Good Morning Everyone!
HOORAY! The 2 days of racing we have all been waiting for and planning on for the last several weeks…The World Championships…are now here! I truly want to wish all of the entrants and their connections ALL THE BEST! May this weekend of racing offer some of the most exciting moments in sports that we’ve enjoyed in quite some time! My Lane’s End pals are discussing their selections with us each day. Then TASTY and I add our thoughts after studying the DAILY RACING FORM and listening to the on-air handicappers. Hmmm, I wonder who will pick more winners: Matt, Sarah, David, Charles or ME???
Yesterday afternoon was SO MUCH FUN! MY TEAM came to visit ME. Everyone hugged and kissed ME Then they ‘checked out’ my BABY BUMP. MY JOHN looked ME over from head-to-tail. (I kept waiting for him to check my legs…just like he did for years at Barn 55.) The overall consensus was that I looked absolutely TOO CUTE! TASTY also joined in the fun and we had a wonderful afternoon.
Ann was so sweet! She and I cuddled for quite some time…and then she scratched ALL of my favorite spots. It was fabulous. I relaxed and truly enjoyed each moment! We talked about my party and all of the things going on in my life right now. It was truly like old times!
Later during the visit, I thought it would be fun to DO ANN’S HAIR for MY PARTY! She is such a good sport! I must say, this could be another career option for ME in the future.
As for MY PARTY, ALL of the festivities begin at 11:30 today. For those of you attending, please remember that the traffic patterns change on these busy World Championship Days. 4th Avenue is closed in certain spots as you get close to Churchill Downs, so please allow for this in your planning. The shuttle buses start running around 11:30 if you’d like to wait for them.
To enter the party, please go to the area by the BARBARO statue. You will see a sign by the doors of this building for the party. Please enter here. Your name, having ordered your tickets in advance, will be on a master list. Then go on in and have a GREAT TIME!
It has been such an amazing 12 months! Last November, I was at Churchill Downs preparing to run in the BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC! This year, I’m again SO FORTUNATE! I’m able to share in the festivities with my dear friends…just in a different role!
I’ll see you there…BABY BUMP and ALL! Oh, how I do love this modern day technology!
ENJOY!
Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Debbie
What an amazing day of racing! I wish I could have been there and been at your party. Congratulations to Mike and Drosselmeyer!!!
Zenyatta- I must say, I had to look back on video’s of your amazing career. I will never see a Breeder’s Cup Classic with out seeing your face. You will always be a winner in every way to me. I feel grateful that I got to meet you in LA. Take care mama. The next great news we hear has gotta be how you’re progressing as a mom. I’m so excited!! PS- Love the picture of you and Ann.
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
@Linda – Thanks for your version of the party, it’s good for we who couldn’t be there.
Debbie
I just saw the “Checking in with Zenyatta” link. It was fantastic. Well done!
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
Zenyatta is a Legend (if this link has already been posted, sorry!)
http://www.louisville.com/slideshows/zenyatta-legend-celebrating-great-4-horse-november-4-breeders-cup
Andrea
JMO, how about a date with Distorted Humor? His kids are rockin the board!
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Barbara Grimaldi–I think BL is considered to be retired. Someone may correct me if I’m wrong.
@Linda–thanks for the great report about the party.
@Vicki B–thanks for the great link about Liza G. Fly and the background info. on her song and career.
To YOU, Queen Z, we wish happy dreams and great munching tomorrow. Love you always, dear girl.
Karen Gogue
And the magic lives on…….
Savvy
Loved Haskin’s latest Zenyatta interview. Zen, you do have a special energy about you that enriches our lives. Wow, he compared your presence with that of Seattle Slew. I didn’t understand “The Tao of Equus” till I met you, Zenny. You really are something special. Wishing you sweet dreams of peppermints.
Allie
@JAG ~ Thank you so much for posting the John Shirreff’s interview. This isn’t the first time that I’ve seen John get emotional when he talks about Zenyatta. What a great person and trainer. I can’t wait for him to start training Zen’s baby.
March 1st is a great day, Zenny:)
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Margaret, re: goggles for horses. The simple answer is, they couldn’t be changed mid-race. A jockey can go through five or six pairs during a race. Googles on a horse wouldn’t stay clear for long. The horse can blink to clear her eyes, but that wouldn’t help if her goggles were covered with mud.
Lynn from nearby Hollywood Park
Z, I’m so happy you posted that most endearing photo. Just precious. So loving, and sweet. You are just the best horse in the world. Ann, you are so fortunate, she is really all yours! And baby Z will be ALL yours too. It was meant to be. I’m loving this journey you share with your fans. Thank You.
…. .. I SO love you Zenny. Hope you can feel my HUG, I’m sending you now.
Peppermint
Hi Zenny-Great photo! Wish I could have been at your party. Thanks to all who have posted their experiences at it.
Loved all the races both yesterday and today. Now looking forward to spring races and also YOUR BABY!
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Order of finish in the BCC:
1. Drosselmayer
2. Game on Dude
3. Ruler on Ice
4. Harve de Grace
5. Flat Out
6. So You Think
7. To Honor and Serve
8. Ice Box
9. Rattlesnake Bridge
10. Uncle Mo
11. Stay Thirsty
12. Headache
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
I LOVE this photo of YOUR MIKEY, Zenny!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-2058130/Breeders-Cup-Drosselmeyer-claims-Classic-victory.html
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
@Trina Nagele – interesting that 4-5-6 were pretty much the favorites, along with Mo, beforehand. What a crapshoot handicapping can be! I was hoping for HdG, but then also liked Flat Out because of Scooter Dicky’s story.
Peggy (N)
@Linda in NJ, Yes, Royal Delta’s owner died earlier this year, and I think about all of his horses are to be sold. Along with Royal Delta, her Dam Delta Princess is to be sold as well. R Delta Hip # 427 and D Princess Hip # 313. That is going to be an emotional sale I bet. I believe they will be sold at Keenland next week. Unless withdrawn. I think Bill Mott is Royal Delta’s trainer if I am not wrong. (Please someone correct me if I am.)
@anyone who knows I have a question. When are foals taken away from their mothers? A couple of years ago when I was at Win Star farm, we got to talking to the guy that was showing us the horses about the foals and he was telling us that they had just taken a bunch of the foals away from the mothers and he said that he thouhgt that the mothers were about ready to kick them out. (I think he was kidding a little) but, do most mares/foal handle this o.k. or do some grieve? I was thinking that it must be aroung 6 months is this right? I guess I’m going to worry about Zenny giving up her little one.
Trina Nagele in So Cal
@Vicki B—Well said. I was also hoping for HdG, and after that sentimentally for Flat Out, for the reason you said, and also sentimentally for Uncle Mo and the two Bernardini sons, Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve.
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Trina Nagele in So Cal said:
November 6, 2011
@Peggy N—Did you see the video of Weemissfrankie with her goat I linked to in the middle of #370? (Since you had asked about Weemissfrankie earlier.)
Peggy (N)
@Trina, No I didn’t see it but I will go back and find it. Thanks a lot.
Peggy (N)
@trina Nagele, I saw it and that is just too cute. I was very proud of her that she came in third. She looks promising for next year doesn’t she. She is such a beautiful horse. Lol, Peggy
Peggy (N)
One more bit of info. Just read. Royal Delta sells Tuesday.
Zenyen
@Peggy (N)
.
5-6 Months is the norm for wearning and while there may be some calling back and forth, the foals are usually together with their paddock buddies and an older nurse maid/gelding to keep them company and the mares have their girlfriends.
.
Besides, if all goes well Zenyatta will be back in foal by the time her ‘at side’ is weaned and her body will need the ‘at side’ to be weaned so it can focus on nurturing the in utero foal.
.
Its much safer for everyone involved that the foals be weaned on schedule, rather than waiting for the mare to truly get to the point where her instincts to engage and she starts to kick the youngster away.
Peggy (N)
Thank You Zenyen.
Diana S
@All: It’s 2AM MST. Horses are all tucked away in warm stalls or paddocks. Humans are sleeping and dreaming of a day of many surprises. A little post-event let down after all the anticipation. A few days to breathe – THEN LET THE PLANNING BEGIN FOR ZENYATTA PARTY SOCAL STYLE! BC 2012 – Here come the Dumplings!
diastu (aka Miz Party Pants) in tempe
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Laura J–I love your simple answer about the goggles on horses, but I have a question. Dirt/mud wouldn’t be a problem on turf, right? Or am I wrong? I think the horse wearing goggles was a turf horse. Please let me kno=w what you think.
Linda in NJ
Hi Trina: I have to go back and see if I can find that link too. I saw the blurb with Wemissfrankie and the goat-how sweet was that!!!
Zenny: It looks like YOUR PARTY was a great success!!! It was so nice of you and Team Z to hold a party for us. I hope they will have another reunion party next year. I am already looking into reserving a hotel for the first Friday and Saturday in November. It is a bit early, but hotel rooms are so difficult to reserve if you plan late.
Zenny, I have a couple of questions and would appreciate it if you would please pass them on to YOUR JOHN and DOTTIE. I took a look at the Santa Anita Racetrack Events Calendar and it appears the track will re-open in January. Do you know or could you ask YOUR JOHN if he knows when he plans to race Ebby? If possible, it would be great if YOUR JOHN could please let us know when her maiden race will be so we can make plans. Hotels rooms are very difficult to reserve at the last minute. Also do you think Ebby’s maiden race will be at Hollywood Park or Santa Anita?
Emily
Good morning beautiful. It was so nice that your family came for a visit. My “handsome” Hansen won the BC Juvenile. My congrats to him and his connections for having faith that he could do it. He may not have beaten Union Rags by 12 or 13 lengths, but his determination did not wane. I believe we are going to see some great things from this colt if he stays healthy and sound. Can’t wait to see his three year old campaign. Kudos to Mr. Maker. Take good care of our gorgeous boy. Also, congrats to Mike Smith. His performance yesterday was amazing. Love always Z.
Linda in NJ
@Linda: Thanks so much for your post. For all of us that couldn’t be there we couldn’t wait to hear all about it. Sounds like all of you had a lot of fun!!
Sid
Busy day yesterday. Missed all of the races. Wish you could be there. You have changed my world, and it is very different without you. Dance on!
Kimberly Potter/Montana
@Linda~ Thanks for sharing your Zenyatta party experience with us that couldn’t be there in person!
@JAG~ That photo of Mikey is priceless! Thanks for sharing it.
@Diana S aka Miz Party Pants~ Let the planning begin for BC 2012. I wouldn’t miss for the world!