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
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
@ Abigail – thanks for the computer link. I think that Vic and I will probably be O.K. we’ll be able to switch between a couple of stations on the satellite, but it’s nice to have a back-up.
Carole #42 Wisconsin
Z. what a great picture of you and Ann. You are arranging her hair is that hair style called the ZENYATTA? You can see that Ann adores her girl, will that make Ann a Grandma?..Thanks Dottie for taking the time to send all the wonderful posts for us to read. Love you Zenyatta and baby Z/B and kisses on your soft nose. XOXO
Abigail from Montreal
I SECOND BRENDA!!! PERFECT SHIRL & the WONDERFUL ROGER ATTFIELD!!! A CANADIAN COMES HOME IN THE BC!!! AND: SHE IS BY PERFECT SOUL AND THAT MAKES HER A GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF SECRETARIAT!!!!
Roberta Smith
Hello Pretty Girl…I see you are growing (belly bump) well…..WOW….it won’t be long now! I do hope you are being taken care of with the utmost care…let me please extend to your team to take it seriously that NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU….again, NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF ZENTATTA because thousands of people love her…please don’t let us down…..
Abigail from Montreal
ROYAL DELTA, CONGRATS! I was really hoping she’d take the Ladies’ Classic. I just love this filly! I hope whoever buys her keeps her in training next year with Bill Mott.
AJ from CA
Z-hope everyone is having a wonderful time at your party and that you’re enjoying seeing all of your family from Calif. (wonder if Mario got to come ?)
Love the pix of your and Ann – a real keeper.
Good luck to Havre De Grace and Uncle Mo tomorrow and may all horses and riders come home safely!!
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
Congratulations to Royal Delta and Bill Mott on winning the Ladies Classic. Vic and I were happy to see her win after seeing her win the Alabama.
@ Abigail – I have to tell you that I am delighted with Ma Bell’s satellite TV service. It is now almost 8.00pm, I have not had to change the channel and the coverage is continuing with a profile of Mike Repole. Vic is happy to see that Perfect Shirl also has Northern Dancer in her genes.
KikiSim From GA/VA! ;)
Zenny!!! I wish I could be there with you today :( But I’m not, so I spent 4 hourse in my living room watching and filming the races. I yelled so much that my voice is now scratchy! I wish the best of luck to Everyone racing tomorrow- horse, jockey, trainer, and owner, and Can’t wait to see the race with Mr. Commons! Hope you had fun Zenyatta, and you BETTER post pics! haha:) Miss you girl; the Ladies Classic just isn’t the same without ya!
Laura
Just finished watching the championship races, congrats to everyone :) and the 2 ppl who won 400 grand!!!! cute pic Z!!!! <3
Theresa Buck (Texas)
muuah we love you Z
Lynette Lucas
Zenny – I’m so glad your family and you had a great visit!!! I just wish I had been able to come to your party!!! I love you beautiful girl!!! Hugs and Kisses from Roswell,NM!!!
Karen Gogue
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-2057688/The-Captains-Log-Name-Zenyatta-Breeders-Cup.html
Zenny you will never be forgot!
Cynthia/Where Zenyatta Danced
Lots of excitement at the Breeders’ Cup, but I was wide-eyed over the great win by BATTLE FORCE in the 5th race at Santa Anita today. This son of Giant’s Causeway was ultra-impressive in the second start of his career!
Cynthia/Where Zenyatta Danced
*Congratulations, John Shirreffs and Team!
Karen Gogue
Peeps love to dress up for the Breeders’
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20111104/NEWS01/311040099/Breeders-Cup-2011-His-attire-is-elegant-with-the-whimsical-
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Wow, what a fabulous pic Zenyatta of you and Ann. It is so obvious how much you two love each other and sure have a very special connection. I sure enjoyed the BC races today and thought of you throughout the entire time. I hope that your party went well and that all had lots of fun, I sure hope to hear how it all went. Sure miss you and Churchill Downs and the Breeders Cup doesn’t seem the same without you being there. But even though you aren’t there, you still sparkle and shine brighter than any star up above. I love you so much and you brighten my life each and every day and help me through my difficult health problems-you keep me going for sure! Sending you my Love & Blessings! You are always in my prayers!
Dawn Conrad / Colorado
Dear Zenyatta. What a terrific day!!!! So many heart stopping and heart warming moments. You have the excitment of Royal Delta winning and minutes later her racing manager broke down when they were in the winners circle talking about her upcoming sale and going back to a farm with no horses. Then they are interviewing Graham Motion about his current entry in a race and the next he is tearing up while talking about how remarkable it is coming back to Churchill after winning the Derby. Even when they are going over the favorites for the classic when they talk about Flat Out, they showed his 70 year old trainer speachless with emotion unable to talk after his last win. One moment I was cheering, the next I was crying. No other sport can provide the thrills, chills, sheer beauty, overwhelming excitment, storied history and absolute highs and lows of horse racing. The richness of it’s tapestry is truly remarkable and you my amazing Zenyatta have woven it’s most beautiful design. I know your party must have been a remarkable celebration. I was there in spirit. Can’t wait to hear the details!! Just think we get to look forward to another wonderful day tomorrow. Love to Team Z! Be sure to get your rest tonight, Zenny. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
@Abigail & Brenda – Yea, Canada! Congrats on Perfect Shirl and Roger Attfield!!!!!!
@Abigail – Wonderful to hear from you, thank you for thinking of me.
@MJ – Thank you so much!
@All – Everyone have a fantastic Breeder’s Cup day tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shannon from Cool
Very touching photo. Tells the story of the bond between the Moss’ and Queen Z.
Lisa B - Escondido, CA
The Most Precious Picture. Thanks Dottie for sharing. Hope your party was a blast. Please share pics soon. Love YOU XXXOOO
Dawn Conrad / Colorado
Just had to share this link to a video including Jamie Corum’s life size painting of Zenyatta and Leonard being interviewed about the Zenyatta party!!! The painting is breathtaking!!!!!!
http://www.whas11.com/video/yahoo-video/Angie-gets-an-up-close-look-at–132919293.html
Dawn Conrad / Colorado
@LouAnn Cingel – Left you a message above in the diary. Thinking about you and sending my prayers. Hugs!
@Gloria Jeanne – I loved your beautiful memories of Zenyatta, thank you for sharing.
Margaret
On the whole it was a fabulous day. And while some may disagree with the “heavy” oversight of the vets–it’s either that or a repeat of last year. I know that doesn’t help that French jockey, I’m glad the horse will be okay. But all in all it appears that it was the correct call to make.
The horse that had that clear blinker–I feel silly asking this but—why isn’t something like that used in regular racing? You always have dirt kicked up, it just seems like the horses would be better served wearing that protection. Jockeys wear goggles SO WHY NOT THE HORSES???!!!
Now the real bummer was they were going to have a clip of you and then they never showed it! I saw old footage from last year but I thought they were going to do a new segment. I even went back and taped the last hour on DVR–thinking it was me somehow. Nope they never showed it. Oops! Well maybe tomorrow–they’ll be after all the ratings and stuff.
Oh and for those who keep mentioning the baby bump–it’s going to become VERY pronounced from now until the baby’s born. We are entering the last trimester soon and this is the time the baby really starts showing. From mid girth to haunches you will see Z become quite wide (maybe not twice as large across as last year). Remember the baby is sitting width wise inside of Z. As delivery date approaches the baby will drop and turn. This will be most likely visible to all of us–if we are allowed daily pics. Her tummy back around (what on a stallion would be his privates–teat area for girls) will suddenly drop. Z will look like she has a massive hay belly. Not to worry. This is mother nature at her finest. We want the baby to drop and turn.
First stage of delivery is usually missed by humans. It’s silent and not really all that noticeable for the uniniated (which includes me!). When second stage happens things move Zenyatta speed thru the stretch! The bag of water breaks–one of those signals that even the most novice of us can’t miss. Z could look like she’s having colic–she could be nipping at her flanks. Again all of this is normal. Don’t fret. You do want to be careful that she doesn’t lie down and start thrashing–but that’s true of any horse 24/7. She may get up and down several times. Again absolutely normal. The hardest part will be the contractions. This may be something you won’t want to watch–if we’re allowed live feed. The contractions affect everything on the horse–from head to tail and all points in between. Think of the day you fell and everything hurt–only maximize this. Happily this part if all goes well–she goes thru this REALLY fast. Within just a few minutes. I won’t say anything about other possibilities.
Then someone will be there helping Z to dry off her baby. Make sure that the umbilical cord is appropriately tended to. They’ll make sure the baby nurses and does their biological stuff–all the internal plumbing works). Mom and babe will probably stay in the stall for a day or two. If Z has an attached paddock that she can go into directly from her stall they might let them out in there to.
Within a week or two Z and babe will most likely be introduced to other moms with their babies. And then it’s play play play.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Margaret–thanks for the info. about the “birth”day and for the Lukas link. I, too, was disappointed they didn’t mention the Zenyatta event. Maybe tomorrow? So thankful there were no catastrophes. I think they made the right decision to scratch the filly who was clearly upset.
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
well, I would think your picks are the best. Nobody knows a horse better than another horse. Even though you’re mowing the pasture with your buddy T. T., you can still spy a future champion better than aby, I bet.
Have a great party !!!:) :) :)
Margaret
@Dawn thank you thank you thank you for the link. I knew Jaime did incredible work but this blows everything away. Stunning doesn’t even begin to describe the magic. Absolutely brilliant.
Diana S
@Dear Ann and Zenyatta: This is the photo of true LOVE. Thank you for sharing such an intimate moment with all of us. If a zillion fans could encase both of you in our arms, we’d do it in a heart beat just to have some of the beauty rub off on us.
diastu in tempe
Margaret Murphy & Tara Murphy
Hi Zenyatta: Boy you look great with your baby bump. The racing was so good today, it just missed you being there on the race track. Tara loves watching you too. Good Luck with the party.
Diana S
@Harmonious and JOHN: There is no shame in the race you ran today – you wouldn’t have found racing room if you ran straight up into the air! Sheesh it was crowded in there!
I loved the “surprise” performances of Shumoos, Stopshoppingmaria, and It’s Tricky – put the silly commentators in their place!
I’m sad that Announce didn’t get to run her race. I hope it was only a scratch.
Royal Delta: Your great-great-grandsire NOOR is very proud of you!
A couple of horses were injured at Turf Paradise today. Don’t know outcome. Hooves crossed they have not left us.
diastu in tempe
Abigail from Montreal
@DAWN: Thanks so much for the Zenny link to Jaime Corum’s painting….it’s as though she could step right off the canvas. Breathtaking is RIGHT!!!!
Jane (southern Ca)
The picture of you and your Ann is just too cute! I saw the video of some of your other visitors this past week and loved it! You are looking fantastic and are really “showing” now! Here’s the link for those who haven’t seen it!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKEfDX4WTn4&feature=share
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Have a wonderful day Zenyatta and baby “Z”! xoxoxo