Good Morning,
This is going to be a very busy week. Some of my dear friends from Barn 55, NEREID and STAR BILLING, are in town to run in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup this Saturday at Keeneland. It is a Grade 1 stakes race going 1 1/8 miles on the turf for 3 year old fillies.
This is an Invitational Race…and both fillies were invited. What an HONOR for each of them! When a race is classified as an ‘Invitational’…it means the Racing Secretary (the person who manages all of the entries for races and writes the condition books) reviews all of the possible candidates for a particular race . He and his staff then decide which horses would be the most qualified to run in the particular race based upon their accomplishments. After all of this is considered, the top horses are given an ‘invitation’ to run.
NEREID and STAR BILLING arrived Tuesday at about noon Kentucky Time via a Tex Sutton Charter. MY JOHN, Frank, and Jose Luis traveled with them on the plane. I heard the flight went very well and they have settled nicely into their Keeneland barn.
The weather here is picture perfect at this time. I hope it stays this way the rest of the week for them.
When MY JOHN took this photo, Frank was doing something by NEREID’S stall. Jose Luis’ charge, STAR BILLING, was in her stall relaxing nice and comfortably.
So much fun!
As you may recall, FRANK was on my traveling team. We always had such fun together.
Entries for Saturday’s race will be taken this morning. Here’s hoping they both get a GREAT POST POSITION!
Joe Talamo will be flying in from California to ride NEREID. Victor Espinoza is coming into town to ride STAR BILLING! Hmmm…..I wonder if their jockeys will travel together and be on the same flight…just like the fillies did?
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Trisha
Great and you will get to see “your JOHN”. Here’s to Nereid and Star Billing hoping they will do very well indeed.
Love, hugs and kisses
Emily
Good morning my sweet. Enjoy this great weather. Hope you and baby z/b are feeling super. Good luck to Nereid, Star Billing and your John. Love always
Cynthia H.
I am so excited for Nereid and Star Billing! Hooves are crossed for a great draw and may they run safely and finish well. They are both such beautiful, super-talented fillies.
LauraJ
Wow, an early diary entry! Good luck to both Nereid and Star Billing, and safe trips for all.
Abigail from Montreal
Good morning Zenny!
It is SO cold here in Montreal this morning that it almost feels like LATE fall, instead of EARLY fall. I’m wondering if you & TT are outside yet and what the weather is like there, in Kentucky. If it’s the same, I guess you girls will be in your cosy blankets! But won’t it be GREAT for you to see YOUR JOHN? Nothing better than family coming to town!
Looking at these photos this morning, I can’t help but be reminded of your arrival for last year’s Breeders’ Cup. I watched John’s “Zenyatta & Airport” on YouTube over and over again before the Classic was run. Such an exciting time!!!!
Of course, the wonderful thing about horse racing is the hope for the future that it punctuates….this time, in the persona of Nereid & Star Billing. Both great fillies, who always try their best and are forward moving @ this stage of their careers. What an honour that both were nominated — HIGH HOOF! And I do love their sires, Rock Hard Ten & Dynaformer, respectively! I’ll be watching to see what position they each pull. Best of luck on getting the best possible “starting point,” John!!!!
Allen
Now we know why you have been so happy the last few days, your John is coming to see you. Good luck to Nereid and Star Billing. Enjoy the good weather Z and Baby Z/B.
Kathy S.
Best of luck for good, safe runs for Nereid and Star Billing. I hope your John will be able to sneak in a visit with YOU, Zenny!
Abigail from Montreal
@ SHARI VOLTZ & ALL: I’m sure that many of you know about Our Mims Retirement Haven. But here are a couple of videos made by school children who visited “the ladies” there awhile back. Shari — I thought your students might find these neat & interesting!
http://www.ourmims.org/youtube.html
Brenda S..
What an exciting start to the day for us Zenny and how wonderful for YOU that YOUR JOHN is in town. Keeneland is such a lovely track and I’m sure that Nereid and Star Billing will soon settle in and enjoy themselves. Thank you for explaining how an invitational is organized – what an honor that both of your friends were invited, John must be thrilled. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they get good positions. Will they get a chance to check out the track before the race, maybe get a short work in?? Please say thank you to John for the photos, perhaps he’ll have time to take some more so that we can see the fillies. Have a super day with Tasty.
Katie Clawson
Thats great, Z! Those fillies are amazing racehorses! I hope they both have a clean and safe race!
I LOVE Joe Talamo and he has always given Nereid great rides. Good luck to Nereid, Star Billing and all of the horses running in the race!
How are you doing today, sweetie? :) Take care of yourself and your baby, Zenyatta!
Love, Katie(future jockey)
Shema
Love the pictures and the news update. Good luck to 2 wonderful fillies!
maryp
Good morning big beautiful girl! Very exciting got those two fillies and your John to be invited to this race. Hope you get a visit (I’ll bet you do) – Keep safe and warm. You are sooooo loved!!
maryp
Oops! hands & fingers weren’t together…should be “for” those two …
Phyllis James
It’s so wonderful that you keep us informed about the various races. I am going to Santa Anita on the 15th, and I think another of your owners’ horses, Cloud Man, is going to run.
Suzanne G
Dear Zenyatta,
Such fun to know what’s going on with your friends and YOUR John! Also enjoyed a peek down the shed row at Keeneland. Lots of good wishes for NEREID and STAR BILLING to do well and come back safe. Hope you enjoy all the racing excitement and get to visit with some of your California family too. Thanks to both of your families for always sharing. Love and hugs, Suzanne G
luvscritters
You’re making me want to move to Kentucky just to be around all those beautiful thoroughbreds — of course, YOU are the most beautiful of them all! (Bernardini’s no slouch either — he is one handsome boy!)
JAG / California :-)
Good morning Queen Zenny!
I’m so happy Your Family is geographically closer to you this week :-)
If I could have snuck on the plane I would have LOL
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Kisses & Hugs Mamma and Baby z XOXOXOXO
Tory in Georgia
Morning Z! Talking about great racing, I can’t remember which daily blog you mentioned Black Caviar, but here is her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Caviar/153238644730986
Also Peppers Pride, another all time winner. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peppers-Pride/101055689937223
Sue Fredrick
Goodmorning pretty Mama, wish I was in Kentucky with you to see the races, but I’ll be there for the BC Party (hope to win and see you in person). Good luck to Nereid and Star Billing and your wonderful John.
@Abigail from Montreal just saw your post of Bronwyn’s Australian pics…..just such beautiful stallions, however I love our Bernie and wish he was home.
@Judy Berube I agree with you Bernie is my favorite too, but then Indy was my favorite until pensioned. Love the pics of him in Australia, he’s so elegant.
Luv you Z and kisses on your nose
JAG / California :-)
Havre de Grace at Keeneland with trainer
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/11/2448713/havre-de-grace-at-keeneland-with.html
Judy
judy berube
Dear Z,
Bet you get to visit with your Dear John. Good racing luck and safe trips to Star Billing and Nereid. Have a wonderful day with TT in your paddock. Enjoy the great Fall weather. Love you and love to all of you, Judy and Russ
Kathy Baldwin
Thanks to you ZENNY and DOTTIE for the post
and wonderful pics taken by YOUR JOHN! He does take such neat pics! :)
Godspeed and a safe trip to NEREID and to
STAR BILLING! I know that JOE and VICTOR will ride well! :)
Love & Blessings to ALL in the ZENYATTA
NATION!
Kathy from SoCal xoxo
Shari Voltz
Zenyatta thank you for all the education. I will love you forever. Have a Great day!!! Hugs and Kisses, Shari XXXOOO
@Abigail thank you I will show the children today. I have been thinking about you and hoping you are feeling fine. God Bless :)
judy berube
Dear Sue Fredricks:
Bernie is something. I think he and Lonhro have such beautiful faces. Stay Thirsty, Bernie’s son, has a gorgeous face too. I bet Little Z will be extraordinarily gorgeous. Hugs, JB
JAG / California :-)
@ ALL!!
It takes about a minute to load this, but it’s worth the wait!! Go to pages 27-30 and you will see JOHN HENRY AND ZENYATTA!
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They have these at the track in hard copy, if you want to pick one up. I did on Saturday… when I opened to the centerfold I immediately teared up when I saw MY Two Loves!! Way TOO CUTE ~ the best birthday gift ever :-)
http://www.oaktreeracing.com/sites/default/files/Paddock-2011.pdf
Judy
Cheryl Smith
Great that you get to see your John, what about Mario? Have you seen him lately? I know how much you are a part of his heart. Good luck to all the horses that race, I wish for them all safe trips!
judy berube
Dear Abigail from Montreal:
Those videos of the children at Our Mims Retirement Haven are Too Cute. You’re right, Mrs. Voltz Class will really enjoy them, I think. Hugs, JB
Gloria Jeanne
Great News Zenny – thanks for sharing. I think it would be cool to ride on a Horse Chartered Air Plane with all the ponies – sounds like so much fun…. Lucky Barn 55 Team!!! Can’t wait for the races this weekend…. Go Star Billing!!!
Once again Zenny – thanks for sharing these wonderful times with all your fans.
By the way – Zenny is getting close to 92,000 Facebook Fans – it would be great to get her to 100,000 before the Breeders Cup on November 4th/5th. Please keep spreading the word.
Thanks and Love/ Hugs to you all.
Gloria Jeanne
Oh, and the post on the Facebook has Friday’s post instead of Today’s # 355.
Please update it – when you get a chance.
The Kennedys in San Diego
Good luck to John, Nereid, and Star Billing in Saturday’s QE II. John won this race last year with Harmonious. How great to win two consecutive years. When we visited Keeneland last year during Breeders’ Cup week, Harmonious’ silks were painted on the QE II jockey statue — they will remain until those of Saturday’s winner replace them.