Happy Thursday, Everyone!
Dottie is totally overwhelmed by all of the kind wishes and birthday greetings she received from all of YOU! She is deeply touched by all of your kindness and asked me to THANK YOU SO MUCH!
The poem by Trina Nagele is forever a keepsake. The countless cards with such memorable messages from all over the country a cherished surprise. Then the facebook wall filled with so many gracious wishes proved to be THE ICING ON HER CAKE! Dottie commented to John last night how all of this truly illustrates the amazing qualities of the ZENYATTA FANS….they really DO CARE ABOUT OTHERS! YOU ARE SO SPECIAL!
On a racing note, I wanted to share a few photos of the barn area at Saratoga. Above is the Phipps barn. Gotta’ love those trees! It looks beautiful!
Then here is the Steve Asmussen barn. Oh, I see David there looking at some horses.
The Oklahoma Training Track also has a turf course for the horses to use. It is really a very nice set-up for training. As I understand it, several trainers do stable horses at Saratoga from April, when it ‘officially’ opens each year…until it closes late fall…about the end of October. At this point, the weather is changing. Several trainers send their babies (2 year olds) there when they come in from the training center…to get them ready…as well as other horses in their divisions. Saratoga is a very important part of the New York Racing program for many reasons.
This weekend is packed with some great races around the country…but a major FOCUS is Arlington Park Race Course in Arlington Heights, Illinois. This venue is hosting the “International Festival” of turf races which includes the Arlington Million-G1 (my pal, Gio Ponti, is pointing for this race), the Beverly D-G1 for fillies and mares, and The Secretariat-G1 for 3 year old colts/geldings. Many top quality horses from our country participate in these races which traditionally draw several major horses from Europe as well. It really becomes an international festival of racing! Good Luck to All!
Enjoy your day…and again, on behalf of Dottie, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS!
I must say, you are all TOO CUTE!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Gloria Jeanne
Dottie is a great roll model and she’s well loved by everyone!!!!
Maryyette
Love you, sweet Z! Love and Happy Birthday to Dottie and also to Mike Smith!
Gloria Jeanne
TOO CUTE!!!!!!
Gwen
Hey Miss Z! Glad your doing well. I love Steve Asmussen! and miss Rachel… I say her baby bump and hers is a cutie too. I love both of you Mares!
Lori
I can’t wait for Saturday to see Gio Ponti race at Arlington. He’s so handsome. Should be a great day of racing!
ZENYATTALOVERAMY!!
AWWW! another adorable blog!:):):) thank you zeny! love you and your baby sooo! much! OXOXOXOX FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN AMY,
sandra gomez
Your too cute, Z!! I’m glad Dottie had a great birthday! Love you Zenyatta!
Kimberly Potter
Hello My Beautiful Zenyatta~
So glad to hear that Dottie had a fantastic birthday and knows how much she is loved.
Looking forward to this weekend’s racing. Thank you so much for the info on Gio Ponti. I will be watching and cheering him on.
I love you with all my heart~
Your #1 fan in Montana!
ann
Glad Dottie loved her birthday and Go Gio Ponti!!
Sharon in Seattle
Dottie and Team Z – the best of the best! greetings to Queen Z and Baby Z from the cool northwest.
Go Gio Ponti!
Julie Anderson
Queen Z, please post some current pics of yourself and your baby bump! I miss seeing pictures of you!
kathy wilson
How wonderful all of the information provided is! Go Gio Ponte!!! Please, please MORE pics of YOU Zenny with your “bleached hair” LOL! Miss you so much & just can’t get enough of you!! I think I speak for all of your fans that we don’t care if you are all dolled up or not! We just love you!!
Diane
I’m debating about going to the Million. I’m not one to dress up all fancy to go to the races. Call me a simple girl.lol. I’m lacking a hat as well. I was also dissapointed in the line up of horses. Gio is really the only one I’m interested in seeing. My mom lives in Arlington Heights so it is kind of silly not to go. To me Arlington is one of the best tracks. There’s a feeling when your there..only felt it at Keeneland before.
Ann Maree
Hi, Z,
Thanks for all the wonderful info, and so glad Dottie had a great birthday! Can’t do enough to say thanks for all that she does for us. Wish there was more we could do!
–
Hope you and your baby bump are still doing great! Love you so much, Z! Big hugs! Ann Maree
Barbara Wood
Dear Z–I’m so glad OUR Dottie shad a great b-day. Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures, Wish I were there!
Go, Gio Ponti!
LT
What a great relationship you and Dottie have, and through that relationship we your fans have found a personal friendship with you both. Hope your Birthday was great Dottie the Hottie……Hooves Up Zenny, stay healthy and sound.
Jeanne Sutton
Happy Birthday to Dottie and Mike! Thanks to Z for her diary posts. And thanks thanks thanks to Dottie for the website! I read it every day!
Fran
Hi Z! of course we would wish our dear Dottie a HB! Without her, where would we all be? She is absolutely a wonderful lady, and hopefully someday I can meet her. Hope you are having a wonderful day! xxoo!
Herbie
We love ya Z would love a shot of you and that swelled up belly !! Will see ya again real soon. @ Dottie hope you loved your Paul McCartney birthday song on your facebook page !! Love you guys !! Herbie
Doreen
Dottie – It takes a special lady to bring fans together across the country and the world to share their love for Zenyatta and her “family”.
Saratoga is beautiful this time of year. Every time I go up there I bring carrots and mints to two ponies of Steve Asmussen’s assistant trainer Scott Blasi, their names are Poncho and Dakota and they reside near the Oklahoma Training Track. They were Curlin’s and Rachel Alexandra’s ponies. By the size of them, I wouldn’t exactly call them “ponies” though. They’re such characters!!!
I want to especially wish Gio Ponti good luck in the Arlington Million this weekend and good luck and safe trips for everyone.
Christine Coleman
Hi there Ms. Zenyatta Coleman! I’m so glad to hear that Dottie has been convinced about how much we fans truly care for you all. :) Have a great day today Zenny….
Kim Noble
Dottie is the best!!!
Ollie
Dottie and Team Z,
Thank you ever so much for these wonderful informative dairy posts, I can’t
get enough of them! Much love to all of you.
Olivia:)
Hay Z could u tell Mike & Dottie,”Happy Birthday!” from me? It’s so funny they have the same birth dates! I hope u have a wonderful Summer!
Joen Mitchell
Dottie does a fantastic job helping all of us to keep you, Zenyatta, in our hearts and also teach us so many fascinating things about racing. I have been a fan all my life and I have learned the answers to many of my unanswered questions by following your diary. Dottie deserved the very best of birthdays–glad it happened for her. And I do love the photos of Lane’s End. I spent a wonderful day there in 2004 and I can’t say enough about the graciousness of the staff! It is a perfect place for a Queen in retirement.
Sandra Frey
Dottie is absolutely amazing – I sent her a note on her FB page yesterday wishing her a Happy Birthday!
Hey, show us your belly! It’s been a while since a photo of YOU! Love you, Z!
Debbie
hi Z! DOTTIE is an angel bringing needed attention back to horse racing talking through YOU, TEAM Z TEAM ANGELS! Thank YOU for sharing so many wonderful photos and info about everything to do with racing! I’m looking forward to the races at Arlington this weekend as well as other tracks…YOU stay cool gorgeous mama, I love YOU xoxoxo
dunie
You, Dottie, are the cute one!
Linda
Best wishes to her and you!!!
Chris H
Just bought a book yesterday titled “Dear Smarty, a collection of letters written to Smarty Jones by children, families & other animals across America” (long title!) The book says that Smarty Jones during the 3 month period of the triple crown races received 1 million letters! Absolutely amazing — then just a few years later another horse arrived on the racing scene named “Zenyatta”. I wonder how much mail you have received dear girl?? This book is way cute, the children expressing how Smarty was still their favorite horse even though he didn’t win the triple crown, and for him not to be sad about the loss (a little familiar — Blame and Zenyatta?).