Happy Friday, Everyone!
Suddenly it has become a bit chilly in Lexington. I need to have MY cozy blanket on for my early morning grazing fun with Matt! It is pretty out, though! The fall leaves will start to change soon…and the added color will really make the trees look amazing! This is MY first ‘fall’ in this regard for many years. In California, the seasons do not change as prominently as they do in Kentucky!
I am so pleased that YOU really like the idea of MY PARTY. So many fans have already responded and purchased tickets. If you have done so already…you are definitely in the first 500…so do not worry. The computer people are getting this refined for you so the people purchasing tickets in the future will know this information right away. This should all be completed today. Thank you for your patience!
I am also so excited about the incredible weekend of racing we are all going to be able to enjoy. From the East Coast to West Coast, it is one contentious stakes race after another with so many of the results having Breeders’ Cup ramifications. I love the fact that Havre de Grace and Blind Luck are each performing at such a high level. Their races are going to be so exciting! (I have a special fondness for the LADY’S SECRET which runs this weekend.) Then to see all of the other possibilities…whether turf or dirt for so many other terrific horses…will make handicapping GREAT FUN this weekend!
I can’t wait!
All the best to each of the horses competing during the next few days! All of my pals at Lane’s End and I will be watching!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
signofthetimes
@Sally B
If you have a computer HRTV is free until November 6, so you can watch all the races. The ARC is on tomorrow about 8-9am starting.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Shack may also just need a rest. He has raced in all of the Triple Crown races and today was his 3rd Stakes race since then. MMM raced in all of the Triple Crown races and he hasn’t run since the Belmont. So maybe Shack just needs a little time. Every horse is different, I guess. But MMM’s connections gave him more time off; he just had some good workouts. Hugs, JB
signofthetimes
@Trina Nagel
Thank for the info on Banned. That laminitis will do it every time.
At least they did not go on and on and on so it got to all 4 feet.
So sad when the talented young ones pass. RIP Banned.
Really love the link to Thoroughbred Times today. Great summary.
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
That joke was sooo funny. Ha,ha. Thanks. Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Terry C.:
Just told Russ the joke about Lester and Marie. He’s still laughing. Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Brenda S.:
So glad you enjoyed BL’s latest Blog. Being her caddy; wouldn’t that be a Dream Job. Hugs,JB
signofthetimes
@Judy B
Both of us could own Uncle Mo. I guess I always look at the end result and MR looks at the best high at the moment and TP rakes in the $$$$. I would really like to see HDG win the Classic. Stay Thirsty did a good job today, but he has never got caught in traffic before and was not able to recover quick enough. I guess you can’t teach a horse to have a turn of foot. It comes naturally like scope. HDG reminds me in a very slight way of Zenny. She is a more regal acting, does not play to the crowd as well as the Queen and of course does not dance. But the crowd really love her and it was right after they went crazy with Uncle Mo’s race. She is a very classy mare, with a lot of talent and speed. One thing Larry Jones said is she is big and to take on the boy’s a filly/mare has to be or they will not be able to compete. Unless of course they give the filly/mares 11 lbs like in the ARC. She has already beat Flatout. Wonder if MR will pay to have ST in the Classic???
judy berube
Dear Terry C.:
Loved the Old Man “on his way to a lecture” joke. Will tell Russ that one tomorrow. Hugs, JB
signofthetimes
@Judy B
Any idea when MMM is going to run again. If he goes to BC he has to run before that. Or maybe he won’t go this year to BC. Aren’t there some good fall races???
judy berube
Dear Doreen:
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful descriptions of seeing Uncle Mo and HDG today at Belmont. Hugs, JB
signofthetimes
@Kari Bissell
Thanks for the video of Lady’s Secret, I had never seen Zazu without her blinkers. She does have a very feminine race, but is very sturdy and leggy. in the first part of the end of the race you can see her make a few jumps and down shift. She is really growing into herself. She is going to be quite competitive in the Breeders Cup. Hope she likes the Churchill track, dirt is her best though.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Maybe if Stay Thirsty gets a chance to run next year, he’ll gain confidence in different racing situations and do well. According to the DRF footnotes, he was held the beginning of the race, so maybe being a little confused, he didn’t respond quick. He might figure things out if he races next year. I love the little guy. I think you right about MR and TP. Wouldn’t it be great if HDG goes in the BCC. She has a different personality than our Beloved Z, but she could beat the boys again. MR just might enter both Mo and ST in the BCC; you never know. Hugs, JB
Debbie G
@Vicki B – Thanks for sharing your story. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who is like this.
@Trina Nagele – Wow, Trina, thank you so much. You’re right, I shouldn’t let this opportunity pass me by. You are so sweet to put your email out there like that. A high hoof to you! :-)
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Dream Team Racing Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing released this note on MMM 9/23/11:
MUCHO MACHO MAN is doing well. The big guy is eating us out of barn and home. He feels good and will continue to train for a potential race in late October.
There’s not that many Stakes races at the end of October.
10/15 the Knickerbocker at Belmont 1 1/8 mi.
10/15 Hawthorne Derby at Hawthorne 1 1/8 mi.
10/29 Turn Back The Alarm at Belmont 1 1/16 mi.
10/29 Bold Ruler at Belmont 7 F.
1/30 The Iroquois at Churchill 1 mi.
That sounds like no chance of running in the BCC, unless they change their minds. Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Thanks for sharing your story about your TB. I think your right, having a longstanding happy relationship with humans does help horses adjust better and easier. I think that helped Z a lot in adjusting to her new life. I think it’s true of dogs too. Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
That date for the Iroquois Stakes should be 10/30/11. I’m not sure if these are all dirt races either. I think they are all for 3 year olds or 3 year olds and up. There’s a few Stakes races in October at Woodbine too. Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Z,
Goodnight and Sweet Baby Dreams. Love you so much, Judy and Russ
Vickie
Missed the window on the party tickets- dang = have a great time everyone…Love ya ZEN!
Trina Nagele
Good night, sweet Z, it was a great day for racing. Special congratulations to Zazu and her team: the Mosses, Dottie, John Sadler and Joel Rosario. Sleep tight till the morning light, Z.
@Kari Bussell–Thank you, dear Kari, for the wonderful links to Zazu’s race and post-race.
Trina Nagele
John Shirreffs had a good day at Santa Anita, I’d say:
Battle Force finished 2nd beaten by just 3/4 length.
Harmonious finished 3rd beaten by just 1 3/4 lengths.
Utopian finished 4th beaten by just 1 3/4 lengths.
High hoof!
eveline
Ah Goldikova just lost the headbob, ran great though!
signofthetimes
Godikova lost to Dream Ahead a 3 year old colt in a photo finish.
She had a great trip and a valient loss. Flash Dance
Had a slow start, may have influenced her performance.
She was all heart and talent. Looking forward to BC
Turf mile.
signofthetimes
Goldi will probably be bred to Galileo next
Year.
signofthetimes
@Judy B
Thanks for update on MMM. Maybe a good idea
To let him mature for next year and start out the
Year fresh. Sounds like a wise decision since he
Is a late foal. Look forward to the fall races now.
signofthetimes
@Judy B
Agree about ST. He is just getting better and better,
But still immature and has really not had a bad trip to
Come out of. This was his first and agree he might
Have been confused. He could be a good
Horse for even 2 years. I really like him, too.
eveline
I need to catch up on the comments, we had a great day at the Maryland Million yesterday. A win (YEAH), a second( paid 23.83 to place, didn’t bet )a third and a fifth. Everyone looks good this morning.
signofthetimes
Now the ARC!!!!
Brenda
Thank you for being so kind as to share your new life with us. I would like to make a comment concerning the Lexington horse farms as I recently visited 8 of them. I was amazed at how friendly and available these folks were, given they are running a business. Old Friends and the Thoroughbred Training Center are also visitor friendly. There was only one farm that was not pro visitor and sadly that is where you are staying, Zenyatta. I know that they have quite a job protecting you, and that they are closed at certain times of the year, but maybe they could use humor or just a better attitude. I checked out my reaction with the owner of one of the guided tours and they agreed. Lighten up Lanes End!
LauraJ
@Signofthetimes, a Galileo-Goldi baby would be something, wouldn’t it? As for the V-Street cry baby, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if s/he is sent to Europe to run on the turf. If this one is half the horse Zenyatta is, s/he will be one very nice animal. I think Zenny could have run on turf and could also have run more than 10f. BTW, I’d love for Zenyatta to go to Galileo, but I don’t think the Mosses would send her overseas even for a couple of months.
–
@Barbara Grimaldi, I agree. At this point, I think HotY is Havre de Grace’s to lose. I don’t think she even needs to win the Classic as long as she hits the board. With BL faltering yesterday she is probably a lock for Older Female. The other major divisions are still up in the air. Last year by this time Lookin at Lucky had established himself as the best 3-year-old, Zenyatta was already the de facto winner of the Older Female division, and Older Male as dowm to Blame and Quality Road. This year there seeme to be a lot of parity in most of the divisions. It’s not that these horses are bad, just evenly matched. Three-year-old female might be down to Plum Pretty and Zazu, but the male divisions are way up in the air. I don’t follow the turf runners or sprinters enough to have an idea of who leads those divisions.
Doreen
@signofthetimes – it’s never a bad day at Beautiful Belmont, even if its overcast and the wind cuts through you as the day goes on.
@judy berube – you’re welcome. All three that I went to see were in great shape, unfortunately, going to Belmont was a spur of the moment decision and the camera that I brought wasn’t charged sufficiently to take pictures (ugh!!!), so the only pictures I could take were from my cell phone – and I’m technically challenged when it comes to taking pictures on it (it had about a two second delay or so, so I had pictures of backends instead of frontends or sideviews (haha!!). :)
@LBT fans – if you want to see her race where she beats the boys (except for one gelding that was also 4 years old, she beat older horses), click on this link, then click on October 1 and then race 7, she’s the 5 horse and she’s back!!!!! http://www.fingerlakesracetrack.com/new-york-horse-racing_2716.aspx