Good Morning,
This is so sweet! John was taking some photos and thought you would enjoy this one. At the Award Ceremony the other day, they gave Dottie a small ME and one of SECRETARIAT as her gift! I really think they did a great job! I really look like ME!
John decided he would try putting these images is some different settings! This shot is very special as I am in front of the Breeders’ Cup Trophy John received when I won the CLASSIC! Here I am with ‘ECLIPSE’! I must say, I do keep some fabulous company! I’m so fortunate!
I hope you enjoy the photo!
Several of you have asked about the Z pin and if Ann had any more details about it. Well, at this time, there is no further information. She and Dottie are having a meeting next week…and as soon as I hear any other details from them…I will share them with you!
I hope the weather is settling down wherever you live. It is cold here…but I really enjoy it now. I do like playing outside and in the ‘snow’. I must say, I really think I have acclimated beautifully to my new lifestyle!
Have a great day!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Joyce
To Robbie, you mentioned the galliant Ruffian, who had won her 10 races, including the filly triple crown. I saw her next to last race at Belmont in June 1975, where she was a great fan favorite. There was much clamoring for her to run a match race against that year’s Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. They had the same jockey, Jacinto Vasquez, and he chose Ruffian. It was so sad and brings tears still today. I guess that what gives so much happiness has the power to give much sadness as well.
BUT love wins out, and you have mine, dear Zenny. Thanks so much for bringing so much joy to me and to your other loving friends.
Colleen in IL
I need a Zenyatta license plate frame!! Hint hint!!
Janet
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Zenny and to Team Zenyatta! And a big hug and kiss to the fabulous Queen Z. Love you pretty girl.
jo
i saw Ruffian in her match race when i was young, and then Barbaro, and Eight Belles not to mention horses go down when i was working on the track that i never knew their names You Zenyatta have been a healing for me You make me smile every day
LauraJ
@Robbie, there’s lots of speculation about what happened to Rachel prior to her retirement. First, she is currently safe and well and living at Stonestreet Farms. Stonestreet has published some fairly recent pictures of her on their Facebook page.
She ran a very brave race in the Woodward Stakes in 2009. It was the third time she had raced against males and ther first time against older males. She was all-out to win the Woodward. Giving such intense effort in a race is exhausting and can leave a horse body-sore. After such effort, some horses don’t come back completely. It’s also possible that her competition caught up with her going from 3 years old to 4. Further, the weather in Louisiana where she was stabled over the winter limited her training. Whatever happened, she was not “herself” in 2010, although she seemed to be back in the Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs. She won by 10-1/2 lengths and bested Blame’s time in the Stephen Foster. She made two more starts, winning one and placing in her last. She was training well for the Beldame and had fired a couple of bullet works (i.e., best of the day at distance) when she was retired with no explanation. (Personally, I thinks she may have suffered a slight injury that would have kept her from performing well and training up for the Ladies Classic, but that is just speculation.) Jess Jackson doesn’t owe anyone an explanation, as she is his horse. Still, her fans were deeply disappointed and would have liked to have given her a proper farewell.
The reason Rachel was elected HOTY for 2009 was no doubt her extremely ambitious and successful campaign. And yes, many people think she would have been better off with Hal Wiggins as trainer. To be fair, I think some of her fans were looking for someone to blame for her performance, and Steve Asmussen became an easy target. We will never know, and maybe he doesn’t know either.
Martha in Ocala
Hello Queen Z!
We are all so proud of your accomplishments! Thanks for all the news and pics – keep them coming. BTW, we LOVE the videos!!!
I would LOVE to know where to get a Team Z cap – black with the Moss’s colors for the leterring! I have been looking and looking and can’t find any. And I know they exist bc I’ve seen them on John!
Thanks dear. Stay warm…
Suzanne G
@astrid–very clever and fun to read! Thanks very much. Also thanks for the link–had never seen the commercial.
Warm regards, SuzanneG
Martha
I love the miniature. Who made it? It captures her dance step perfectly. It doesn’t look like either of the Breyer models.
Robyn Mullhausen
The awards are beautiful and the one of you is a perfect likeness. Please thank John for taking a sharing these photos with us. Yes, you are in some fabulous company and two of the best are John and Dottie. Enjoy playing in the snow, Zenny, it won’t be long until it turns into that famous “blue grass of KY”.
Celeste
Thank you so very much for continuing to surprise us with such beautiful photos and interesting diary entries! It means so much to stay connected to our Queen. Thank you Zenyatta, Dottie and all of Team Z!! You are the best!!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Zenyatta, you are magic no matter where you are or what you are doing. You always sparkle! Have to thank John so much for always making sure we have lots of pics, he is absolutely wonderful! And Dottie, thanks going to her for helping keep this diary going and us fans always in the know. Thanks to everyone that keeps giving us updates and let’s us all still have Zenyatta in our daily lives. Absolutely wonderful!
Love and Blessings to you Zenyatta and your family!
Kathy
I would love to know who made that customized Zenyatta at the bottom of the statue. It would be way cool if Breyer would make another ornament or a different special run piece like that one!
Kathryn Cogswell
Equine descendants of the beautiful Egyptian Arabian Horse deserve to be celebrated today, the 11th of February, 2011; freedom in the people, freedom in the horse: who can say which comes first? ~ Congratulations; you have accomplished your liberation with gentle grace, brilliance, a beautiful sense of your own National worth, and Love. May there be nothing but the best for you all, as you reach into the future, doing the hard, creative work of forming your own Egyptian Liberty.
phyllis Horn
Happy Valentine’s Day to Americas sweetheart. We ALL love you kiddo. Phyllis and George
Sally L. Hopkins
Happy Valentine’s Day Zenyatta! xoxoxo
Dawn Conrad
Dear, Zenyatta. It has been very cold here in Colorado also. Winter where I live is breathtakingly gorgeous. White mountain peaks rise up to touch the bluest sky you can imagine. And in the sun the snow glimmers like thousands of diamonds. Wild deer walk gracefully across my yard stopping to look at me with those big brown eyes. And, Zenny, you have not seen a pair of ears until you see a deer’s. But, I do so look forward to the renewal of Spring which is just around the corner, can’t wait! Every season holds it’s own magic. Thank you to John for sharing his great photos. The Breeder’s Cup award is so beautiful. What a great symbol of the partnership between you and John. I am just like John, when it comes to my camera, it is so much fun!! Can’t wait to get a few (hundred) of you in your paddock at LE, love:) The miniture does capture you very well indeed. Thanks to Dottie for sharing. Would enjoy seeing the one you mentioned of Secretariat as well. Dottie, please say hello to Ann when you meet next week. The two of you are just extraordinary women. Hello to Sarah as well, thank you for all you do for us! Stay warm and sweet dreams, Zenny. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
Katie Scott
Hi Z.
I drove past Hollywood Park today and had some wonderful thoughts of you. I love reading your posts and seeing the pictures.
Thanks to everyone who helps you with that!!!
Mari
Wow, if Breyer is coming out with a version of you Zenny, I will be one of the many who will stand it line to get one and if they run out, I will keep trying to find a retailer who has them!! Thanks for the posts. Love to read them.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
To Laura J: Thank you very much for your reflections about Rachel Alexandra’s racing career.
To Kathryn:: Lovely, lovely post. I haven’t watched the evening news yet, but I assume from what you said that Mubarak has stepped down (if I understood your post properly; you post elegantly written elusive messages sometimes–at least elusive to me. It’s great fun to try to figure them out).
Borntobreed
@RobbiePK
Gosh you have some great horse experience. The mare
you ride sounds challenging. I do thinks some horses
react to the crop for whatever reason.
Zenny
Love the pic of “little” you with the wonderful Eclipse
Award for winning the Classic, which is history. The first
Female thoroughbred race horse to win the Breeders
Cup classic!!!!!! Yipeee!!!!!
Sweet Dreams Zenny. Z and B for valentines day!!!!
Kathryn Cogswell
RPK: Thomas L. Friedman in his note to The NY Times yesterday from Cairo, said the tell that the movement would oust Mubarak was the large number of young people cleaning the pavement of Tahrir [‘Freedom’] Square. He said, ‘In the history of the world, nobody ever washes a rented car; these youngsters believe Egypt is theirs, and they’re keeping it clean.’ And so, today, after 30 years and a broken history, it IS theirs at last. Khc.
Kim Curtsinger
Zenny, It was quite cold this morning but things are looking up. Have you seen the forecast? Upper 50’s next week. I know for you Cali girls that’s cold, but you’re a Kentuckian now. You’ll soon realize that is heavenly for February! I hope you have a wonderful Saturday. I love you lots.
Kimberly
Hi Queen, You can always come and visit California.. It’s 79 degrees and beautiful. WE MISS YOU!!!!
Sunny Boyd
Good Evening Zenyatta,
yes, no matter which size you do capture beauty. Those images are very nice. The lower one has you doing your strut, except your head is usually taking a bow when that happens. But you look sharp if I might say so.
I wonder where you ever clocked all by your lonesome running at full gallop on the track? Without a rider ?
I wonder what a natural race would show, without the usual tools.
Pony Express riders/horses were the fastest riders as far as I have read. And those guys went through all kinds of terrain, passing irate Native Americans, irate Bandits, irate Buffalos, well, lotsa irate stuff. But they were loaded up, saddle, mail bags, rider, and still they are believed to have been the fastest riders ever. I wonder how fast you could run, or even an estimate? Well,
you have a good night and sweet dreams of carrots, mints, and all that good stuff.
And thanks to your good people for all the fine up-dates & pictures. Just swell :) :)
Sunny Boyd
correction
were you ever clocked
Julie DuVall
I spent the day with The Second Race’s foster horses … everybody got a chance to get turned out in a pasture to run around and graze. Some of the broodmares on the farm were flirting with the geldings — breeding season is officially here! It was a sunny, warm day here in CA but I’m sure you and your friends enjoy your pasture just as much as these guys did. It was so fun to see them “just being horses” and thinking about how you are doing the same thing now.
Paula Higgins
Wonderful picture Dottie. Both sculptures are beautiful. Please thank John for us. He certainly is creative with his camera. Zenyatta is the epitome of the equine perfection imo. I can’t wait to get Nina’s sculpture.
Mary Stanford
Hey Z…. it is so cold tonight but we are supposed to get a warm up here in Virginia. Before long it will be spring and I bet you will enjoy Kentucky much more with warmer weather. Hugs to you Z….
Phyllis James
Zenyatta, I just watched a video of all of your 19 wins, and I still get so excited, I land up cheering for you to win. Thank you,again, for being you.
Jackie
Good Evening “Z” what beautiful statues. The mini statue captured your strut! Warm and windy here in LA. Hope the weather starts to clear in Kentucky. Stay warm.
Hugs and Kisses
Jackie