Q:
Does Coz have Zenyatta’s personality?
Jan Graff
Hull, GA
A: Yes, he’s similar to his mother. He’s so confident, and he’s confident like she is. Being a baby, that’s kind of rare. He’s very confident in himself and that’s encouraging.
Q:
At what point in a young horse’s training is he or she galloped fast enough to determine whether that horse looks promising?
Donna Richardson
California, MD
A: We don’t really ask for speed here. It’s more about their way of going. You get an idea, maybe three months from the start—this one has ability, this one not so much—but we don’t flat out go here. That’s for the trainer. We teach them how to run.
A farm environment is so different from the race track. There will be horses for whom the lightbulb just doesn’t go on yet. It has to do with their age too. They can take longer to mature—as they get to the racetrack that bulb is getting brighter. If it’s a mature horse and you get the idea that they know what they’re doing, you may be able to tell if they have promise, but there are a bunch of question marks in between.
Think of them as kids; we’re the elementary school.
Q:
What does Mayberry Farm’s do differently than other farms that break yearlings?
Elizabeth Ames
Palo Alto, CA
A: I think we have more of a hands on approach than other people in our position. My mom, my sister, my cousin, myself, we’re all hands on (note: April answered this question). There’s no training from the car or calling assistants or taking weekends off. It’s all day and all night. When there’s a sick horse, we get up at midnight and come out. We get to know our horses, we spend so much time with them.
We’ve also been on the racetrack, and we know where the horses are going. We came from there. Most people start at the farm and go to the race track; we did the opposite. We know what trainers want and what they’re looking for, so it gives us a little bit of an advantage in that regard.
Our Experts
Mayberry Farm
Jeanne Mayberry runs her farm in Ocala, FL with her daughters, April and Summer, and their cousin Jacki. Both Zenyatta and Cozmic One received their early training at Mayberry Farm. Jeanne’s assistant, Margarita, is pictured on the left.
carol in arkansas
Just a note …..got a notice about an official work today by Rachel’s boy….aka Taco….aka Jess’s Dream…..he is at Stonestreet Training Center…going to get interesting….
……
Junior…….play nice and LEAD them all home safely….bring Victor along too….just to be sure…
shirleeinindy
Carol, Thanks for the note about Taco. He has 2 brothers going in the big time today with Palace Malice and ROC. I think the Curlins mature a little earlier than some others. I know they will bring Coz along at the right pace. He is a big boy and mom was a late bloomer, but what a bloomer!
Max
Shirlee. Taco only has a half sister so far. Horses are not related through the father. In the horse world, females only determine sibling families, not the fathers. This is the reason why it is important to examine carefully the distaff side of the pedigree. Trainers like the late Sir Henry Cecil always look to the female line for a horse’s chances for a successful career.
shirleeinindy
Sorry Max, but as far as I am concerned, Taco has 2 brothers going today. I know this is not the way of the horse world, but same father=brothers or sisters.
Max
shirlee. Your analysis works for humans, but not for horses. Females always rule in horse families. However, like your determination.
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Max, I have heard that, but do you know why it is true with horses? I mean, does the mare contribute or determine more about her foals, biologically, than the stallion? I guess it must be, as I heard that the X-chromosome heart, like Secretariat had, only passed down through his daughters, and not his sons.
Max
Vicki. Females rule in the thoroughbred world because it is easier to trace bloodlines and their effect through the mother. There is also the theory that females contribute more genetically through the X chromosome. There is no question that the female has more influence on the foal through the raising of the foal as the father is no where to be seen when a foal is born. Here is an interesting article on the power of broodmares. The study of breeding in thoroughbreds worldwide always focuses on the female families.
http://www.pedigreepost.net/new_articles/broodmare_power_in_pedigrees.html
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Thanks, Max, that bloodlines article is interesting. But it still makes me wonder about all the talk, that horses are nowadays not being bred properly, i.e., that they are bred for speed (to earn back cash quickly) rather than for endurance and longevity. That article makes it sound like “wonders await” from future lines whose offspring we have yet to see. But it seems to run counter to those who say the breeding of great horses has faltered.
carol in arkansas
I think it is easier to have maternal families because they are smaller….mares have a lot less progeny ….makes sorting them out easier
Ann Mitchell Adam
A Sire passes his Y, which comes ONLY from HIS sire on ONLY to any colts he produces. A male horse is XY, the Y comes only from his sire where as the X can come from a possibility of two from his dam. A female horse is an XX one from her sire, which is from HIS dam and could be from two possible sources. The other X comes from her dam and that X ALSO comes from two possible sources. To get a picture of the use a pedigree chart and lable all male horses as XY and all female horses as XX. You will see that the top of the top line will bring down the Y ONLY from the sires. ANY X has more than one possible source. THIS is why the pedigree keeping breeders that ignored or didn’t understand the biology of cell division in creating offspring didn’t get reliable results.
Lisa from TN
Thanks all who are involved with the continued commitment to this site. It is a wonderful thing you have done in keeping us involved with Zen and her family. This is what racing needs. Coz looks amazing, and it is amazing that we have gotten to go along on the ride of watching him grow up. Wishing him all the best.
Well less than 24 hours until Chrome’s date with destiny!! All stay safe and sound. Go Chrome!!!!!
candi carter
how precious coz!!
Shema Satya
So great to meet the wonderful Mayberry team. You sound so wonderful!
LindaE_Ohio
Thanks to everyone involved in bringing us these Cozmic One updates! You sure look handsome and very grown up Coz. How the time flies!
Best wishes to California Chrome and all the horses racing today. What an exciting time. Could we witness something historic today? Here’s hoping…
shirleeinindy
Getting butterflies thinking about the Belmont this evening. I don’t know if I will be able to watch. Want another TC so badly and have been disappointed so many times. Chrome looks like he can do it and absolutely love his team. Never knew Victor had such a sense of humor. Saw him on David Letterman and he was great.
Above all, safe trip to all horses and jockeys. And a good solid second to my boy ROC.
Celeste_in_TX
Thank you so very much for sharing this Ask The Experts session with the pros of Mayberry Farm! It is wonderful to learn about some of the tools and philosophies they use in this very important step in training. Cozmic One looks so gorgeous it is obvious he has had the very best of care. Again I am so grateful that Team Zenyatta is so generous in continuing to share these horses we love with us in this way. This is just so special and means so much to me. Just wish I could express it better, but thank you.
Kathy
June 7 Cherokee Devotional
Confession may be good for the soul, but it seldom makes the one that heard it feel good. The need to clear the air or get something out in the open can cause a bigger rift than the reason for confessing in the first place. Words cannot be retrieved once they are spoken. They are gone and calling them back is impossible. Some weigh on people’s hearts like hi lv s gi nv ya, many stones or heavy rock. Some are flung, like di ga ti s di, a spear, to wound. And most should never have been spoken. Life and death are in the use of words. If we feel the need to confess something, we should do it where the listener knows how to handle what we say. It is an unthinking person that needs to be relieved of a burden to the point of putting ti on someone who may find it hard to bear.
He knew his words were bad; he trembled like the oak whose roots have been wasted by many rains.
Keokuk
Sue Fredrick Happy as a lark
Good luck today Chromey, will be rooting for you and so will most of America. Hope all the love being felt will carry you safely across the finish line first.
Praying for safe rides for all horses and jockeys running today and may the best horse win fair and square. hugs to all
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Kathy.Welcome home!!Hope you Steve and the furbabies had a lovely time.Some of us are posting on the other page.Get the towels and hot water the egg is starting to crack!!!!It can take awhile remember Cerist took 32hrs last year!Blue 24 has been a nuisance this week again she must realize the chicks are due.
I don’t know if you’ve heard about Ava Gardner’s sudden passing on June 2nd,I saw a post on Joey and went straight over it seems she’d had petit mal seizures about 2 yrs ago and they thought it was a brain tumour so she was on meds for 6 months and they was nothing until last Saturday when she had grand mal seizures .They think she lost her sight and became immobile.I’m not sure whether she was put to sleep or died naturally.Very sad.
Fubu had a great birthday loads of lovely presents he even had an amazon wishlist!
Marty is as cute as ever isn’t sure RI is a road or an island! but plans to open a Marty Mart there!Did you see Joey’s garden after the high winds there thank God he was safe in doors!Her Majesty has just arrived now from France.I did enjoy the D-Day ceremonies yesterday.very emotional for the veterans .We have so much to thank them for.Have a great Belmont day.Hugs to you Kisses for Holly,Nikko and Sugar.Sheena.
Kathy
Dear Sheena,
It’s hard to know where to post. Glad you found me! Thank you so much! While it is always nice to get away it’s always nice to be back home as well. I have a few days to unpack, do laundry, go grocery shopping, etc., etc. Gosh, I’m so sorry to hear of Ava Gardner’s passing. I didn’t even suspect she might be crossing the Rainbow Bridge. I was of course thinking Fubu might not be here when I came home. RIP, Ava. You were a beautiful little girl, and very loved. Speaking of Fubu I’m glad he’s still hanging in there. Great to see the outpouring of so many birthday gifts and a nice party. Speaking of Joey’s page, did you see than adorable video of the deer and dog becoming best friends? SO CUTE! Lots of pacing waiting for the baby ospreys. Get lost, Blue 24! D-Day anniversaries are always extremely emotional. We so often take our freedom for granted, but we have so many brave men, women, horses and dogs to thank for it. So looking forward to the Belmont today. GO CALIFORNIA CHROME! Hugs from me, kisses from Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy
Deb E.
Safe journeys to Chrome and all the horses and jockeys racing in the Belmont today. Please keep everyone safe, Lord, and if, it’s Your will, could you please help C.C. win the Triple Crown today?
Suzanne
Today history may be made. I pray that all of the horses and jockeys come home safely. I am so hoping that California Chrome can win the Belmont and thus the Triple Crown! Horse racing has not had the best of times during the past several years and a TC winner would be a wonderful morale booster say nothing of what this would mean to so many people.
Max, thank you for the information on broodmare vs. sire influences in a resulting foal. Good to know.
I have not seen any photos of Rachel Alexandra’s foals since they were very young. I am glad to hear that they are doing well. Love the nickname Taco.
I am very thankful to Jerry & Ann Moss and Team Z for providing updates on our Queen Z and her offspring. Cozmic One is so gorgeous! Not surprising though. Look at his parents. Max, I believe he gets his looks from Zenny.
Once again, I am praying for California Chrome to win his Belmont. Go Chrome! God bless all the connections. :)
Ingrid Arnone
Dear Z fans!
Good luck today!
Love you all!
Ingrid.
Sally B. (Auntie cherishes Z and her young)
Dear Mayberry’s, Thank you for your insight answering these questions. Coz, being like her mom, sounds definitely very promising!! Yippee!
I visited a couple of years back and have met Margarita, Jeanne, and April; Jackie briefly. I could tell that every horse is so personal to them. They were also so nice to me.
Coz is just gorgeous!!!
Sally B
Sally B. (Auntie cherishes Z and her young)
Here we are just three hours away from the big race!!
God bless you Calif Chrome!! JUST DO IT!!! You are so deserving. Show the others on the track this as well.
I wish all jockeys and horses a safe journey today; and always. Sally B
LOVE YOU ZENYATTA!!!!!!! KISSES
Auntie Sally B
carol in arkansas
I am so nervous…..favorites are getting clobbered at Belmont today
carol in arkansas
Untl Palace Malice…
Faithful Z supporter
Heads-up fans, Rookie Sensation is running in race 10 for John! Best of luck and come home safe.
Deb E.
Tonalist won the Belmont. No Triple Crown again this year. Chrome was tied for 4th. :-(
Here’s a message of hope for the future: watch out for a certain chestnut young man we all know and love in 2016. I firmly believe with all my heart and soul from the moment I saw his first picture right after he was born that he WILL win the Triple Crown.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Well friends, we have been here before. Heartbreak at Belmont — so disappointing. CC ran a good race, but I guess he was a bit tired. I am not as crushed as with Smarty Jones, but I am pretty sad that there is no Triple Crown yet again. It was such a good story and a great ride. I am still proud of you, Chrome and Mr. Sherman, too.
Congratulations to Tonalist, Joel Rosario, Christophe Clement and all connections for a big race! Well done! A classy bunch.
Oh well, maybe the 37th year will be the one!
I hope Ride on Curlin is okay since they said he was eased. Please let him be okay!
I think I can relax now. I am off to walk my old puppies — life goes on.
Love and Hugs
Marshall (NC Broad)
Congratulations to Commissioner, also, for an outstanding finish in second! He really rose to the top! Great ride by Javier Castellano!
Will check in later. Hugs
Sue Fredrick Happy as a lark
Marshall,
I agree with you about Commissioner’s race……great stamina……and to think he was hardly even mentioned beforehand. He’s got his daddy’s heart. hugs
Faithful Z supporter
I understand Steve Coburn’s frustration with the rules of the Triple Crown. If horses have to qualify to run in The Derby, why not the Preakness and The Belmont? Why only The Derby? I tend to agree that it should be the same rules for all three to be fair. In other words, if you race in The Derby, your horse must qualify to also race in the Preakness and Belmont. This does give an unfair advantage otherwise which we saw today. It reminds me of Belmont’s silly rule on nasal strips that have been on their books for too many years they decided to eliminate. Just because something is the tradition doesn’t mean it should continue. Feel so bad for CC’s connections.
shirleeinindy
Faithful, I agree. Of the 1, 2 & 3 in the Belmont, none had contested the Derby and the Preakness.
Trying to find out something about Ride On Curlin. Hope he is okay.
Cya
Thank you…as I will never forget Ruffian’s death on the track I didn’t mind that RA and Zenyatta did’ trace just to settle it once and for all. it will be so much more pleasing to follow their descendants …thanks for your good care.
zfansandy
I was rooting for Commissioner for the sake of the ” A.P. Indy line” in case Chrome didn’t make it.
Chrome’s owner was certainly a sore loser and embarrassed me and probably hurt himself for future possibilities ( breeding farms, etc.) I guess you can’t take the red out of a red neck.
I was screaming “shut up” at the TV and “Secretariat was tired, too, a**hole”.
Sally B. (Auntie cherishes Z and her young)
zfansandy, You are entitled to your own opinions, and perhaps the owner of Calif Chrome spoke at the wrong place, though some of his points are worth considering, but I do not think you should make the kind of statement you did, “you can’t take the red out of the redneck”. They are hard working folks.
Sally B
zfansandy
Zfaithful, I agree with what you wrote regarding Belmont rules, but Steve Cobern just said it at the wrong time and place. It’s about dignity like Penny Chennery and Ann Moss have.
Ashton
Penny got to feel the pure JOY of winning the triple crown with the greatest horse that ever lived. Believe me, I was at the fence the day after Zenyatta’s 2010 BCC, and I’ll never share or tell what Ann said. Disappointment can cause the VERY best of us, including Ann Moss to say things we regret. Until we walk a mile in their shoes…..We should try not to judge. With that said, it was a heartbreaking loss. Hope he’s okay. Prayers for Ride On Curlin and Matuszak- both eased up….Anyone with an update?
Cherylr
We’re all disappointed today, I think. The only thing I can say re: the way the “Triple Crown” races are contested is that that’s why only the REALLY special horses win–the “Super” horses, if you will. And isn’t that what we want in a Triple Crown winner? Not just the best of the average Joes?
For sure, railing about it didn’t help his image any-how many other owners have taken the loss and not vented? If they did change the rules at this point, I think we’d all be saying “Yes, but could this horse have been worthy to race a Secretariat, or a Seattle Slew?” There’d always be a doubt in everyone’s mind…
Saying all that…I’m still disappointed. Hope ROC’s ok!
Sally B. (Auntie cherishes Z and her young)
I am truly disappointed for Calif Chrome. My heart needs a rest. That is all I can say at this time.
Goodnight Sweet Zenyatta
lovenkisses on your soft nose and to Coz, Zi, and zprincess
Auntie Sally B
Peggy (N) South Georgia
I am so sorry Mr Coburn said what he said. I was pulling for California Chrome and Tonalist.
Didn’t Mr. Coburn sign on to run in the Crown Series. I understand the sadness but not the bitterness. He should have known what the Triple Crown series was about. In its format as it is. Now as it is isn’t it about the best horse joining all the other past winners. War Admiral, Whirlaway, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed All of them. (Can’t list them all here) Just don’t understand the bitterness.
I sure don’t think Tonalist was a coward. I think he had some early issues and I hope we see him in the future.
So hope all will be fine tomorrow.
I too think we will see another Triple Crown winner. Hopefully in our lifetimes.
Tiz Herself
Take nothing away from California Chrome – he has had not one, two, or three, but four huge races in the last two months with the Santa Anita Derby run on April 5, The Kentucky Derby on May 2, Preakness May 17, and the Bemont today June 7… not to mention leading up to the race California Chrome had 12 lifetime starts, Tonalist had 4 lifetime starts, Commissioner had 7 lifetime starts, and Medal Count had 8….
California Chrome had three solid preps leading into the Derby…. many of the others had one.
Chrome will live to fight another day – he is far from done yet – the Breeders Cup still looms and they are in his backyard!
Palace Malice continues to earn my heart… guy just refuses to quit. Cannot wait to see more from him!!
Also, here’s to hoping that Coz or Ziconic is the next Triple Crown winner! If not, perhaps Jess’s Dream will rise up, too!!! We have all the boys to look forward to this year.
Thank you Chrome and connections for the memories! I am a Chromeaholic for life!
Elizabeth in NM
Zenny, What we do without you and your website. Such a roller coaster day at the races today. Even though your fan family is spread out all over the country and in other countries, it’s a comfort to know we can come here and just ‘relax’ and share our thoughts and emotions. I also was disappointed that CC didn’t win today, but I’m happy for those who did. Since we are in the wilds of New Mexico, we can only get slow internet service. But I’m grateful we get were able to see the whole race and some of the others.
I was thinking about your genealogy, Zenny, as I’m working on our family’s, and also was pondering some of the heritage of the horses’ that ran today. It makes it so interesting to see where we’ve all come from, where ‘are’, and what we can change and look forward to down the road. I think that’s one of the things that I love most about you and a lot of your fan family. It seems as if you really do live in the moment and enjoy your life as it comes. I love that so many of us have shared our joys and triumphs as well as disappointments and sorrows. It’s really an encouragement. I remember when you moved from California and away from your Jerry and Ann and then John. You showed such valiance at the separations, and seemed to make the most of each day, gradually adjusting.
I want to again thank you and everyone at Lane’s End who helps with this website and especially the Moss’s for sharing your life with us. What a very special gift this is.
Love to you and everyone here on your website, Elizabeth
PS and can’t wait to read more posts about the races today!