Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #333

WOW, Matt…I’m on the list! Photo by Mathea Kelley

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

Reader Interactions

495 Comments

  2. / Reply

    @Abigail
    Thanks for the link and info on Quiet Giant.
    Since EK said that being out of a
    Quiet American mare is special. I am trying
    To watch for his mares. He is still at Stud @
    Darley?

  3. / Reply

    @Laura J
    Just read your comment early in this post, Balance
    Has a colt by Street Cry in the September Sale.
    Maybe another sale topper. The colts seem to
    Bring more money I guess cause greeter number
    Of years at stud and more offspring. Will definately
    Look for him.

  5. / Reply

    @Eveline
    Interesting about your friends HTN. Must be a recessive color.
    Sure is beautiful. Is a blood bay a dark bay? Have
    Not heard that term for color, know liver chestnut!!
    Does your friends HTN race? How exciting to have
    A horse sired by such a wonderful champion.

  6. / Reply

    @Laura J: You are so right. How could I have forgotten War Admiral and War Relic. But as you say, both MOW and S are most represented today through some “detour” via female lines. SS is indeed a sire of sires.
    @signofthetimes and others: Z’s half sis is indeed a bay. But babies often have that washy color and bleached out tail until they shed out and grow back in. Don’t forget Z’s “bleached” forelock so there is some tendancy for that here. This cutie 1/2 sis will probably darken, but not as dark as Z.
    diastu in tempe

  7. / Reply

    @Eveline: Blood bay is a shade of bay (very red). In order from dark to light, the shades of bay – not influenced by a dilution gene, or the modifier that allows a horse to be true black – are black bay (not brown), mahogany bay (shows a wash of magenta), blood bay, and golden bay (shows a wash of golden red). Personally – I’ll take any color!
    diastu in tempe

  9. / Reply

    @BABY PLAYS ………………………………… 09-04-11 (High Noon est)
    .
    At Saratoga there are three baby races, 6, 7, & 10. The headliner is the G1 “Spinaway Stakes” for 2yr old fillies. I am going to play a straight triple in this one. At Del Mar there are two baby races, 3 & 6.
    .
    SARATOGA –
    Race 6 – #1 “Divine Luck”, #4 “Salsa Mambo”, #10 “Dancing Solo”, & #11 “Pianist”
    .
    $1.00 Triple Key 4 // 1, 10, 11 // 1, 10, 11 = $6.00
    .
    Race 7 – #6 “Newbie”, #7 “Trading Paint”, #9 “Sea Island”, & #11 “Flashy in Pink”
    .
    $1.00 Triple Key – 7 // 6, 9, 11 // 6, 9, 11 = $6.00
    .
    Race 10 – “Spinaway Stakes” – #5 “Lady Pecan”, #7 “Judy the Beauty”, & #3 “Georgie’s Angel”
    .
    $5.00 Straight Triple – 5, 7, 9 = $5.00
    .
    DEL MAR –
    Race 3 – $10.00 to WIN on #1 “Tap It Twice”
    .
    Race 6 – $10.00 to WIN on #6 “Mr. Newton”
    .
    Bet $37.00 Starting out +$85.20 pass win bets under 2-1. Good Luck All

  13. / Reply

    Congratulations to HDG on her win yesterday. The only other offspring of St. Liam that could have been a very good horse was Buddy’s Saint. He was one of the most gorgeous horses I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Tragically, he broke his left shoulder while training at Belmont and had to be euthanized. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/59906/buddys-saint-breaks-down-during-workout
    Both Buddy’s Saint’s and St. Liam’s deaths could have been mere accidents, but it does make me wonder if brittle bones could have been passed on genetically. I hope that’s not the case and their deaths were just that, an accident.

  14. / Reply

    Congratulations, Havre de Grace. Just got to love that Girl Power! Hope you are enjoying your day Zenyatta. Love you

  15. / Reply

    Best of luck to Barn 55 today in the Del Mar Derby! Hope CLOUD MAN’s run will be “a walk in the clouds!”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    For all those who are able to get HRTV, there will be a special segment tonight on “Inside Information” honoring Santa Anita’s extraordinary hero, John Shear, at 5:30 EST. It will be well worth watching!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Wow! A Bernardini/Flanders yearling in the upcoming Keeneland sale!

  17. / Reply

    I didn’t think that HDG would win yesterday as Flat Out is a very good horse just coming into his own. However, I give credit where it is due. A very game win for her and stamps her as favorite to win HOY. Looks like the Breeder’s cup will decide it. @Judy Berube-If you and Russ are old codgers, what does that make me? @LauraJ-Agree that General Assembly closely resembles his sire. I remarked to a friend about that very thing when he raced out here. @Kate Wheeler-Thank you, I think.

  18. / Reply

    Hi Zenyatta. What a great article and what a great honor. It brought goosebumps – you are truly such a great champion. I look so forward to seeing your offsprings run, just as long as they are healthy and safe. Love you big girl, stay cool, enjoy grazing and having girly talks with TT and your other friends. Love you, Angel in Disguise.

  20. / Reply

    Dear Judy B, yes I did, I hope today I do the same, hugs Ingrid.
    Dear D J, amen, amen, hugs Ingrid.
    Dear Trina Nagele, you are welcome, yes, Alpha is Bernardini’s son, this is the reason I bet on him, hugs Ingrid.

  25. / Reply

    Dear Suzanne G.:
    Thanks for posting the links on Indian Tale. I was one of the fans very concerned for her. Hugs, J.B.

  27. / Reply

    Dear Doreen:
    I remember Buddy’s Saint. He was a very talented colt. As you said, he was only three when he broke down in a work out at Belmont. Very, very sad. Don’t know if genetics could come into play. Hugs, J.B.

  30. / Reply

    Dear Z Fans:
    Thanks for all the informative posts on horses color, pedigree, etc. and all the wonderful links. Hugs, J.B.

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