Good Morning,
It is a bit rainy here this morning and the weather is about 57ish. The temperature has cooled off a bit, but it is still quite pleasant. One thing I have learned while living in Kentucky, the weather can change very quickly. One must always be prepared.
I was wondering how my pals, Nereid and Star Billing, like it here. Dottie commented that it is rather HOT today in California…in the high 80’s. I know MY JOHN would have definitely prepared for the change in temperature in respect to these 2 fillies. Knowing him, he brought some nice, comfy blankets for them to wear….especially in the evening.
Entries were drawn Wednesday for their race, The Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup–G1. The race runs at 5:45 Eastern Time. Star Billing drew the one hole (she will be wearing RED) and Nereid is in post 5 (wearing a GREEN saddle towel). The morning line for both of them is 6 to 1. There is a field of 8 entered and Winter Memories is the favorite at 6-5. Summer Soiree is 2 to 1. Here’s wishing all of them a GREAT TRIP!
I know MY JOHN is in town. After morning training today, he went to Louisville for a bit. I heard he was out doing a ‘special project in relation to ME’ this morning. This is TOO CUTE!
I wonder what it is? I’m sure he’ll whisper it in my ear when he comes to visit!
Have a wonderful day!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
signofthetimes
@Judy B
Oh yes, Russ is part of the Z family.
signofthetimes
@Diana S
Oh yes, how do we decide among the three you mentioned, I guess a tifecta. The explosive Winter Memories maybe hard to beat. But Nereid and Star Billing with be right up there. Very talented filly’s.
signofthetimes
Great news about Here Comes Frazier:
http://horseracing.bloginky.com/2011/10/13/here-comes-frazier-has-surgery/
Joanna from TX
@Terry Crow: NOW that joke is funny!!! 72 Virginians…HAH !!!!!
Betsy McGrath
Thank you, Dawn, for the “War Horse” trailer website. I live not far from Lincoln Center where the stage show is playing but haven’t seen it yet. The puppetry is supposed to be extraordinary, and I think it must have taken the producers such courage to bring this story to the stage~SO many technical challenges. Looks like the movie will be an emotional roller-coaster!
Peggy (N)
@signofthetimes, Thank you so very much for the update on Frazier. I have been checking everyday to see if there was any news. Sounds like he had surgery maybe a little sooner than they had first said. Again, Thank you for the post, maybe there will be something in Bloodhorse today too. We’ll have to keep praying for him still, though.
Zenny, Good Morning have a wonderful day.
Peggy (N)
@Everybody there is an article on Here Comes Frazier in BloodHorse this morning. (If I knew how to pull it over I would)so sorry. It said he may even return to racing. This is just wonderful news even if he doesn’t return to racing. Thank You Dear Lord. I know we still have to pray for him.
Barbara Wood
Good morning, Z! Great news about our friend Frazier.
Trina Nagele
A Birthday Poem for Debbie G.
October 14
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Born and raised in Lexington
In the heart of Thoroughbred land
It comes naturally
To Debbie G
To find many horses grand.
Early in ’09,
The stars in the east did align
For a great three-year-old filly,
Rachel Alexandra,
The colts in the Preakness to beat—
’Twas a great feat
And Rachel’s win made Debbie feel giddily silly.
She lifted racing spirits
And helped save the sport from bleakness.
The day Debbie confided
To her dear stepdad Jim
Her joy in Rachel’s run
And what she had done,
He to her replied,
“Out west in the California sun,
There another filly who really can run
And is undefeated.”
And that’s how Debbie G
First learned of Z.
Soon came the Milady,
Which Debbie viewed on TV—
One look
Was all it took
For Debbie to be crazy
For Queen Z.
The rest as they say is history!
Eventually,
When Z became a race retiree,
Debbie followed her diary,
And there by Dawn was inspired
To visit Claiborne.
’Twas early on a Sunday morn’
When Debbie with her mom and Jim
Arrived for their visit
At the farm
That for Secretariat and Swale
Had once been home,
And now is for Blame.
Not a soul was about,
So they tried to take stock,
And Jim headed in
On the first door to knock
When who should step out
But Seth Hancock–
Imagine their shock!
Jim, an ardent horse-racing fan,
Had long idolized the man
Who now shook his hand
And who told him a guide
Soon would come
If they a moment would bide.
A little-tongue tied,
Jim searched for some way to reply.
What came to Jim’s mind
After all that time
Of being in awe
Of the man he now saw?
What could he find
To say
That day?
Before Seth Hancock strode away,
Jim blurted,
“Your horse broke
My daughter’s heart!”
It gave Seth Hancock quite a start—
And Debbie’s heart was sinking—
What had Jim been thinking!
She felt the situation dire
For just a few months prior
Blame had lost to Zenyatta
The award that Seth Hancock most desired
Since Blame had retired
To stud.
Debbie could hear her heart thud,
Had they with those words their welcome outworn?
Would Seth Hancock react with scorn?
Would he find Jim’s remark untoward?
For him it had been rough
The night of the awards
To hear
What he had feared—
That the Breeders’ Cup Classic race
Was not enough
To get Blame “Horse of the Year,”
And try as he might
He’d lost his fight
To hide from sight
His pain,
Which was all too plain
On his face.
But this day he remained
Calm and gracious,
With the remark that he hoped
They might start to reevaluate
His horse.
And of course,
In a way
They did.
For when they saw Blame,
Debbie felt a little sorry for him
He’d given his all to win,
But who now spoke his name?
These days
The words of praise
Are all for Z—
In the end hers was the victory.
Although the race that day he’d won,
When all was said and done,
When she stormed from last to close
And lose by just a nose,
Her acclaim rose,
As all at last could tell.
Z’s perfect record fell,
But not her fame.
She’d left herself so much to do,
But she still came charging through,
Surging at last
And running so fast
That with her closing burst
She almost took first–
She showed she truly was Queen
Of the racing scene.
And on that visit to Claiborne,
Not a year later,
What did Debbie in the end do?
Was her heart still torn
In two?
Or did she stroke
Blame’s soft nose
That had given him the win?
Debbie’s written, and I admit it’s true,
“No one likes a sore loser.”
It’s made me reflect
These days,
In introspection,
That that can cut both ways,
Can I to the occasion rise?…
But I most want to say
That I hope your birthday today
Very happy will be,
Dearest Debbie G!
And that your Sunday at Keeneland
Will also be grand!
It’s been a great pleasure to meet you through Z!
Daina Ryan
That is GREAT news about Here Comes Frazier! Thank the lord. Get well you beautiful boy.
Trina Nagele
A Poem for “The Three Zenyateers”—Debbie G, Kari Bussell, and Susan in Tennessee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Z-sters gather
This November
For Z’s Breeders’ Cup party,
Please remember
That for Debbie G,
Our dear letter carrier,
Shyness is still a barrier,
And few things for her are scarier
Than being alone in a crowd.
So too is this true
For dear Kari and Susan,
So whatever you do,
Please don’t pass them by,
But extend your hand
Or give them a hug.
I think it would be grand
If they together banded
To be the Three Zenyateers!
Let’s hear it for these three!
I hope you’ll all help them
Overcome their fears
And make this day memorable
For years and years.
Kimberly
Zenny, Have fun with YOUR JOHN this weekend. I am sure he must really miss you!
Peggy (N)
@Trina the poems are just beautiful. Nice start to this day.
Jeanie
Dear Great One,
Your friend Nereid is a lovely girl. I wonder if you could find out for us what the origin of her name is? It is an interesting and elegant name. I’m hoping you get lots of time with YOUR John and other members of YOUR team while they are in KY. I was gone all day yesterday in a training and in catching up this morning, I have to say I felt a real sense of happiness in reading two updates: so happy things are looking good for Here Comes Frazier and so happy there is one less place on this planet for Rick Dutrow. Looking forward to more good news to come. Take care beautiful girl. Love you,
Your humble J
Betsy McGrath
In ancient Greek mythology, a nereid is a sea nymph who often helps sailors in distress.
LauraJ
@Debbie G., I am going to the BC on Saturday. I ordered my tickets for both days months ago–third floor grandstand! I also bought a parking pass this year.
M. Kern
Oh! that is really nice that you get to see John again. We all know that he loves to visit you. I am wondering what is the special project. Good luck to Nereid and Star Billing. I hope Joe & Victor will give them a perfect ride. Stay warm Queen Z and have fun with Tasty. I love you!!!
JAG / California :-)
Successful Surgery for Here Comes Frazier
QUOTE: “The surgery went well and both vets were pleased with how the procedure and overall process to remove the multiple bone fragments went,” the e-mail stated. “Here Comes Frazier Came out of recovery very well and walked normally on his own back to his stall.”
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65550/successful-surgery-for-here-comes-frazier
Judy G
JAG / California :-)
Finger Lakes Jockey Osorio Dies
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65552/finger-lakes-jockey-osorio-dies
Wasn’t there another jockey from this track who died recently…?
Judy G
Jeanie
@Betsy McGrath
Thank you! Now I know.
j
JAG / California :-)
Cohen Rides 1,000th Career Winner
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65541/cohen-rides-1000th-career-winner
Judy G
JAG / California :-)
@ Debbie G.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY fellow Libra! :-)
Jo
Have a wonderful visit with your John, Z! And good luck to Nereid, Star Billing, Harmonious and all who are running this week-end. Love to Z and Team Zenyatta.
mm
Have a great visit with John and good luck to Star Billing and Nereid. We will be rooting for them.
SHERRY D. WV.
@ EVELINE I WONT BE GOING TO VISIT THE BIG BREEDERS RACES AT CHARLES TOWN. BUT I WOULD ENJOY MEETING YOU AND OTHER ZENNY FAMILY MEMBERS. SAFE TRAVELING. SHERRY D. WV
Pam
WOW! Nereid, you are one gorgeous filly! It would be wonderful if you and Star Billing finished one and two. Wishing a safe trip for both of you.
HMMMM, you are so good at keeping secrets, Zenyatta, but I hope you will tell us very soon what your John is doing!
Hugs to you and your baby!
Patricia
Good afternoon Zen and Dottie and all the Zen family—
I’ve been pretty busy recently with work and other things, barely enough time to skim through the Diary every day. Just want to send my very best thoughts to all who are hurting and all who have helped the horses… and Dawn, for what it’s worth, some friends in England went to see WAR HORSE when it was running there, and said it was breathtaking.
Safe running for everyone over the weekend, and I personally hope Frankel does not come over this year– let dear Goldikova have the glory in the turf mile. He can come over next year and challenge the world… I am sure he will continue to improve and may even remain undefeated.
Patricia in far NORTHERN California where it’s only in the 80s
Robyn Mullhausen
A special project should be interesting.
Paul
Zenyatta, good luck to your buddies from barn 55 running in the Queen Victoria race at Keeneland this weekend. Your John thinks of everything for the horses and their adjustment to the changing weather.
Barbara Grimaldi
VICKI B: Your letting us know that John and the Mosses WILL be at Zenny’s side when she has her foal just tickled me pink!!! Thank you so much.
TRINA N: don’t know how you do it…poem after poem…the one for Debbi G is a really interesting story to read…please let us know what poets you enjoy reading!!!
TERRY C: I’m afraid to even mention what redneck jokes could be created about New Jersey!!! Scary! I am a New York City girl, born and raised, now living in Jersey! Be kind!!!