Happy Monday Everyone!
It was such a fabulous weekend of racing with so many Breeders’ Cup ramifications! Tasty and I reviewed several of the results with our pals here at Lane’s End. You have to LOVE a filly, DANEDREAM, beating the field very impressively in the ARC. As a matter of fact, the first 3 finishers in that prestigious race this year were FILLIES! This is very special and quite unique. GOLDIKOVA gave it her all in her race and just lost by inches in a photo. A great effort on her behalf for sure!
As for the American results, I must send a HIGH HOOF to my Moss pal, ZAZU, for her fabulous finish in the Lady’s Secret-G1. What a terrific victory! Dottie and I were commenting that this is the 4th year in a row the Moss’ have won the Lady’s Secret…and each year the winner’s name began with a Z…..3 for ME and now 1 for Zazu. This is rather remarkable!
Then in other races, Havre de Grace, Uncle Mo, Plum Pretty, Flat Out, Game on Dude and all of the other winners performed beautifully. What a very special weekend..with so many of these horses now making their plans to go to the Breeders’ Cup. The two year olds stakes action is also heating up…and it will be fabulous to watch horses like Creative Cause, Wemissfrankie and others continue to develop!
Let the FUN BEGIN!
Dottie also commented that all of MY PARTY PLANS are making great progress. As of Saturday afternoon, people from 12 different states have already ordered tickets. Several people stopped Dottie at the races and said THEY ARE COMING! This is getting to be very exciting. I can’t wait!
I’ll keep you posted on all of these fun things to come!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Click here for party details!
kate wheeler
Zenny, the picture of you and Tasty T, two noticeably pregnant pals enjoying a leisurely bluegrass brunch is just sublime. You both are glowing in the obvious care that you receive from your human connections. I only hope that Life at Ten and St. Trinians, now both retired and to be sold to new owners to start their post-racing lives, will end up in an environment as loving and nurturing as yours. The impersonal business aspects of racing and breeding are sometimes quite jarring.
@Kimberly Potter: I enjoyed so much your reference to Erin Bolster and her horse Tonk, who saved the 8 year old boy from the attacking grizzly. I hope they enjoy their trip to NY and that Tonk gets to sit next to Dave Letterman. We are also pulling as hard as we can for your precious baby grandchild and pray all is well.
@Scott Davis: Thanks for the referral to Pure Thoughts Rescue. I know of two ex-racehorses that were rescued and sent there. A.J. Nugget will receive gentle and healing care there. What amazes me about his photos, other than his horrible emaciated condition and wound, is the loving, peaceful and playful look in his eyes and his mischievous nuzzling. How can any creature who has been what he has obviously been through express such optimism about life. A little financial support for him has been an honor.
@Abigail from Montreal: Like everyone here, I mourn with you the loss of Jericho. Your loving protrayal of him in the Vault, both words and pictures, demonstrates the depth of you bond. The significance of Jericho in your life was evident in your description of him at the end of your earlier Vault story about Your Host. You and James will always feel Jericho’s spirit vibrating in your souls and his memories will be the balm that, in time, soothes your pain. It seems to me that whenever you write, not only about Jericho, but also about all the horses and their special people, that you are always affirming strongly that “The Earth is an Inter-species Affair.” Jericho showed you that is so true.
M. Kern
Thanks for the update Queen Z. I love the picture. You and Tasty look so lovely. I was at Santa Anita this weekend. I had a great time watching the races and betting on horses. Congratulations to the winners. Zazu, Creative Cause and Uncle Mo were amazing. I was a bit sad for Blind Luck. I just hope everything is ok with her internally. She looks like she lost some weight. How lucky those people who will be able to go to your party. I just hope they will do it again next year at Santa Anita. Have fun outside with Tasty. I love you.
Susan in TN
@ALL: Will respond better tomorrow when more rested- but thank you <3
@Kari B: Didn't know anyone would see that-thank you,<3 <3
Anne from Paramount, CA
QUEEN Z, once again we see these beautiful photos of you and yours. “Beautiful” isn’t quite the right word: don’t know what adjectives apply—so many to look up in a thesarus! You do look quite fetching in that blanket. I know another word: tranquil, but someone has probably already used it, my brain just hasn’t processed it yet.
@ALL who sent me birthday wishes, THANKS!! :)I don’t want to miss any names, so you know who you are! Appreciated! While at the track on Saturday I had the 2/10 EB in the 4th, so I considered that a good omen for my actual day to come. Had so much fun cheering on Uncle Mo with some Dumplings–and evidently there were many of us there, scattered about doing our thing in the heat. It did get hot, didn’t it? Hoofray for Zazu, what a gal! And the other fillies, too…I share everyone’s concern about Blind Luck. Back to Zazu, I was out front on the apron near winner’s circle and afterwards a man and his wife were nearby commenting on the race: he said he hoped his hearing would come back momentarily. Apparently a woman (not his wife) SCREAMED right next to his ear as the current Z was coming down the stretch. His wife did not seem overly concerned–in fact he commented that “people really get excited don’t they,” and that he was not a regular at the track, but his wife was. He wasn’t angry or anything, just kind of bewildered (but smiling) at the scene in front of him. Wonder if his hearing has returned yet?
@All local SoCal people: as an aside if I may: on my birthday we went to Ports of Call in San Pedro and had a very nice brunch at their restaurant. Sat outside and let the very pleasant harbor breeze waft over us while waving to the boats going by. However, what brought us back to reality was just as we were finishing up, SPLAT, a bird dropping landed right in the middle of our table! Good thing the only thing on the table then was the bill! :) :)
Back to racing and @ Judy Berube and anyone else interested: We talked to our trainer on Saturday who told us Rightful Image is in training at the farm and would probably be racing at the HPark meet. I will keep you posted!
@many of you who have lost dear human and animal friends, I read what you write and do think of you. You are all so caring and kind.
@All–to end on a cheerful note–who are in the throes of making plans for Z’s Big Bash, party on! It will make for great reading keeping up with the plans in the making. Now time to go off to dreamland Ms. Z…regards to Tasty T and to Dottie, without whom…well,we know don’t we? G’night!
Anne from Paramount, CA
@Trina N…I absolutely/positively ( :) )MUST thank you specifically for your wonderful b/day poem for me with all of your facts in order! Must NOT forget to give you a special Zenyatta nod for all of the poetry you do for us. How DO you do it? we will stand in line for that book!
Thanks again, Trina N. (is that a rhyme? LOL. ) :) I will mention this in the next diary in case you missed it, as it is late!
Marshall (girl's name)
Zenny and Tasty, beautiful photo!! What a wonderful feeling of serenity. Enjoy this fabulous weather, girls! Hugs!
@Susan in TN: Sounds like a soft-landing for Rootbeer! How nice for him! Hope Rusty is lucky, too! Thank you for all you and the Rescue do! Take care!
Trina Nagele
@DJ— Glad you saw Zazu and Cozi Rosie run. Will you be there Saturday?
@Jeanie—Delightful post about how you knew Zazu would win! High hoof to you both. Hope to meet you Saturday.
@Kimberly Potter—Praying that all goes well for momma and baby, now on “baby watch.” I was just looking at the calendar yesterday and calculating when baby should come.
@Susan in TN—Congratulations on Rootbeer’s adoption! High hoof! How sweet it is that there was no trace of his former shyness—what a tribute to you! I’m so glad you had a good feeling about the family. With some more good luck, that handsome and outgoing Rusty will soon be off to a new home too. Maybe you’ll get to visit them some time?
@Anne from Paramount—I’m so glad you liked your birthday poem, and that I got the facts right! Will I see you at Santa Anita on Saturday?
Marshall (girl's name)
@Judy Berube: Thanks so much for the information on Nijinsky’s Song. I, too, hope he recovers well. Hugs!
Trina Nagele
Sweet Z, that is a beautiful photo of you and Tasty Temptation. Many thanks to Team Z for all they do. Now sleep tight till the morning light.
.@Scott Davis—I just now purchased raffle tickets to help AJ Nuggets. Thanks for the link.
J Smith
DEBBIE G if you would like to give me your address, I will pass it on to Diana who will happily make you a dumpling tag and mail it to you. Let me know exactly how you would like your name to read on it. email me at once2000@gmail.com if anyone happens to see Debbie G post on Tues, would u be so kind as to let her know my email address is here. Thanks.
Beautiful photo today, Zenyatta & Tasty look very content.
Diana S
@Zenyatta and Tasty: What an adorable photo! Love those tummies!
@Debbie G: By now you know you will NOT be alone. As soon as you see someone else with a Z Dumpling name tag, just tell them who you are and they will take you under their wing. I will press the secret invisible ink button and make their tag go blank if they aren’t nice to you!
@All Zsters going to BC: Why not post a meeting place and time for both days so you can all get acquainted? One of you knows the track well enough to suggest a spot, yes?
diastu in tempe
Diana S
@All: Rest in Peace Banned and Fleet Indian! We will miss you and remember you and do good works in your name.
@All: My theory on Life At Ten – she loved to race until she was forced to start when feeling rotten. She still was willing to try until she had the crap whipped out of her to get her up for a third place finish. In works, she isn’t being whipped, so she likes running, but in a race, she is now one very unhappy girl. I’m glad she is retiring.
@Shack: You need a nice couple of months of turn out! You are a great and gutsy boy who deserves to come back next year fresh and happy to race.
@Blind Luck: Hope your trainer gets the message. Glad you are not being asked to do the BC. Come back next year fresh and happy to run again.
@HDG: You Go Girl! HOY: Girls 3, Boys 0
@Zazu: What a race! Yay to you and the Mosses!
diastu in snarky land
Diana S
@Especially Horses: You were in Arizona? And didn’t tell me? I am pushing that special button – – – say bye to your name tag! Oh wait, I never mailed you one – because someone forgot to give me a mailing address!
lonely diastu in tempe
Diana S
@Kari Bussell: Speaking of Z Dumpling name tags – I am going to charge you rent for the one I’ve been hanging on to for about 3 months! It really wants a forever home – at your house! Please send your mailing address. The secret hand shake won’t be enough at Z’s party – you need the tag!
diastu the tagger
Diana S
@Judy Berube: Homework assignment if you can. Please pull up the link to the great article in most recent Blood Horse about the Yoshida family’s amazing broodmare band in Japan. Some fabulous photos of Azeri and foal, Ginger Punch and foal, and others. Makes me feel a wee bit better about “our” horses going to Japan.
diastu the link loser
Max
@signofthetimes. Your comments about Cape Blanco are very true. He is a courageous horse who showed amazing determination in winning his last race while seriously injured, a truly magnificent son of the great Galileo.
Sue Fredrick
@ TO ALL INTERESTED just got a notice from my virtual stable that TAKE CONTROL by AP INDY out of AZERI will be running on 10/7 at Santa Anita in race #6.
@Diana S I had thought of naming a meeting place, I guess the best one would be outside the Derby Museum where they are holding the event. For newbies to Churchill its on the left side of the front gates. Anyone else have a better idea?
Sunny Boyd
@ Barbara Wood
our Zetty & T.T. eat about 16 – 20 lbs of pre-bloom alfalfa daily. Mares in foal need the most & the best feed. How many lbs are there in a bale?
Texas is one of those states with the crazy hairy ants, have you encountered any of them yet?
Yvonne and Maurice
Hi Zenyatta. You and TT loook so beautiful grazing. The weather looks gorgeous. It was a great weekend of racing. I had my Uncle Mo colors on!! Yea. So sorry for the connections of Banned and Fleet Indian. My heart breaks for them. Also so sorry to hear that Cape Blanco has a slab fracture and needs to be retired. What a heartbreak but at least it is not life threatening. Good luck to Life at Ten as a broodmare. Lisa’s Booby Trap ran at Finger Lakes this weekend and won. Congrats to her and her connections. Hopefully, everything will be o.k. with Blind Luck. I love her so. Waiting for results of all tests. Zenyatta, always stay comfy, eat well for two, enjoy those times grazing and girl talk with TT and all of your friends. Love you, Angel in Disguise.
Kimberly Potter
@Kari Bussell, Marty R, Cynthia H, Kate Wheeler, and Trina Nagele~ You are welcome. And thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I will keep you posted on….
HUGZ
Shannon from Cool
Great race for Zazu the other day.
And Yahoo, party time for Zenyatta fans at Churchill.
Barbara Wood
@Sunny Boyd– son’t know how much the big bales weigh. Yikes!! Haven’t seen those ants ….yet!!!
@Kimberly P– prayers for mama and baby.. and you!
@diastu– you sued my favorite word again (“snarky”). You ALWAYS make me laugh.
@DJ and TC–It’s about time for more prayers and jokes.
Judy
@Diana S, would you mind posting a link to that article in Bloodhorse about the Yoshidas? I’m not able to find it online at Bloodhorse.com. I would love to read it. Thank you!!
Suzanne G
@signofthetimes & @Marty R–in case you haven’t seen this, it’s a little more info on Zenyatta’s movement..
One of the other factors the program examines is “thrust,” which is how well a horse uses its rear end.
“Some people wonder what makes Zenyatta so good; she has a lot of thrust—she’s a machine considering her size, and she’s as good as they get based on what we’ve done here,” Kilgore said of the mare when she raced. “She is also a very fluid and efficient mover.”
Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64938/science-in-the-mix-pedigree-is-genetics#ixzz1ZpRsKoHV
Jeanie
Z’isters,
What is going on Saturday that several of you are referencing? Are we talking Hollywood Park?
J
LauraJ
@Sue Frederick, I think that’s a good idea. It is easy to find–all anyone needs to do is look for the Barbaro sculpture.
Sue Fredrick
Hey is it just me or is everyone getting a new posting of Ebby over the old posts. Its really weird!
judy berube
Dear Sue Fredrick:
Thanks for the info on Take Control. Hugs, JB
Trina Nagele
Dearest Z, It’s lovely to see your sweet half-sister E.
@Denise in AZ—How wonderful of you to take in the two horses in need—I will pray that hubby gets that perfect job soon!
@Kimberly Potter—Have you checked on the Internet to see if there is a rescue group near you? Also feed stores sometimes know of people who need help with paying for hay for their horses—maybe you could help somebody close by with their expenses, and also give their horses a little extra TLC. Let us know if this works out for you. Meanwhile, praying still for your daughter-in-law and grand-baby-to-come.
@JAG—I like your “Ebby”–nice connection to “ebony.”
Trina Nagele
OOPS–I meant to post that last comment on #349. Sorry.