Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #444

Tasty and I....relaxing in the sun! Photo by Sarah Campion

Happy Friday Dear Friends,

I have always been one to enjoy an early afternoon nap! I was on a very definite schedule when I was in training at BARN 55. MY JOHN used to have the entire barn area be completely peaceful after our morning training hours and 10:30 a.m. breakfast. This way all of the horses could totally rest, relax, and nap. He would have the fans turned on so we would have lots of fresh air circulating and the entire environment was completely tranquil. This is a habit I have continued to enjoy since I’ve been at Lane’s End. I must say, I love my naps!

When at Barn 55, this was the time MY JOHN would walk around and just observe us while we were resting! It was sweet to see him always ‘peeking in on ME’ as he walked around the shed row and made sure everyone was A-OK! Here at the farm, when I’m napping in the paddock, TASTY watches over ME to be sure I’m safe and happy. I do the same thing for her when she is resting. We have truly developed quite a bond. It is all so very special!

FRIENDSHIP is such a wonderful thing….and a TRUE FRIEND is something to be cherished!

Amid all of our other activities over the weekend, TASTY and I want to keep up on the great racing. The Fairgrounds, Gulfstream, Oaklawn, Santa Anita and Aqueduct have some very contentious fields running over the next few days. Several of the races will help to determine more about the 3 year old picture. Breeders’ Cup Sprint Champion, AMAZOMBIE, is running at Santa Anita and this should be one “fast” race. Good Luck to him and MY MIKIE who will be on board.

Don’t forget, MY MIKIE is getting close to win #5000! We have to keep current on his countdown as well! There is so much each day for us to do! This is really very positive as it keeps our minds busy as we progress through the next few weeks!

Enjoy the weekend of racing…relax, have fun, and here’s wishing you lots of WINNERS!

With Love,
Hugs to all~(Isn’t TASTY “TOO CUTE” in this photo!)
Z

Reader Interactions

836 Comments

  1. / Reply

    @Marshall–Happy belated birthday! Also, congratulations on your successful surgery. I am horribly nearsighted and am just thankful that my contacts work! So glad you’re free of vision aids!
    @Ann Maree–Happy Birthday, and thank you again, Trina, for the wonderful poetic tributes. I don’t know anyone else who could do that!
    @Dawn Conrad–LOVED your posts, especially the kitty story. Yes, I love Horse and Man too. I get it by e-mail every morning and enjoy it so much.
    Last night I posted that I ws going to contact Three Chmneys and thank them for their part in facilitating DynaKing’s treatment. Something must have been wrong on their website, because the contact form wouldn’t work. I may call the tomorrow instead.
    Happy Sunday, Z. and Tasty! Hope it is marvelous in every way for you. One day closer…Still praying for Thiskyhasnolimit and Miesha….

  3. / Reply

    Good morning!
    It’s a sunny, windy day here on the beautiful coast of Massachusetts, south of Boston. I live in a lovely little town (est. 1636!) with a working harbor and a picture-perfect lighthouse watching over all the boat traffic. I wish each of you could enjoy the way it looks and feels today — with the salty smell of an east wind and countless whitecaps on a choppy, bright blue sea!
    I think the only thing that makes me as happy as the ocean is — horses. I am very grateful that Queen Z brought me back to the work of TB racing. She and all around her and all who love her have added so much to my life.
    @ Shari – I am so sorry about Miesha’s troubles and pray for the best.
    @ Linda Edwards – I loved my visit to Saratoga. It’s a special place. I won’t know for a while if I can go again this year. I am currently unemployed and on the job hunt. So all the extra “fun” things are currently on hold…
    Happy birthday to ALL the February babies in Zenyatta-land. There are a lot of us!
    Annie B in MA

  4. / Reply

    Happy Sunday Zenny, Before I catch up on all the post from yesterday I want to say “Happy Birthday” to all the dumplingsd who are celebrating. Belated greetings to Marty, we share the 9th Marty!!

  6. / Reply

    Zenny good morning…..yesterday I was at Santa Anita watching YOUR MIKIE get closer to the 5000th win. He is down to 8 more. He rode his heart out but I couldn’t help as I was sitting watching his mounts no one compared to you. I love you sweet girl. Enjoy your day with Tasty and we are on pins and needles waiting for the moment.

  7. / Reply

    Good morning to Ms. Z and Ms. T and all of the Zenny fans and family.
    Yesterday, I saw a sight that we all miss seeing at the racetrack.
    Awesome Maria was in the show ring preparing to go onto the track to run in the Sabin Stakes against Royal Delta, Groupie Doll, and 2 other horses. She danced, pranced, and put on such an amazing show that it was reminiscent of our Queen. And then she pranced out onto the track in such a magnificent form, she would have won first place in a dressage ( horse dancing) competition. And then she dominated the race and won against a very talented field of mares and fillies.
    Her owner, Mrs. Joyce Robsham, has a facebook page for her and her other horses. I am hoping that someone saved a video of Awesome Maria’s dance routine to do a video on You Tube.
    Incidentally, this is the 20th anniversary of New Vocations; this is an organization founded the Robshams to retrain retired racehorses. Mrs. R’s first priority is the welfare of her horses.
    And she is getting lots of good karma coming back to her as she has a top notch 3 year old Derby prospect running in the Fountain of Youth today; his name is Discreet Dancer.
    Wishing you all the best. If anyone has any video of Awesome Maria’s dance in the paddock, please place it on her facebook page.
    XOXOXO Terri

    • / Reply

      Wow Terry,
      Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience
      With us. She is such a talent and do very sophisticated.
      Another dance mare, how exciting.

    • / Reply

      Terry, your description of Awesome Maria was beautiful. I saw the race, but not the dance before hand, wish I had!! I thought maybe someone might have posted it, so went out to check. No such luck for now. I did find this great video of some of her races, she is truly awesome when she kicks for the finish line! Enjoy!

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zdISX8vzMM

      • / Reply

        Thanks to everyone. I am glad you enjoyed my commentary. Unlike you lucky West Coast fans, I never was able to see Zenyatta race in person. I have been fortunate to have two Zen-like experiences at racetracks in Florida. My other experience was seeing Mike Smith win at Calder in a Zen Moment (ie coming from 19 lengths off from the lead) on a mare named Sassy Image. I’ll never forget that or Awesome Maria.
        PS Happy belated birthday to the Z fans whose birthday I missed.

    • / Reply

      I have seen video of her dance routine before but not yesterday. Certainly hope someone captured yesterday’s performance. She is a beauty! And that tail is magnificent!

  8. / Reply

    Happy Sunday Zenyatta and Tasty. Wow congrats to Awesome Maria. Got to love that Girl Power. I know you love that. Take it easy for that big day we are all waiting for. Hugs to all

  9. / Reply

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ALL of those who were celebrated in the post (Christine in Placerville, Annie B., Elaine, Marshall, and Ann Maree – whew! Sure hope I didn’t miss anyone). Our Trina has really outdone herself with all of these wonderful, informative, fun poems about our “family members.” And prayers for all of the horses and pets who are in need of them.
    The sun is back out here today – yea!

    @Keta – forgot to mention that Mondatta’s immediate older brother or sister lives here with me (0086). It hasn’t quite come to me whether it’s a colt or a filly so the poor little thing doesn’t have a name yet. I’m waiting to be inspired!

  11. / Reply

    Algorithms scratched with a popped spint
    today in the FOY. Not sure at this time how it
    Will effect his start in KY Derby says TP.

    Descret dancer has won on the track twice and
    Has gone 2 turns so will be challenging UR.

  12. / Reply

    Sunday morning report on Havre de Grace
    Havre de Grace worked a bullet 5f in :59 this morning at the Fair Grounds.
    Fastest of 50 at the distance

  13. / Reply

    Here’s the best cheers ta ya Z ‘Birthday Babes!’ Ann Maree Marshall Elaine Christine Ann B. WHEW IS RIGHT!! Any more? Trina, what can I say? Always the greatest! Hope you all had the time of your lives on your birtday!

  14. / Reply

    Trivia time!!! Who was the only Kentucky Derby winner ever disqualified? AND who was declared the official winner? What year? NOW NO CHEATING PEEPS! After you ponder this – please click onto this radio broadcast to hear the author of some great books on Ruffin, and ? the answer to the trivia question – and his newest book out this fall on *Noor and his journey home to Old Friends. (Milton Toby is his name, he wrote a legends book on Ruffin, and the ? book.) Enjoy!
    http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/59888/winning-ponies-welcomes-milton-toby-and-jason-shandler

    • / Reply

      Dear Karen G.:

      I remember it was the horse with New England connections. Can’t remember his name or who won after he was disqualified. Dancer’s Image just popped in my head. Is that right?
      Hugs, JB

        • That should have said: Scroll all the way down, nice old photos of Dancer’s Image and Forward Pass!

        • It’s important to remember that Dancer’s Image was disqualified because of a “failed” drug test. His offense? The test detected bute in his system. Today bute is listed in the DRF PP’s in the same vein that blinkers are.

        • Dear Karen and Terry C.:

          Just popped into my head as I was typing. Kudos to you, Terry, for remembering the name of the winner. I also remembered the horse’s owner’s name and his daughter’s, who was a jockey; Peter and Abbey Fuller. They came from Massachusetts or New Hampshire, I think. Hugs, JB

        • Judy has got the connections right. Peter Fuller spent more money on court challenges than the winning purse was worth. Yes, the final decision was correct according to the rules of the time. However, it sure would not apply today.

  16. / Reply

    – For all who expressed concern and wanted to know the latest – according to Shane Sellers, the jockey of Thiskyhasnolimit – he has a very good chance of making it. May Thiskyhasnolimit have an uneventful, full, and speedy recovery.
    – Happy Birthday wishes to all who are celebrating their birthdays this month.
    @Trina – I love Thiskyhasnolimit’s name too. I have a tendency to follow horses with unique names. Most of them tend to be unique themselves with unique personalities. Hope all goes well with Dynaking’s appointment.
    – Congratulations to Awesome Maria and The Factor – love those greys. I’m sure Uncle Mo is thrilled to see that his girlfriend is doing so well after making a comeback herself.
    – I hope Algorithms recovers quickly from his popped splint.
    @Terri Z/So Fla – Discreet Dancer is one of the horses in the Fountain of Youth that I’m looking forward to see – he’s been on my radar. It will be interesting to see how he does his first time going two turns since Gulfstream Park was reconfigured. I was in the paddock at Aqueduct and had the chance to take some great pictures of his sire Discreet Cat who won the Cigar Mile that day. Discreet Cat is one very nice looking “cat”.
    @Dawn Conrad – I love Pulpit too. He’s the sire of my favorite grass mare Rutherienne.
    @Abigail from Montreal – when I saw El Padrino turning the corner into the stretch and his stretch run, he reminded me so much of Rags to Riches at the Belmont Stakes, going head to head against Curlin. He looks so much like her. Must be those A.P. Indy genes.

    • / Reply

      DRAT! MISSED HER WORK OUT AGAIN! ONE OF THESE DAYS! Thanks for letting us know. I hope she’ll be ‘right’ and ‘ready’ to race soon. I, too, am anxious to see her debut., although we know John won’t race her until SHE is.

    • / Reply

      Dear Kennedy’s in SD:

      Sounds like Eblouissante is working more frequently. Maybe John’s found a race for her?
      Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Oh how sad for him to be injured before the Derby.
      However, it was good that they found it before the Fountain of Youth. Hopefully, he will be back later this year in NY and at the Breeders Cup.
      What a disappointment for everyone when such a wonderful horse is injured before or during the Triple Crown. Thankfully, I am sure he will improve.

    • / Reply

      Dear Sign and Z Fans:

      So disappointing for Bernie’s boy and his connections. Hope he mends well. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Dear Sign:

      Thanks for this link. You’ve answered so many questions about what’s involved in this type of injury. Hugs, JB

  22. / Reply

    To The Kennedy’s;

    AHHH !!!! YES !!!!!

    no one dances like the Queen, but
    it is good to see some one try.

    Awesome Maria does have a really wonderful presence about her self.

  23. / Reply

    Good luck to the Mosses and the Shirreffs with LORO in Race 2 at SA at 1:01 PST today, with Victor Espinoza up!
    Watch on calracing.com or HRTV.

    • / Reply

      CORRECTION BELOW–Bob Baffert WON the first race with a second horse although his favorite lost! He is now 13 in a row!

      • / Reply

        Trina-You were correct the first time. Even though one of Baffert’s horses won the race, the fact that his other horse lost ends the streak. The only way it could have continued would be a dead heat.

        • Terry, Really? I have mixed feelings about that. I suppose someone could load up a race ( if they had a lot of horses) to be pretty sure one would win. Or, if they can only keep the streak going if they just have one horse in the race and it wins. Could that cause some horses to not be entered in races? Is it a really big deal to have a streak of winners? Well, I suppose it could mean recognition and of course, money. Is it a competition among trainers, or just “bragging rights”?

      • / Reply

        For me, consecutive winners is no big deal. It just means that the trainer is clever in spotting his horses. However, if he enters a horse in a race that does not win that race, the streak is broken. Therefore, it is not advantageous to enter more than one horse in a race if your main goal is keeping the streak alive.

        • Terry, Thanks for your response. Personally, I don’t think it should be a big deal, either. I would hate for a trainer to make a winning streak take priority over what is best for his horses. Bob Baffert had to have known that his streak would end with two horses in the race even if one won. Kudos to him for serving his horses and owners.

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