Happy Friday!
As you can see, I’m getting my BEAUTY REST and making sure that I am taking great care of myself these days!
Additionally, I want to get plenty of rest so I can be energized and watch all of the terrific weekend of racing on both coasts. I’m going to be spending tons of time with my guys here at LANE’S END handicapping and watching the races. The conversation around the barn is already heating up now on who likes who in which race…and why! It is great FUN!
From Saratoga, running the Travers and the King’s Bishop… to Del Mar carding the Pat O’Brien and the Pacific Classic to name a few of the quality stakes running the next few days, it will be one very sporting weekend.
Uncle Mo…is making his first start back in the King’s Bishop since ‘feeling under the weather’ around Kentucky Derby time. There are so many contentious 3 year old colts running in the Travers….that I will really have to study the FORM here.
Then in Del Mar, they are running The Pacific Classic which is their premiere race of the entire meet. My farm, Lane’s End, has a horse competing in the field…TWIRLING CANDY. So this is very, very exciting!
My friend, BLIND LUCK, and her connections decided to ‘skip’ the Pacific Classic for this year and have her compete on another path: The Lady’s Secret and if all goes well The Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic. These are both very distinguished and prestigious races….I know them quite well. All the best to her and her future plans.
Enjoy your weekend! Have a terrific time watching all of these high quality races! It is SO MUCH FUN! I can’t wait!
Hey, Matt, Charles, Mike, David and Sarah…who do you like???
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
mary bobolis
Great ride by Mike E today on MR. Commons…
Susan in TN
Way to go, Chantal!
@Trina: Thanks! Wit, nitwit-one of those :P
@Terry Crow: Funny joke! You can be an honorary redneck but ONLY if you consider macaroni and cheese to be in the vegetable group! Actually, that’s a southern thing, not redneck…
@Eveline: Congrats on your horse running 3rd! Very interesting link, too. Pretty amazing!
@Barbara Wood and Shari V: hope your days were as wonderful as you both deserve!
All of our East Coast Dumplings: You are in my thoughts and prayers <3
@Charlotte Farmer and Kathy Kimber et al: Thinking of you! Be safe. You're making history!
Barbara Wood
@East Coast DUmplings–if you lose power, we may not hear from you for a while. But please do check in with us as soon as you can.
Good night, sweet Z–I’m glad you are safe from the storm. Love you always.
Susan in TN
@Judy and Russ B: Glad to hear your voices!
Kari Bussell
@All being battered by Irene-Hunker Down- Stay Safe -You are in my thought & prayers!
@Barbara Grimaldi-What a beautiful quote. It applies to all. Thank you I am very touched you thought of me.
@Barbara Wood-I hope you have had a great day. Thank you for sharing that story. Tennesse is third in the nation in horses per person…We are truly the Volunteer State. when local news profiles horses in need of homes, they find homes usually within 24 hours. We are always the first to help each other and our neighbors. It is deeply instilled in our culture. When Nashville flooded last year, we didn’t sit around waiting for federal assistance. We got up and all pitched to clean up the mess and get back to business. We had the streets cleared and most homes gutted in two days. So many people showed up to lend a helping hand they ask people to stop. There was no looting. Anderson Cooper did a few shows from there and much to my pleasure, he went on and on about how different it was from the many other disasters he had witnessed.Sorry for going on, but we get SO much negative press. I wanted my many friends to get a real insight into my beautiful, beloved Tennessee…about the only thing I love more besides my family is Zenyatta and this site….and Team Z…dumplings…lol
East Coast -The Dumplings and the state of Tennessee have YOUR back! Please state safe.
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
I trust you are all snuggled up on your straw just like in the picture above by now.
Twinkle twinkle little star,
How I wonder where you are, ….
Sweet dreams Little Mama
@ Barbara Woods
an anniversary chuckle :
I never married because I have three pets at home that answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon and a cat that comes home all hours of the night. Marie Corelli
:) :) :)
tony and sue
Zenny, YOUR Bernie’s kids are doing so well on the track. You and he are bound to make a beautiful and fast baby. Sleep tight tonight…love you.
Marshall (girl's name)
Hope you have enjoyed the day of racing, Zenny! Also, hope you have been able to hang-out in your pasture for awhile. Love to you and hugs!
@Shari Voltz: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
@Barbara Wood: HAPPY 45TH ANNIVERSARY!!!
@Carolyn Caswell-Brown: I think of all those beautiful unknowns, also. Prayers and blessings for them, too.
@Barbara Grimaldi: Thank you so much for the exceedingly meaningful FB page quote!
@Terry Crow: Ooooh, I didn’t get a letter,
either. Bad girl!! Guess I must do better!
@All Z’sters: Thank you for your good wishes to us on the East Coast. Irene has left us in North Carolina. I am in the central part of the state — Chapel Hill
(near Durham and Raleigh)- so we only got a bit of wind gusts and a very little rain. The eastern part of the state, mainly the coast, got lots of rain and wind so there is quite alot of flooding. There will be lots of clean-up to do. I hope the folks north of us will be safe.
Take care, everyone!!
Kari Bussell
Mr. Commons and Mikey ran a great race. The announcer said they made their move early. He caught the lead horse…lost by a hair…..not to mention he looked fabulous as ALL of Mr. Shirreffs Barn-55 horses always look. I would never question his judgement…..never.
Kari Bussell
.Marshall (girl’s name)- My dear sweet neighbor I am so relieved you are okay. You know TN. is there for your beautiful N.C. to help clean-up. Thank you for letting us know.
Kari Bussell
@Trina Nagele- You are so talented and kind. Thank you for all you do.
judy berube
Dear Sunny Boyd:
Cute joke. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Marshall (girl’s name):
Glad your out of the storm in good shape. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Susan in Tn.:
Storm hasn’t reached Rhode Island as yet. Hopefully it will weaken and won’t do too much more damage. Thanks for your good wishes. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
Just watched Mikey’s ride on Mr. C. Thought Mr. C. and Mikey ran a terrific race. Head bob finish. Mr. C. is gorgeous. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
Here are articles on Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo. Hugs, J.B.
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/edge_bh.cgi?print=yes&header=bh
Kate Wheeler
I wish you another night of sweet, sweet horse moma dreams, Zenny, in your bed of straw.
@Sherry: I sent a letter to TVG re: Michele Yu’s gender slander. Thanks for firing us up.
@Shari Voltz: Happy Birthday, creative teacher.
@Barbara Wood: Happy 45th anniversary, and many more.
@Trina Nagele: You are just a peach of a poet and bring such joy.
@Carolyn Caswell-Brown: Well said.
@Susan in TN: Isn’t mac & cheese in the vegetable group?
JT
Barbara G.: Thnx so much for your reply. You wonder if others have the courage to express the same observations. Writers on Bloodhorse and DRF shared same views. “Z’s” website talks about her ” connections” , Mike being one of them. Maybe they’re stuck. Revealing that people at your track have same opinion. We’re so nieve.
Sally (B)
Beautiful Sleeping Beauty, Z; you are so precious and lovely. Can I sleep with you in your stall, as I need something firm & I like the smell of horses & hay!? Good luck to Twirling Candy, Lane’s Ends’ horse and best to all in these weekend races. Have a fun week-end Z and always take care.
love you with 2 kisses on your soft nose, one for baby z
Kari Bussell
@JT- With all due respect, the very people you refer to are the same ones who said Zenyatta had no chance in the 2009 BCC. They also said she can’t run on dirt. These are just two examples of the numerous times Mr.John Shirreffs, Dottie Ingordo Shirreffs, Jerry & Ann Moss, Mike Smith and Zenyatta together proved them wrong. I doubt very seriously that they give two hoots about what’experts’ (most of who have never known the joy of riding any horse) think about their decisions. I humbly suggest with humor that if you want to make all those BIG decisions ….go buy YOUR own horse….
My tone is not in any way intended to be combative.
Sally (B)
P.S. I need to catch my Zzz’s now too; I’d rather catch you Z!! Goodnight. kisses
Karen Gogue
Kari
see my way, up there post, to you!
JT
@Kari
Too late. You’re tone was combative within the first few words and you knew it. Incincere afterthought, yes? Sorry, we were unaware of your supreme authority to monitor comments made here. In the future, please refrain from criticizing or judging people’s entries. It’s impolite. Too much of this goes on here. Not very civil. Sincere thanks, really.
Delrene
Congratulations to Mr. Commons. He is so gorgeous. Great race. I have liked Caracortado for as long as I’ve been seeing him ( first time at Santa Anita) his first “haircut” a sizzling razor looking type cut/design really don’t know what it’s called, but it was very unique and he was good looking and fast. So I was torn between him and Mr. Commons. It almost turned out a dead heat. Looked like a head bob made the difference. Great race by all. All came in safe and healthy.
My friend in NJ said lots of rain not much else (yet). East Coast peeps take care.
Debbie G
@Barbara Wood – Happy Anniversary!
s (in San Diego)
Great Day of racing and so happy that Bernie’s boy followed in his footsteps.
Mo..looked great. Hope he gets another chance. Hope it is just chatter on Facebook that say it may be his last race.
Am a little concerned about another one of my boys..Shackleford seemed to drop back way to quick. Hope he is ok.
Hope everyone is holding up on the east coast. Stay safe…prayers for all of you!!
@JT Mike does not make all of the decisions on how to run Mr. Commons or any other horse he rides. If John felt he was riding him incorretly, he would give different directions. Horses have different running styles and Mr. Commmons has a similar style to Zenyatta, but other if Johns horses like to sit right off the pace.
Mike is one of the most respected jockeys in racing. I hope you believe in the Mosses, John, Dottie and Mike. They have had a winning formula that includes more then just Zenyatta….Giacaomo for example. Let just believe that the next one will belong to Mr. Commons and team:)
Good night all…looking forward to the Pacific Classic tomorrow. Sweet Dreams xoxo
Cynthia H.
Zenyattta, if YOU need beauty sleep, then we are all lost. Even if we slept 24-hours around the clock, we could not hold a candle to your glowing incandescence.
CONGRATULATOINS MR. Commons, on a race well-run! You finished second by a nostril to a field of older, very accomplished horses. You are elegant of limb and exquisitely beautiful, and you ran a winning race. You are the absolute image of your super-talented sire.
l am amazed at how many razor-close finishes with which Barn 55 has been involved during the Del Mar meet! They are only hairs and noses and heads away from standing at the top of the standings in stakes wins.
Simon Bray of TVG, I blame you personally for Mr. Commons’ loss. I have read that John Shirreffs has a superstition about being interviewed before a race (true?), and you appeared on the scene with your microphone, leaving little that he could do in the way of grace but to respond politely to your questions. I know you were only doing your job, but, for lack of anything better, I chose to blame you (cackle, cackle).
Karen Gogue
WHOA there JT and the horse (jackass more like it!) you rode in on! – your comments to Kari WERE way out of line, I found nothing she said to be combative – it was very respectively put to you….and no way should you ‘judge’ either…this is a forum to express views about Zenny and racing and you did, and so did she – leave it there!
Karen Gogue
Me too Delrene…first time at SA…loved Scarface ever since (translation of his name) and his too cute ‘buzz’ cut!
Michelle
Sleeping Beauty was my favorite Disney Movie when I was a little girl. They should make a children’s cartoon video of you Zenny. It would be great.
Go Mr. Commons! Mike Smith is in the Hall of Fame for a reason.