Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #412

I'VE STILL GOT IT! Photo by John Shirreffs


Good Morning,

You are ALL TOO CUTE! I love your comments wanting to assist as NANNIES and the requests to help ‘foal sit’ on a voluntary basis. One never knows…..this MOM-to BE thing is very new to ME. I’ll keep you posted, for sure!

Yesterday afternoon when David called Dottie, it was about 50ish degrees here. In our quest to be healthy and fit….TASTY and I do get our proper amount of exercise each day. Weather permitting, we take laps around the paddock. I don’t go 40 miles an hour like a did when I was racing…but I still get all 4 feet off the ground and get ready to stride right out….ears forward….and mane blowing! I must say, this is all part of my background and heritage of being a thoroughbred. The DESIRE and LOVE TO RUN is definitely a part of my being!

Hmm…they say when MOMS are expecting, the babies can sense the tone of the day, the music that is being heard and the stories that are being read. I wonder if my baby can feel the sense of timing and the length of stride I utilize as I’m romping about in the paddock? Just a thought!

Several of you made a reference yesterday to TASTY’S family. She is owned by Woodford Racing. My pals at Lane’s End wanted ME to have a dear friend who they felt would be ‘in the family’ for some time. It was a great idea and terrific planning on their part. As you know, WE are dear friends.

Tasty’s sire is Medaglia D’Oro. When you are following the pedigree, heritage, and family lines of a thoroughbred, the female side is the one that is the most important and determines more of the full-brother or sister type of family lineage. Sires have many, many foals each year. A mare has just one. So on the pedigree page, the female side is what is traced and noted.

By MOM, VERTIGINEUX, is the MOTHER of WHERE’S BAILEY, BALANCE, and ME to name a few of her foals. On our pedigree pages, these are the family lines that are followed. The sires are definitely prominently noted and very important, of course, but the actual family tree is traced via the female side of the pedigree. Whenever you read a sales catalog or a pedigree page, you will see this in complete detail.

Congratulations to RAPID REDUX…on #22. It is a very admirable accomplishment! It is also very rewarding to see that he is being honored by our industry this year with a SPECIAL ECLIPSE AWARD! I’d like to add my sincere congratulations to those of others and send him an ‘elated’ HIGH HOOF on this achievement! I’ve also heard that he is going to continue racing during 2012. Here’s wishing the best to RR in each of his future races!

With Love,
Hugs to All~(Thank you for thinking of Louie Cenicola and Humberto Ascanio!)
Z

Reader Interactions

275 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Can you let us know who Tasty was bred too? Also you are hanging out with Rachel Alexander’s Sister!! Too Cute!

  2. / Reply

    Love this shot of you running..You and Tasty both look magnificent as you should..as You are a Queen..and she is your sweet friend… xo

  3. / Reply

    Lovely photo. That’s a pair of happy horses,

    BTW Dottie/Zenyatta, could you please ask after Zenyatta’s old pals Pirate Queen, Alys, and Sea Gull? Some of us got rather attached to them last year and would like to know that they are happy and well. An update on Life Is Sweet would be welcome, too.

    • / Reply

      I’ve been wondering about these horses, too, Laura. The pictures of the four of them out in the paddock were really great, and PQ seemed to be a good friend. I think somebody may have mentioned that she was bred earlier than Zenny so they aren’t in the same “pod” so to speak as far as expectant Moms are concerned.

    • / Reply

      Count me among those who are interested in finding out about Z’s first girl pals! My fave shot is of the four of them laying around in the grass, all ears pricked, checking out the camera! I believe this is one of the featured photos across the top of Z’s Facebook page. As they say, “priceless”!

  4. / Reply

    LAUGH OUT LOUD!!! OH, MY GOSH!! I absolutely LOVE this photo of YOU and TASTY!! TOO, TOO, CUTE!! With my sense of humor, I can only imagine what your babies are thinking in your womb!! “YIPPPEEE!!! Look what we get to look forward to!” :-) So very precious! Thanks to YOUR JOHN for sharing this photo. One of my “favs” ~ the list is getting longer and longer…

    Belly {{hugs}} and peppermint kisses to ALL FOUR OF YOU. You live in my Heart, Queen Z… always will!

    John Henry’s message for you today……………………………….. March 9th (wink wink)

    XOXOXOXOXO

  5. / Reply

    Loved hearing from you today! You and Tasty seem to be enjoying the good life there at Lane’s End. I know they are taking very GOOD care of both of you! Love you always Z!

  6. / Reply

    Look at that tail all up and happy, you and TT look so great. Thank you so much for all these pictures it makes us feel so much better about your new life and the wonderful bonding that you and TT have. I saw War Horse over the holiday break and Joey had a best buddy in the movie as well.
    Congratulations to RR for winnning the Secretariat award he certainly deserves it.
    Hugs to all

  7. / Reply

    Thank you Dottie for the lovely photo of Zenny and Tasty, if John should ever decide to give up training he has another career waiting for him as an equine photographer. YOU, Zenny, look totally happy with your ears, tail and feet up and you’re in the lead. I hope those two little ones are paying attention to your strides as you and Tasty strut your stuff. Thanks for the lesson on the importance of the female line. When I go to the track I must admit to paying a lot of attention to the sire as well as the trainer when deciding where to spend my money. Cigar is out in his paddock and it looks as if the sun is shining so I’m guessing you and Tasty are out enjoying the day and passing good vibes to the little ones. You know that we are all counting the days until we get to hear that you are in the foaling stall. In the meantime, stay healthy and happy. Hugs and kisses to you and Tasty.

  9. / Reply

    Zenyatta, I see that YOU are in front as always. You and Tasty both look healthy and happy. Congratulations to Rapid Redux for the Vox Populi Award. Glad to hear that your area warmed up a little. Fifty degrees isn’t bad since earlier in the week, the high were you are was only 22 or something close to it.

  10. / Reply

    Zenny and TT, a great pic of two lovely ladies having a grand time running around their paddock. How we wish we could stand by that fence and watch the two of you!
    Zenny, We think you’d be a great pal to anyone…Tasty sure hit the jackpot with you.

  11. / Reply

    Dear Zenny,
    The past couple of pictures look a lot like some of the others that John took back in November (or has he been to visit with you again lately?). The grass just looks so green for January. We’ve survived the first serious bout of “lake effect snow” here, and I might be able to get to the garage to take out my garbage cans later today. Tomorrow it’s supposed to be in the 40’s. YEAY! Maybe the stuff that froze on the sidewalks will be loose enough to get cleared away.
    @Dawn Conrad
    Thanks for reposting the link to B&N and the “Horses Never Lie About Love” book. It took me a couple of minutes to find the video, but it was well worth seeing. In addition, the same page revealed that there is now another book about the famous Iowa library cat, Dewey. The first one was wonderful, and I’m thrilled to hear that there is another one (which apparently deals with Dewey and other cats who have made an impact on their human families). I’d highly recommend these to the other cat people out there.
    @ Sue F (Wisconsin)
    Condolences on the Badgers loss to the Ducks. Even though you beat Ohio State, I was rooting for our Big Ten Champions! At least it was a VERY good game! The Rose Parade was great, too (another one of my “really want to but probably won’t get to” dreams). It’s just incredible how good the weather is most years.

    • / Reply

      Sandy, yeah thanks for condolences there was a questionable replay call our coach made that really came back to haunt them, don’t know if it would have changed anything or not. Congrats to the Duck fans
      However our Packers ended 15-1 not too shabby. Zenny should dust off her cheese head for the playoffs.

    • / Reply

      Sandy, thanks for letting us know that there is a new Dewey book! Will look for it, as well as “Horses Never Lie About Love”.

  12. / Reply

    What time are you out side and when do you go in to sleep? Do they play music for you? Is someone with you 24/7 like in barn 55? Just curious. Since I know nothing about horse life just like to know.
    Our retired greyhound has to RUNNNNNN every day so that I understand It is in him even if he is no longer racing. He does laps in our back yard and then sleeps in the sun the rest of the time.
    I know you would both get along and have fun. However you have a great best girlfriend and you look marvelous together.

    Take care everyone two legged and four legged.

  14. / Reply

    HAPPY NEW YEAR! Zenny, you and Tasty are two lovely ladies romping about.
    Makes me feel good just looking at your wonderful photo. :) Thanks for the schooling
    on the pedigrees, etc. in today’s post Zenny and Dottie. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all of you
    having your special day this month. And sending healing prayers the way of Louie and
    Humberto and all who are having health issues out there.
    Peace, Love & Blessings,
    Kathy from SoCal xoxo

  15. / Reply

    Z …. as I have said….love seeing the pictures of you and Tasty just doing your every day thing…..so beautiful. I love how you all seem so happy and are BFF. I hope your baby is listening to the timing and stride…..it would be nice one day to see another racing champ like you….and I hope he or she dances. Maybe you should be doing a few dance steps each day so the baby can feel them. :) I love all the information you give us on here…..I am sure you keep Dottie very busy with all this knowledge coming our way. Z….. us fans do love Dottie and appreciate her. I have said it many times but I do not think we should ever stop saying thank you to someone like Dottie and of course John. Hugs to you Z….. so far this is a good year…….today is my birthday……..and am a happy person. :)

  16. / Reply

    i’m glad i discovered zenyatta’s website this past 2011 yr.
    i’ve really enjoyed reading your posts queen Z :)
    thx to dottie & every1 for sharing Z w/ us. <3
    i look forward to this everyday :)
    the pics are always too cute <3
    this new setup makes posting easier & more comfortable to comment :)

    i'm sometimes shy when commenting cuz i'm disabled physically/mentally along w/ having CP from a car accident yrs ago.
    i suck at spelling & have bad memory amonst other things.
    it tooks a long time for me to get up the courage & comment for the 1st

    time around thxgiving. altho i've been reading Z's diary for quite some

    time.

    to all Z sisters: i love your posts. you all put my thoughts in words

    better than i.
    thx to all for the links you post :)
    may God bless you richly in 2012 <3
    Happy belated new yr Z & TT & every1 <3

    i'm caught up on posts now ;)
    i know i dont have to read the comments but i enjoy them.

    awesome news about RR too <3
    high hooves to all :)

    • / Reply

      Welcome Sue Colvin -NJ!
      Don’t be shy! I’m basically shy, but most peeps don’t believe it. Please post again. We all make grammar errors and typos, but Zen doesn’t mind LOL
      Judy G

    • / Reply

      Hey, Sue. Don’t you worry about it one little bit. I loved your post and thought it was very well-written. Please let us hear from you again soon and frequently.

    • / Reply

      Hi Sue, I make certainly as many mistakes as anyone on here and I haven’t gotten kicked off yet LOL.

    • / Reply

      Hi Sue~ I loved your post! We all have at least one thing in common here and that is our LOVE for Zenyatta. You don’t need to worry about spelling or anything like that….everyone here makes mistake, but we just read through it and understand what they were saying. This is a wonderfully happy place, and I hope you post often.

    • / Reply

      Welcome Sue! I love reading everyones comments. I am pretty new at this too but I have learned so much. Today was especially educational.

    • / Reply

      Sue-There is nothing wrong with posting from the heart. Welcome aboard and I hope your time spent with us is fun time.

    • / Reply

      Glad to see you posting here! At first I was very shy on posting, too, wondering if I’m writing back to the horse or to the people or how it should be formatted – really silly, insignificant stuff. I really like the new format where we can reply back to a post right when we read it – instead of me having to try to remember after reading all the comments and then think what it was I wanted to comment on. Any way, I am glad you’re here, too.

    • / Reply

      Welcome to posting Sue please don’t be shy. I am a horrible writer but once I get started talking about our wonderful Queen and all the great people on this site it gets a bit easier.

    • / Reply

      Sue, please post any time you like, don’t be shy. Everyone here will be interested in anything you have to say.
      Blessings to you for the new year!

    • / Reply

      Sue,please continue to comment,you have many friends that you can relate to.I can very much relate to you,as I also had a car accident 3 years ago and my injuries were traumatic enough to bring on RA,which caused me to retire from my job of a lifetime.My job was being hot walker/groom for a Hall of Fame trainer. I miss it every day,but being able to share some of my knowledge here and knowing we all have something in common and that is the love of a horse named Zenyatta ! We all share our happy times and hard times and we pray for each other and for horses and animals every where.Its a very healing place to visit and everyone is welcome to share,some might be more talented on the computer than others,but the most important thing is ,we all give and take and share and laugh,and enjoy,and share tears and we keep coming back because we all are accepted and we belong.So please keep sharing,we need you and so does our beautiful Queen Z,we all have our special gifts to give!!

    • / Reply

      Welcome, Sue! It was wonderful to read your post. What comes from the heart can only bring joy to others. Thank you for sharing. Love to you fellow Z-ster!!

    • / Reply

      Sue, your comments are lovely. We all have Zenyatta and horses in general in common and you will enjoy being able to share that with everyone.

    • / Reply

      Hi Sue! I really enjoyed your post and am glad you are part of the Zenyatta family. Looking forward to hearing from you again :)

    • / Reply

      @Sue in NJ….Welcome. So glad you decided to post. Look forward to reading more, We all have one very big thing in common…WE LOVE Zenyatta, Dottie and all of those around around them. Thanks for sharing a little about yourself and your love for Zenny.

    • / Reply

      Welcome, Sue Colvin!! Don’t hesitate to jump right in — the water’s fine!! We are happy to have you join in this wonderful place called Zennyland!! Each brings their own very special gifts! I personally think the translation of “Zenyatta” is LOVE!
      Take care and please do not feel shy or self-conscious with us!
      Hugs!
      Marshall

    • / Reply

      Dear Sue, Let me add my belated words of welcome to those of the others. I had jury duty all day yesterday, and just fell straight into bed after I got home and fed my dogs, cats and myself, so I’m catching up today. We all look forward to hearing more from you.

      • / Reply

        Sue, I saw nothing wrong with your post. We can all read type-ese and any other errors. We are far from perfect and rely on Zenny to be that, Miss Perfect.
        Please keep on posting when you feel like it or just reading our craziness.

  17. / Reply

    Queen Z, I simply love this photo of you and TT! You are two gorgeous moms-to-be who can still move it in style. I’m sure your little one is getting familiar with your motion and acceleration — and can’t wait to get all 4 on the ground! Also love to see your tail flagged in so many photos. LE certainly agrees with you.
    Whoever it was who posted the link to TT racing at Woodbine, thank you! It was wonderful to see her race…so your BFF is a winner, too. I have a special fondness for grays and get an extra kick that your BFF is a gray.
    Please tell Dottie that the new website is terrific. I think that everything associated with Team Z is first-class all the way.
    New Year hugs to all!
    Annie B in MA

  18. / Reply

    Zenyatta,

    Two girlfriends taking a morning jog, no wonder you always look healthy and fit. Tasty too. Thanks for the interesting and informative information on the mama’s pedigrees.
    Congratulations to RR. He truly deserves his well earned awards.

  19. / Reply

    More….
    Rapid Redux wins Vox Populi Award
    http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2012/01/05/rapid-redux-wins-vox-populi-award.aspx
    QUOTE: “The trophy will be awarded to owner Robert Cole and trainer David Wells on January 15 at Santa Anita Park in a public ceremony featuring an autograph signing, video presentation, and appearance by retired Racing Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr.”

    Zen ~ I’ll be at Santa Anita for the award ceremony, but it won’t be the same as last year………

  21. / Reply

    Wow, is it really this green in KY in January? The trees are really leafed out! I’m in the Atanta, GA area and we don’t have any of that now except for the evergreens.
    Z, your picture yesterday just took my breath away. There you were, head up and proud, looking at the camera, that “look of eagles” on your face. As they said on 60 Minutes last year, “she is quite the most magnificent creature we’ve ever seen” and that was from a non-horse person. You have that dignity and all-knowing, all-seeing aura about you that makes people just stop in their tracks and catch their breath. Love you, beautiful girl.

    • / Reply

      I think the photo must be a couple of months old–maybe taken in early November when the Z team attended the Breeders Cup.

  22. / Reply

    Welcome Wiggy, I second Abigail’s post, it’s great to have another Canuck posting, hope you stay around. I was in Toronto until 2001 but am now in Fort Erie.
    I treated myself to a book for Christmas that many of you may enjoy “Affirmed, The Last Triple Crown Winner” by Lou Sahadi. I’ve enjoyed it so am recommending it. I also received another book, “The Most Glorious Crown, The Story of America’s Triple Crown Thoroughbreds from Sir Barton to Affirmed”, it comes with a DVD on the history of horse racing. Both books I’ve enjoyed and are good additions to my horse library.

    • / Reply

      there is one on all TEN of the ladies that have won HOTY……i am looking for it…lady’s secret. all along, busher, etc….and of course….our lovely Queen Z

      • / Reply

        Carol, the book you are looking for is called “Horse Racing Diva’s”. The best price for it I have seen is at Barnes and Noble where it goes for around $13.00. You can also get it at Exclusively Equine, but at it’s normal price of $18.95.

    • / Reply

      i’ve always wanted the video of the triple crown winners.
      those books sound good too.
      i’ll put them on my list of wants :)

    • / Reply

      Brenda, I always knew we thought an awful lot alike, my friend. I have both of the books you mentioned. They are wonderful. The historic pictures in “The Most Glorious Crown are absolutely amazing. Here is a video I found about the history of the Triple Crown, that you might enjoy!

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9ydvLngTm0

      • / Reply

        Yeah Barbara !!!
        A Shack fan, too.

        Surprised and happy, it guess he ran enough races, showed up
        at all of them and came in first or second for the most part.

        Love his baby brother that Graham Motion is training, with the
        “family” blaze.

      • / Reply

        Dear Barb W., Sign and Terry Crow:
        I’m a Shackleford fan too. Hope he wins it. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      We too, Barbara, were happy to see Shackleford as one of the finalists. He is one of our favorites. You have to love that colt.

      Also, very happy to see Blind Luck and Awesome Maria on the Older Filly/Mare list. Although Havre de Grace will win the championship, very happy about the other two. We love all three.

  24. / Reply

    Hi Zenny, it is good to see you and Tasty running together and getting some exercise. It looks like the weather there is holding pretty good. You both are getting bigger but you both look good and are carrying your Foals well. The Holidays are over now so I plan to get some rest for a change. This will also give me a better change to visit your post on a regular basis. I think of you daily and if I get too busy to check your post I feel sad. Wishing the best for you and Tasty. I was happy for THE FACTOR and his big win. Love You!

  26. / Reply

    Dearest Zenyatta,
    You look soooo beautiful! Motherhood surely becomes you. I’m certain that Baby Z is feeling your loving, inquisitive nature and your desire to run. Can’t wait to see him/her and am praying it will have your ears and gorgeous face!

    Definitely a high, high hoof to Rapid Redux. Staying sound and keeping that will to win is certainly a feat in itself. I’m sure that when you look back on all the accomplishments you had on the racetrack, you realize more and more how totally fabulous you were at winning! :) And you’re still winning in my heart, dear Z.

    Kisses to you and Tasty today. Stay well and safe.

    Love,
    Stel

  27. / Reply

    Such a wonderful photo of you two. I feel such a delight when there is a new picture of you to gaze upon! I’m really happy you’re having a long friendship with Tasty! That’s so special!

  28. / Reply

    Hi Z, another great photo of you and Tasty!! Did you hear? Rapid Redux was named the 2011 Secretariat Vox Populi, or “Voice of the People,” Award winner. A big high hoof to RR!!! Love you big girl! Cathleen XOXOX

  29. / Reply

    Zenny,
    I’m back – forgot to say how beautiful you and Tasty look in the picture. I wonder what it feels like to you when your foal moves around? Are you getting kicked a lot? As you suggested, hopefully he or she is learning some helpful things by osmosis while still in utero.
    @WEB DESIGNERS
    I had a nice surprise today when I decided to check out the site on my iPod touch! The posts actually fit on the screen as opposed to before when it was next to impossible to read them. Because it’s just the panel with the posts, it doesn’t glare as much as it does on my regular computer. If you could just find some way to “soften” the white area on either side of the actual post panel :-)
    @ALL
    It’s probably unrealistic to think that anybody can come up with some sort of “heads up” when somebody replies to one of our posts. However, a quick way to check is to use the “Find” function of your browser. Open it up and type in your name the way it appears at the beginning of your posts (e.g. Sandy (Northeast Ohio), JAG, etc.) and then click on what amounts to “search.” The browser will locate all of your original posts, and you would then be able to see the replies, if any. This will also help you find comments addressed to you that were not a “reply” to the post by using “previous” and “next” instance of your name.

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