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
judy berube
Dear Kari B.:
I know. Me too. I saw it just as they made the first turn, he pulled up and out of camera range. I hope he’s OK. Hugs, J.B.
Kari Bussell
@- CH- thank you
Cloud Man ran a very good race and was coming on strong at finish to get a very repectable fourth.
judy berube
Dear Susan in Tn:
I will mail it to you on Tuesday (no mail tomorrow Holiday). I will e-mail you to get your mailing address. Hugs, J.B.
Cynthia H.
Jockey on Burns (P. Valenzuela) has taken off rest of his mounts for the day. Wrenched his knee when he jumped off Burns.
They said that Burns was vanned to the backstretch. No word yet on his condition. The jockey said that Burns took a “bad step.” Hopefully, it was not as serious as it looked. Fingers crossed. He is a lovely, promising horse.
Kari Bussell
@Cynthia H- thank you again- I echo your sentiments.
Cynthia H.
@Kari: Agreed! Cloud Man’s run was deceptively good! I am struck by how muscular and strong he looked. He looks better and better every time I see him!
judy berube
Dear Trina N.:
You’re so welcome. I love that tribute to Z. It includes so much information about her and wonderful photos. Every once in a while I go to it and enjoy it all over again. Bookmarked it. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Cynthia H.:
Cloud Man ran very well. He was the only horse in the race that has never started in a Stakes race before. He is a gorgeous colt.
I too hope Burns is OK. Hugs, J.B.
Barbara Wood
@Cynthia H–any word on the breakdown? My stomach is churning.
@Susan in TN–enjoy that rain, and thanks for your kind wishes for us. Glad to hear your son is ok. I was afraid I had missed something bad.
Barbara Wood
Just got this off the Pedigree Query site.
http://www.pedigreequery.com/burns5
Sickening. RIP.
Doreen
@Zenyen – I conceded the fact that Saint Liam’s was a freak accident. And you’re right that even the horses of yesteryear would suffer the same fate. However, Buddy’s Saint as far as I know did not take a bad step. His exercise rider did not mention him taking a bad step, only that he heard a crack, something he never heard before. As far as Unbridleds Song, he has Raise A Native, Mr. Prospector and Native Dancer in his pedigree too. It all comes down to whom they are being bred to. As the article I linked to states: “Of course, this line in and of itself is not to be condemned — if, that is, it comes in reasonable doses and is counterbalanced by the blood of sounder strains.” I was just voicing a concern of mine that breeding may have had a part in it, perhaps not in Saint Liam’s case, but possibly with Buddy’s Saint.
@Barbara Wood: In my opinion, in Zenyatta’s case, her dam Vertigineux is a complete outcross to the Native Dancer line so she carries in her genes a counterbalance to that line. That’s why Vertigineux has been such a successful broodmare, she’s a throwback and she produces offspring with sound conformations. Also, Helen Street, Street Cry’s dam is a total outcross to Machiavellian, who is Street Cry’s sire. I believe that Zenyatta’s pedigree and the care in which she was given throughout her racing career helped in keeping her a very sound horse.
Cynthia H.
@Barbara Wood: Nothing yet, Barbara. Fingers are crossed!
Cynthia H.
@judy berube: Cloud Man really did well, didn’t he? He is growing into a very macho-looking horse!
judy berube
Dear Cynthia H.:
Yes, Cloud Man ran very well. He’s still growing and is quite a handsome boy. (I think they’re all so beautiful). Hope Burns is OK. Hugs, J.B.
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
got busy this morning and plum forgot about you :( Still, hope the day treated you well, and that your night will, too.
Sleep tight and dream sweet
Pillow Ponder:
There is a fine line between censorship and good taste and moral responsibility. Steven Spielberg
judy berube
Dear Doreen:
Couldn’t agree with you more about Z’s pedigree. She had to be inherently sound to accomplish all that she has. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Doreen:
I have to add though, John Shirreffs and the rest of her Team really were the best she could have had. Hugs, J.B.
Julie DuVall
RIP Burns :(
judy berube
Dear Barbara Wood:
These breakdowns are so upsetting. I hope Burns is alright. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Julie DuVall:
Did you find out what happened to Burns? Please let us know. Hugs, J.B.
LauraJ
Yay for my girl St. Trinians! I have admired her since her game second in the Vanity last year. She gave it her all.
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@jeanie langford, curious as to why you would not put Dr. Fager in the Top Ten?
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@Signofthetimes, possible sale topper indeed! Also of note, there’s a Sweet Life colt (half to Sweet Catomine and Z’s pal Life Is Sweet) , Hip # 15. There is a full sister to Tapit in Book 2 (hip #400). Quite a few other foals out of notable dams and/or siblings to top horses.
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@Diana S, the filly’s a weanling, so she has probably already shed out her foal coat. Vertigineux’s dam is a bay, as were three of her grandparents. Henrythenavigator is a bay also. Maybe we are so used to seeing Zenyatta and Ebby that we expect all her siblings to be dark. Her brother Souper Spectacular is a chestnut. Sisters Treasure Trail and Where’s Bailey are bays. Balance is listed as a bay also. She is pretty dark, but not like Zenyatta.
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@Doreen, there’s little hard evidence of “brittle” or “soft” bones being passed genetically. Bone density and strength are primarily functions of nutrition and exercise. While it’s true that many horses that break down are likely to have certain horses, such as RAN and Mr. Prospector, in their pedigrees, this is because there are lots and lots of horses with Mr. P. (for example) somewhere in their backgrounds. They were extremely popular sires. One would have to show that a disproportionate number of horses with a particular ancestor break down, and you’d also have to show that they break down in circumstances where other horses would not. Anyway, there’s a natural experiment that shows that this does not seem to be the case. Horses in other countries have lower breakdown rates, yet they have remarkably similar pedigrees with many American horses in them. So what’s different? Tracks (more grass, especially in Europe), training practices, and drugs.
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@Cynthia H., I saw him be pulled up, but it looked like he was on his feet, which is a good sign. It could be a bowed tendon or something like that, not necessarily a break. There could even be no injury at all. Jockeys are supposed to err on the side of caution. We’ll keep our hooves crossed.
judy berube
Dear Barbara W.:
Just read your post with Burns’ pedigree notes. OMG, so, so sad. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
RIP beautiful Burns.
Sunny Boyd
P. S.
DRF has an article on:
Zenyatta’s little sister prompts big thoughts
by Jay Hovdey
Really nice article :) :) :)
Cynthia H.
Burns has crossed over Rainbow Bridge. Oddly enough, it has begun to rain here in Southern California—a rare September rain—and yet we have the most gorgeous sunset. RIP, beautiful boy. You were going to be a good one. There is the most splendid double rainbow in the sky!
Barbara Wood
@Cynthia H–thanks for the “rainbow” report. It makes it a little easier to bear, but only a little.
judy berube
Dear Cynthia H.:
Thanks for letting us know for sure. I hope his spirit is running free. Hugs, J.B.
suew
Zenny, sleep well tonight…hope you and little Z are happy and peaceful.
judy berube
Dear Sunny Boyd:
Thanks for the info on the article in the DRF on Eblouissante. Hugs, J.B.
Here’s the link http://www.drf.com/news/zenyattas-little-sister-prompts-big-thoughts
Kim S
Oh Zennny, was just coming for a peek before going to bed, running a late this evening. Once again, spent most of the day at the horswe rescue. Saw the post by Cynthia H about Burns. Went to Bloodhorse.com and put his name in the info box and came up with…
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64531/burns-scorches-la-jolla-foes.
He was trained by Barry Abrams and had last won August 13 right after Mr Abrams was recuperating. So very sad, condolences to Mr Abrams and the rest of Burns’ connections. RIP handsome boy. Play with the other equine angels.
Zenny, you were so very lucky and we can’t thank your connections enough for being so careful with you. Have a good Sunday night. Lotsa love to all.