Happy Friday!
It is always so hard for ME to believe how quickly time is literally flying by. It is already September 2nd….and the closing weekend of racing at both Del Mar and Saratoga. Labor Day is upon us…and students all over the country are returning to school.
I hope all of you enjoy your weekend and all of the great racing that is scheduled. The 2 year olds are starting to step up to stakes activity on both coasts….and then Havre de Grace is going to take on the males in The Woodward Stakes–G1. Additionally at Del Mar, the Del Mar Derby G-2 will be showcased. All the best to all of the participants and their connections.
Yesterday, a few dear friends of mine sent Dottie a link regarding an article in the September, 2011, issue of THE AMERICAN TURF MAGAZINE. The piece is written by Mark Shrager. In it, he is listing (in his opinion) the TOP 10 AMERICAN RACE HORSES EVER!
Guess who is there at #6? ME!!
Now this is very special…and I so appreciate Mark’s ranking. The list of horses and how he rated the TOP 10 are as follows:
1) DR. FAGER
2) KELSO
3) SECRETARIAT
4) SEATTLE SLEW
5) CITATION
6) ZENYATTA…….THAT’S ME! (BLUSH, BLUSH)
7) AFFIRMED
8) MAN O’ WAR
9) SPECTACULAR BID
10) JOHN HENRY
Click here for the article.
This is a list of some amazing thoroughbreds with massive racing accomplishments. I am so PROUD to be included with this elite company. Dottie was commenting to John last night that I AM THE ONLY FEMALE on the list. Also, I am the only horse to be included who ran in the last few decades. John Henry won his HOTY titles in 1981 and 1984. All of the other horses represent decades of racing before that time. This is truly significant and as I mentioned earlier, I am extremely PROUD and HONORED to be in such company.
I hope you enjoy the article, your weekend, and some great RACING! Cheers to great handicapping!
With Love,
Hugs to All~ (Thank you Camille and Jim for sharing this article with US!)
Z
Gary Moulton
@BABY PLAYS ……………………09-02-11 (Crack of Noon est.)
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Today there are three 2 yr old races at Saratoga highlighted by the “Gold and Roses Stakes”. The Colt is loaded with six shots of State Bred Cowboys. Six colts in this one and I shouldn’t bet with my heart but I have a sentimental pick in this race, “Dehere of the Cat”, because I worked for Tom and Harry Meyerhoff back in 1995 when they built “Challedon” golf course in Mt. Airy, Maryland. The golf course was named for the famous race horse “Challedon”. He was Horse of the Year in 1939 & 1940. For his trainer “Louis J. Schaefer”, “Challedon’s” win meant he became the first person to have both ridden and trained a Preakness Stakes winner. His feat would only be matched 30 years later by “Johnny Longden’ with “Majestic Prince”. I’m playing their horse on a hunch. I’m not going to look at the form in this one because I don’t want to know how dumb it was to not look at the form and play a hunch. The other two races are race 4 & 5. At Del Mar there is only one baby race with a full field if it stays together. This race should offer a fine price if we can pick it.
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SARATOGA –
Race 2 – “Gold and Roses Stakes” – $10.00 to WIN on #2 “Dehere of the Cat”
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Race 4 – #3 “Joy Rising”, #5 “Royal Bonnie”, #8 “Ladywell Court”, & #9 “Landlubber”
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$1.00 Triple Key 3 // 5, 8, 9 // 5, 8, 9 = $6.00
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Race 5 – $10.00 to WIN on #6 “Speightscity”
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DEL MAR –
Race 4 – #3 “Muchos Besos”, #4 “Ride Captain”, #7 “May Weather”, & #11 “Danger Ranger”
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$1.00 Triple Key 3 // 4, 7, 11 // 4, 7, 11 = $6.00
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$32.00 Bet Today +$116.20 Starting our Tomorrow. Good Luck All. Pass win bets under 2-1
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@ This poem was written by an unknown Maryland racing fan following the 1939 Preakness Stakes
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“You shall not cower in the dust,
Challedon, my Challedon.
Your gleaming plates shall never rust,
Challedon, my Challedon.
You stood off Johnstown’s vaunted rush,
You left Ciencia in the slush,
And we went home plenty flush!
Challedon, my Challedon.”
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@ Trina Nagele – Thanks for smiling on this crazy old man. By the way, it’s the Granny Spot (3rd)
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@judy berube – Thank you. I just hope we are still black on Monday. Good Luck
LauraJ
Congratulations on your inclusion! Enjoy your weekend. Are you rooting for Havre de Grace in the Woodward? If she wins, she should be the leading candidate of HotY. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a female HotY three years in a row?
Stephanie
Thats some might fine company to keep Zenny. Love watching your bump grow and missing your consistancy on the track!
Lisa
Zen you have earned the right to be mentioned with those greats. I saw all race except for Man O’ War and Kelso. I saw Citation before he died. I was young, but I can remember thinking that he was the biggest horse I had ever seen. I was around 6 at the time. You would tower over him:)
Susan in TN- DSHB does stand for Dressage Sporthorse Breeding, Tonka also carries the distinction of being the highest scoring TB in DSHB history.He scored an 80.9. He will never run down the track, but I hope that his accomplishments have helped people realize that TB’s can compete with warmbloods in the dressage arena. Zenyatta would have knocked their socks off in the dressage arena!!!!! She is TOOO AWESOME!!!!
Buy the way I also live in TN. Fayetteville
Linda/Maryland
Zenny you deserve this and much much more!
LOVE YOU ~!!!
Cheryl Smith
So exciting! You will always be No 1 with us! Happy and safe Holiday to you!
Katie Clawson
What an HONOR Z!! I am so proud of you and of course you should be on that list!! You are the greatest female race horse ever(by far!) and VERY high on the list of all time greatest race horses!! I am so happy for you!
Have a great day with your girlfriends and have a wonderful holiday weekend. Enjoy the racing from both coasts! Go Havre de Grace!
Love, Katie(future jockey)
JAG from California :-)
TGIF Zenny!!! :-D
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I’m so happy that MY two favorite horses of ALL TIME made the top ten list!! YOU and JOHN HENRY!!!! High Hoof!!!!! :-) :-)
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Kisses & Hugs Mamma Z and Baby Z XOXOXOXO
victoria
SECONDING mark’s opinion! congratulations and well won!
Patty Smith
Congratulations Queen Z on your inclusion on his list! I do find it a little odd that Seabiscuit is not on his list, but at least he has recognized your accomplishments. That’s the thing with lists…someone is always left off… glad to see you made it!! :-)
JAG from California :-)
p.s. I can’t help but admire that Baby Tag hanging on your halter (wink wink)!! :-)
Trisha Veazey
Zenyatta, we all know you are the best there ever will be. You deserve so much and more. As does your wonderful team.
Have a great weekend everyone and be safe
Love hugs and kisses oh Queen of my heart!
Penny
Dear Zenny,
Congratulations on the well deserved recognition. I retired this week so all of my Zenyatta art work now surrounds me at home; even my GIRL POWER sign. I had to buy that on ebay since Texas is far from your race locations. Can we have an ultrasound report on the “bump”? Filly or colt? Doesn’t matter as long as it’s healthy and your delivery is easy. XOXOXO
Margo
Congratulations on being recognized as one of the very greatest! Of course I think you should be above Citation, after all, you have more straight wins.
Jamie
Congrats to you…. but you’ll always be number one on my list.
Hugs kisses and much love to Zenny and her team.
Kay Morris
Zenny I am so happy that you where included in that stat. You will always be the most amazing race horse I have ever seen. And I can’t imagine following another horse like a Dead Head as I did you! A Zen Head forever!
xoxo
Leslie
That is a a bit of concern why there are so few CURRENT horses who compare to the greats of decades ago. Does it have to do with breeding and training? What’s the answer to this question. I’d love to know your opinion.
Jeanenne Cliffman
But of course Z!!! Have a GREAT weekend, Love you, xxxxoooo
Kimberly Potter
My Beautiful Zenyatta~ YOU will always be #1 to me! Congratulations, you more than deserve that recognition.
Love your #1 fan in Montana!
Pam Zacek,
what a surprise, thats only kidding, for that , who would doubt your would be in there, somewhere, and I can’t believe this one, but all the rest of my Horses, either I loved he looks, of them or just the name, are there, and just think, if I could , maybe pick a winner, I did but never was at a real race track, oh well, your there, and no one could doubt that, along, with John Henry Like , you he liked to pose for all those pictures, and, was a funny guy, had a sense of hummor just like you, and sealtle slew, I picked him when I saw him race in the woodmemorial, and bet my mom He would win, the triple crown, she bet me,I won , hahaha, Love you Zen and so proud of you, your the best, and no one could even doubt you wont be in there on that list.
Jei
Wow, what’s up with that list? LOL at Secretariat and Man o’ War not being 2 and 1, respectively. Who on God’s green earth thinks Affirmed would beat Man o’ War???
I’m glad you were included, but that list is horribly prioritised.
Christine in VA
GIRL POWER GIRL POWER GIRL POWER
ZEN you should be so proud. You are number one in my list. Take care mom. Lucky Matt to be around equine perfection. He must LOVE his job !!!
Cynthia H.
Zenyatta, you are truly a Queen amongst Kings! Congratulations on your ranking! Your photo is precious. You are still the inquisitive, affectionate mare who stood so patiently and kindly throughout many hundreds of fan visits. I am persoanlly feeling very rickety and ancient, realizing that I have seen 8 of the illustrious 10 race in-person!
Thank you for all that you do on our behalf, Dottie. A super Diary entry (again)!
Loretta B
CONGRATULATIONS ! The best female by far and deserve to be #6. I would have liked to see Native Dancer in the top 10. He like you won all but one race, 20 of 21. He was a great sire as well.
Cynthia H.
*personally. Kari’s fault.
Kim Noble
Man o’ War is 8th??? Are you kidding me? He and Secretariat should be 1 and 2. Hope you and Baby Bump continue to prosper. Love you!!!
Holly Zemba
Congratulations and have a great Labor Day weekend Zenyatta!
Leslie R.
Congratulations, Zenny, on your inclusion on the list! It is well deserved and you earned it!! You are amazing on and off the track! In my eyes, though, you are #1!!!
That pic of you and Matt is just too cute!I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Love to all,
Leslie
Rosemary McCauley
Congratulations Zenyatta! What an awesome list of champions and you deserve to be right there with the greatest. Congratulations to everyone on your team. What a thrill it must be for all of you.
JAG from California :-)
Big Drama Returns in Calder Overnight Stakes:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64836/big-drama-returns-in-calder-overnight-stakes