Happy Friday to ALL!
It is another wonderful time for our sport this weekend. The programs in our country are highly contested. Then at Ascot, their weekend card features the inaugural British Champions Day. The race which will truly create a great deal attention is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes–G1. FRANKEL is entered to run in this one mile turf event. He is going for his 9th straight victory while remaining undefeated! The feeling of anticipation and excitement surrounding this wonderful 3 year old colt is something to be enjoyed and embraced by all of racing.
FRANKEL…by Galileo (GB) out of Kind…is owned and bred by Juddmonte Farms. As a 2 year old, he performed beautifully in his races…so much so that he was awarded the honor of being the 2010 European Champion 2 year old colt.
As a 3 year old, he has continued to develop and mature at a very high level. As of August 5, 2011, he was ranked #1 in the World Thoroughbred Rankings!
This is truly an achievement of great pride and respect!
Other 3 year old stakes will be running this weekend in our country. In California, the Oak Tree Derby runs on Saturday and the Harold C. Ramser, Sr. (fillies) on Sunday! Then at Keeneland, we have the Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup on Saturday for 3 year old fillies. This is one FUN TIME of the year to be 3!
HERE’S WISHING THE VERY BEST TO ALL OF THE HORSES AND THEIR CONNECTIONS!
Enjoy your handicapping and your weekend!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
PS. I know what MY JOHN did yesterday! I’ll share it with YOU next week! He said it was VERY SPECIAL and I’D BE SO PROUD!
Jeanne Sutton
Thanks for all the updates!
MLV
J Smith, yes all you have to do is call and talk to Marguerite. It’s quite a drive out there but well worth it. My photos are not posted. I am not a computer whiz or even close. I took a lot of photos of the ranch and even more of Turkoman. I don’t know if anyone knows this but he is owned by a syndicate and they did not want to pay the $25 a day to keep Turk at EA Ranches. So Jeanne Mirabito of Our Mims pays a big chunk of his board because since he is an Alydar baby they consider him as family. Alydar and Our Mims were brother and sister. Marguerite pays some of his board as well and the syndicate pays the rest. Jeanne is a friend of mine and I know that she has her hands full as it is with her own barn of retired mares.
Jeanne and anyone else who takes in these retired horses are basically providing a loving home where they can die. I have told Jeanne countless times that I do not know how she does it. With each death, a piece of her dies right along with that mare. I know it must make her feel very good that she is giving them a loving ending but the price she pays is not an easy one.
suew
@Sharon call, AMEN! The 2010 BC was the race of a lifetime. No other horse could ever match what she did on the track that day.
Rosemary McCauley
@Heidi: It not the years in your life but the life in your years (or something like that) maybe someone has the exact quote. Anyway, Happy Birthday.
Alex Bowdoin
@JAG / California, I wish we had that “Whip Rule” in this Country! Do you remember watching Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward and how many times Calvin hit her? Sad….I wish all safe trips in their races this weekend and always!!!!
Rosemary McCauley
I agree with all previous posts regarding Zenyatta’s 2010 BC race. She’s a WINNER all the way as far as I’m concerned. What she accomplished in that race will never be equaled (not in our lifetimes anyway. She was THE QUEEN before the 2010 BC and she will remain THE QUEEN forever.
Alex Bowdoin
@Margaret, Bobby Frankel trained Juddmont Farms race horse and they named this colt after him. What an honor for Bobby, he was such a GOOD HORSEMAN!!!
maryp
Good day Queen Z. Can’t wait to see what Your John is up to now!
@Sharon call – Bravo! Well Said! Ain’t it the truth!
Sharyn Priester
Have a great weekend keeping up with all the races! You and Tasty T will have to spend time in the barn discussing it all….Ü
Jeanne Sutton
Also, to JAG/California–Thanks for the Giocomo link!
Alex Bowdoin
Sharon call, you can go to the link below and see the picture of Z with her eyes closed. I bought this one. They sent it framed and it’s a great picture.
http://www.tltoutdoorphotography.com/gallery/Zenyatta2010/IMG_7915
Rosemary McCauley
Zenyatta – reading between the lines that YOUR JOHN said you would be so proud, makes me wonder if he has received or is going to receive an award. If not, he should. Can’t wait to hear.
kathy wilson
Zenny I don’t post on here much but just HAD TO today! First of all I want to say thank you and your family for keeping us updated regularly, it is such a joy to read tour posts and still feel part of your life. I am overjoyed to say that I finally after 34 years have been able to get another horse! I kind of “fell” into aquiring her and everything worked out so well that I know it was meant to be! I didn’t know it when I decided to get her that she was a full blooded Morgan. We just had that connection the minute I laid eyes on her! She is black with a white star and just beautiful! She has that kind eye just like you do and so sweet! I have a lot to re-learn and we are taking it slow since she has not been ridden in 2 years. Any advice would be appreciated! I love drinking my coffee with her in the morning lol. I was lucky enough to be at the BC Classic when you came in 2cd but you were still the best horse in the feild and would not have lost if not for the troubled trip and I am glad that the powers that be saw that and awarded you HOY!! Please tell us that some day we will be able to visit you!!
Joanna
What excitement in the UK – I am going to Ascot tomorrow!
Richard Hughes (a man that follows his principles) has handed in his licence – although he renowned for being a ‘hands and heels’ rider. Jockeys are going on strike on Monday in support and also rumours (strongly denied) that Ryan Moore will be Ballydoyle’s retained rider next season
I love this time of the year as everything unfolds.
Will report on Champions Day on Zenyatta’s next blog
Enjoy your racing weekend everyone – I will
Allen
Have a great weekend my Queen. Can’t waite to see what Your John has in store for you.
Tatia
We FINALLY got our BCC tickets after the P.O. lost them for a few(nerve wracking) days. Your bobblehead figurine is now guarding over them. Just thought you might like to know.
Looking forward to all the races this weekend – especially Frankel’s run. I read the yesterday that his connections have not yet ruled out coming to Churchill for the big race. That would be almost as exciting as the times I got to see you run in person.
Trina Nagele
@Debbie G–Your birthday poem is towards the end of #356, and in part addresses in verse Z’s BCC 2010 since you visited Claiborne Farm this summer with your stepdad and he told Seth Hancock in person that Blame had broken your heart. Happy birthday again!
@Susan in TN and Kari Bussell–the “sequel” to Debbie G’s birthday poem is to you three.
@Heidi–Happy belated birthday!
Michelle Moore - England
@sharon call – totally agree with your way you described the BC 2010, we sat up and watched it live, Zenyatta proved that night just how brilliant she was.
@joanna – you are so lucky going Ascot tomorrow, we will be watching it on the tv as we do not have the money to go, fingers crossed Frankel will put on an amazing performance….again, he is amazing to watch run, I love going on YouTube and watching Zenyattas races, Frankels and also Desert Orchids Cheltenham Gold Cup win, all of these give me goosebumps and tears every time and I would recomend them to anyone to watch xxxx
Robyn Mullhausen
Can’t wait to read what John did. :)
Molly
@Sharon Call — I don’t respond to posts very often, but Sharon you are RIGHT ON about Zenyatta’s last race. It is no wonder that Zenyatta is the reigning HORSE OF THE YEAR. No matter what the conditions, Zenyatta always gave her all to win. ZENYATTA IS A TRUE CHAMPION and I think we should start thinking about putting a statue of her at The Kentucky Horse Park. After all, she is the first and only female to win the Breeders Cup Classic.
Janis
Dottie, a statue of Zenyatta at the Kentucky Horse Park sounds good to me. Wouldn’t that be so great. Of course, Zenyatta would blush, but she deserves such an honor.
Trisha
Good luck to Frankel and to all you beautiful babies good luck and safe racing.
“Your John” sure is something.
Have a wonderful weekend and
Love, hugs and kisses
Debbie
hi Z! Happy Friday to YOU beautiful girl! I wish ALL a safe trip racing!!! YOU have a wonderful weekend gorgeous mama love YOU xoxoxo
Patricia Emery
Oh! The suspense is killing me…any hints…wink, wink. Whatever your John is up to must be something of GREATNESS if it involves you! Hugs & Kisses
PS Are you, Tasty & the other girls dressing up for Halloween?
J Smith
MLV, I am so seething mad right now. I cannot believe what I read, Turkomans syndicate of owners (that means at least 3 humans) are too cheap to pay approx $250 a month (that’s if there’s only 3)for his keep! Granted, times are tough, and I don’t have a spare 250 a month, but that’s why I have never bought a racehorse. Horses are not throw away items, it’s a 30 year commitment. This makes me so mad, and I feel to compelled to find out who these people are. Judy B, paging Judy B, lets research. Thank goodness for people like Jeanne, I don’t know how they do it.
Patricia Emery
PS You said John went to Louisville to conduct this business…your party is at the KD Museum…could it have anything to do with honoring you at the museum? How awesome would that be, along with the statue idea from a post above!
Mary
I am getting excited thinking about the Breeder’s Cup. The other night I watched Secretariat for the third time but my friend had not seen it. After the movie, I then showed him on the computer you Z in the Breeder’s Cup 2009. I will never forget that ….what an awesome moment….and you were called a Super Horse….and you still are Super in everything you do Z. Hugs to you…
Cate
Rapid Redux is running today for # 18 !
JAG / California :-)
Havre de Grace Settling in Well at Keeneland
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65557/havre-de-grace-settling-in-well-at-keeneland#ixzz1an5FPXTk
LARRY JONES QUOTE:
“Yesterday, I didn’t go at any super gallop. I just went to where I could watch that filly gallop; sat down there at the quarter pole, waiting for her to work around. I galloped down behind her, pulled up with her and come home. Until it was over, (Havre de Grace) didn’t even know, ‘Oh, that’s it for the day?’ Then she wanted to start bucking and playing like ‘Hey, this is an easy day.’
“She’s a dream come true.”
I’m so happy for you Larry! You deserve smiles in your life…
Trina Nagele
Mr. Sherrill Brooke, the renowned equine artist who made the affordable prints available of Zenyatta at six months old, has a new print offering he calls The Royal Couple with Zenyatta at the top and Bernardini at the bottom, or you can request to have them facing each other. You can view the original at slb12.com.
He does Zenyatta the highest honor, calling her “the greatest racehorse you will ever see in your lifetime,” and he has seen and drawn Secretariat and Seattle Slew, to mention just two. http://slb12.com/slb12/ZENYATTA_%22NEW_RELEASES%22_ZENYATTA____NEWEST_PRINT_LELEASE____%22BABY_ZENYATTA_AT_SIX_MONTHS_OF_AGE_%22_BY_HER_COMMISSIONED_ARTIST_MR._SHERRILL_BROOKE_-SEARCH_ALSO_ART_OF_MR._SHERRILL_BROOKE.html