time for her to be greeted by your boys at the Rainbow bridge. Losing these lovely creatures can be bittersweet.
Margaret
Haven’t read comments but Z one horse comes to mind. Someone paid 16 MILLION dollars for The Green Monkey and he never made it to the races.
Geez the happy damage I could to Amazon with that kind of money! Amazon would love me for the next ten lifetimes! Ah well.
Honestly tho no one has any idea of what they are buying when a horse is barely one. Slew was bought for 17 Thousand dollars. Not a bad price for a yearling that eventually won the Triple Crown. But then Secretariat was syndicated for 190 THOUSAND dollars a share. For that price you got to send one mare a year to him.
But you also have to consider that for all the so so horses every once in a while comes a champ. The thrills that brings is like none other. Along with that comes higher security and eye out for the nutcases
Margaret
Geez my iPad–I would have preferred to end my sentence with a period. Thanks iPad for making me look stoopid!
signofthetimes
Here is a picture of Superfection, he was purchased by Shiek Mohamad; Gorgeous guy !!!! The two high priced fillies were also purchased by him.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64436/half-brother-to-super-saver-brings-12-m
signofthetimes
Here is update on Streetgame; Street Cry’s son racing on the Turf
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64442/street-game-favored-in-hall-of-fame-stakes
signofthetimes
@ Margaret
My I phone is just as stupid. It makes up words that I don’t even
type and it does it two or three times. Oh well !!! I do love Apple.
signofthetimes
Dear Zenny,
You and your foals are priceless.
XXXXOOOOO
Sharon Call
@Laura M. Thanks so much for the compliment you paid me on diary 314. It’s much appreciated. I just hate to see someone bad-mouth two such well-loved individuals as DJ and Terry Crow and not speak up for them.
signofthetimes
Here is an article on Frankel’s rank with mention of all the US great fillies and colts currently.
http://www.drf.com/news/frankel-ranked-best-world
Margaret
@LisaG
Funny you said March 17, I’ve been predicting the day to be March 18. I guess we’ll see next year!
Question
.
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This is for Team Z. Any interest in doing a guess the date and/or time of Z’s delivery? Closet person to the time (assuming multiple people choose the same day) wins what? Don’t have a clue.
.
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Any interest in raffling day or time? The money raised could go to Old Friends (or another rescue) withTeam Z’s approval. It could be in that person’s name as a gift. The biggest drawback is the tax writeoff
signofthetimes
@Quarterhorsegal
There are video’s of each colt/filly for sale on the site, they are
short but it is easy to get and idea of there presence and conformation.
Margaret
bloody toothpicks–happened again!
. Not sure how this could be handled.
.
.
And for Dottie, I know someone in WY that does OUTSTANDING illustrations if you ever decide to do a Z book. I would be happy to send you a copy of her two books and pics I have of her other work. I LOVE Greta’s work.
Brenda S..
Zenny, I’ve been thinking all day that some of the best diamonds look like a lump of coal until somebody with a good eye knows what they are seeing, and others with the the talent to develop the rough looking piece produce a gem. Thank heaven for David, Mr & Mrs Moss, Mr & Mrs Shirreff and Mike. Look at what happened when David saw you. Today we have a Crown Jewel.
Abigail from Montreal
I will be tuning in tonight as well. Can’t wait to see the yearlings I mentioned, as well as the Bernie babies.
On the subject of Bernie, I thought this photo was adorable Zenny. It’s from Bernie to you & I found it on Bernie’s FB page. Hope it’s not “old news” to everyone but me!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188208767877426&set=a.186271161404520.44528.183698388328464&type=1&theater
DEFINITELY “TOO CUTE”!!!!
Kari Bussell
For Signofthetimes and @All of you who have lost their beloved baby or worse yet had to make that God awful decision ….I discovered this video a long time ago. It is beautiful.. It brought me much comfort and blessing….for more than one reason (won’t bore you, but good-bye is hard to bring up)….You never really get over them!!…Love to ALL.
THIS IS NOT MINE!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9ytUtEjqdw
Delrene
Thanks for posting updates on Pluck. I loved him the first time I saw him. Glad he is improving. It’s just scary when they are so young and racing. Thanks to your John Zenny, he trained and watched over you patiently and with love and when the time was right, off you went and history was made. Everyone have a good day today and enjoy yourselves, 4 footed and 2 footed alike.
Thanks to you Dottie for all the background on the auctions. I think I remember reading that Blind Luck was $11,000? and what an incredible wonderful little gal she is. It’ not always the money is it? It’s the heart!
and the desire to be the best you can be.
Arlene
@Quarterhossgal, You can see videos by NOT clicking on live auction but clicking on the right where it says “Virtual Yearling Inspections” VIEW IT. The screen comes up and below it is a list of the yearlings.
Hope this helps.
Abigail from Montreal
@ Kari: that is one EXQUISITE video, girl. Thank you!!!!
Ingrid Arnone
My adorable Zenyatta, thanks for the information, congratulations to Bernie, love you Ingrid.
Sally (B)
Hi sweet lovely Z! Who would have known at the time, you are priceless!! Just to see these young possibilities has to be exciting. Reminds me of years ago. I asked my friend to go with me for an Arabian Horse auction as we love horses. During a bid , the auctioneer, looked at me, pointed and stated a sum, and then continued with the next possible highest bid; my husband startled said, “Stop talking & gesturing with your hands!” Bids went up, I did not own the horse. But, I always wanted one!!
See, I marriaged a guy who I found out could not give up water and I lost out years ago. At least he let me look and dream. (35 yrs later, I think I was a fool)hee
love with 2 kisses on your soft nose, one for baby z
Maria K.
Wow! Bernie is HOT! Lots of money for his babies! Zennie, the Mosses hit a jackpot when the bought you for 60K. I love you so much!!!
Sally (B)
@Kari Bussell; thanks for the heartfelt link.
The Kennedys in San Diego
@Abigail from Montreal — Thanks for the Bernie link. First time I have seen it.
Cynthia H.
Thank you, Dottie! I really enjoyed your synopsis of what goes on at such a marquee event as the Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Sales are up at Fasig-Tipton! That is truly great news for our industry. Wow–what a heady atmosphere must pervade that arena! So glad that your Berni’s offspring have engendered such a hugely favorable response, dear Z—bet you had more than a little to do with that! I still harbor the hope that you and Medaglia d’Oro will enjoy a “date” sometime in the future. He is my dream match for you. The thought of what magnificence could result from the collision of two such genetic masterpieces gives me goosebumps!
Shari Voltz
Zenyatta What an exciting day. I get blown away about how much some of the horses cost. WOW!! But you sweet Queen are PRICELESS. I picked up a really cute horse game for my classroom. I will use it as a station. It will teach the children about different horse breeds with questions and answers. The game pieces are little horses. Really cool game :) I teach social studies-horses 101 (ha-ha). I am also helping to find a billboard to get the message out about horse slaughter. I feel honored I was asked to help. Like I have said a million times without the horse man would have been in real trouble. Well sweet girl I am going to walk the dogs they are letting me know it is time. They are too cute. I love you and send you many Hugs and Kisses, Shari XXXOOO
@ Barbara Wood I am so glad someone understands. My crazy world starts Monday. I will go up and spend all day cleaning and decorating :)
@ Kennedys thank you for the Mo link. I love that boy! GO MO GO !!!!!!
nina
Z you were a bargain!!!!
Barbara Wood
@Kari Bussell–awesome video. I’m crying again…. Sometimes the sorrow is unbearable, but we are grateful too. Life is just plain hard.
@Terry Crow–lol. Thanks also for the extra Elvis insight. that fits with all I’ve heard. I also heard from one of his family members that he never took a penny of his gifts off of his income tax.
@ALL: I have a question. I’ve always wondered why Birdstone’s stud fee didn’t skyrocket after he had not 1 but 2 Classic winners in the same year. The only thing I can figure is that some mares wanted a bigger daddy–not many are as big as OUR Z, who was looking for a smaller date.
@Kennedys–thanks for the good report on Uncle M.
Zenny–your Bernie is quite the guy these days. Please don’t feel jealous. It’s just a job, but he was honored to get to be with you! I LOVE that you first sold for a price that smaller buyers could have afforded and that you were KEPT and WILL BE kept always by your owners. I feel that when one buys a horse, it should be for life.