Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ask The Experts

Cooper Sawyer Talks Yearling Prep

Cozmic One in the yearling barn. Photo by Kyle Acebo
Cozmic One in the yearling barn. Photo by Kyle Acebo

Cooper Sawyer, Yearling Manager
Cooper Sawyer is the yearling manager at Lane’s End farm, and he is responsible for the daily care of all the yearlings. He came to Lane’s End in 2010 from Mill Ridge Farm, where he also served as yearling manager. Cooper has worked with yearlings since he graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2005. Prior to that he worked with mares and foals.

Keepers vs. Sale Horses
Lane’s End does things a little differently than most other farms. They identify the yearlings as either “keepers” or “sale” horses. Keepers are horses that the owners have decided not to sell but to keep and race, such as Cozmic One. The two groups are separated in May, about two weeks after the Derby. That’s when they start to get “coltish” and play rough.

Behind the scenes
Cooper being interviewed in June.

Turnout
The colts are turned out into individual paddocks, which keeps them from roughhousing. The sale colts are turned out at 7 pm to protect their coats from the sun so that they look their best in the sale ring. The keepers go out after their noon feed, about 2 pm.  This is also the main difference between the keepers and sale horses.  One of the things that separates Lane’s End from other farms is that they do give the keepers this experience and that they turn out our sale horses at all. Many farms like to keep their horses in all the time.

Prep
The prep process is the foundation and education that makes the transition from yearling to 2 year-old to racehorse a little easier, and it begins in May. The yearlings are broke to tack (surcingle and draw cords) and the walking machine. The walker helps get the horses fit. Putting them in a tight space gets them used to going in the starting gate. They are also broke to a hose, as they receive daily baths and rubdowns. For Coz, this whole process will help him when he goes to the Mayberry’s in Flordia. They will put a saddle on him, put him in the starting gate and will help him become a better mover.

Coz and others entering the walking machine.
Coz and others entering the walking machine.
Coz gets a bath.
Coz gets a bath.
Cozmic One, August 2013. Photo by Alys Emson
Cozmic One, August 2013. Photo by Alys Emson

Reader Interactions

970 Comments

  2. / Reply

    Marty, I’m so sorry about your beloved husband Pat. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.

    Terry Crow, I hate to hear about your friend Ron. I’m sure your reading of that hilarious joke at his funeral will help stifle some of the tears. He was lucky to have a good friend like you.

    Sue, thanks for sharing that beautiful poem. It really makes you think.

  4. / Reply

    Dear Marty

    I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your husband. You are in my prayers and please know we are here and if there is anything we can do please let us know.

  6. / Reply

    Dear Marty R:

    Sending my thoughts and prayers for you and your dear Pat. So very sorry for your loss. Love and Hugs, JB

  7. / Reply

    Dear Marty R.,
    Love and comforting thoughts to you and your family. So sorry about your dear Pat. May your warm, lovely memories help to soothe your broken heart.
    Bless you, your family and friends.
    Lots of love and hugs

  8. / Reply

    Sweet Success for Street Cry Line
    Porter on Pedigrees By Alan Porter , Pedigree Consultants The Blood-Horse
    For those who like to follow trends in breeding, one of the more interesting features of the last 10 days or so has been the hot streak for young sire sons of Street Cry. The streak began when Capo Bastone upset the King’s Bishop Stakes (gr. I) to become the first graded stakes winner for second-crop sire Street Boss. Then, on the most recent weekend, two more Street Cry stallions, Street Hero and Street Sense, were represented by major winners.
    Street Hero, who did already have a Southern Hemisphere group I winner to his name, recorded his first Northern Hemisphere graded winner when his first crop son Gabriel Charles took a division of the Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT). Just a few hours prior to Gabriel Charles’ win, Sweet Reason, from the third crop of Street Sense, splashed home 5 3/4 lengths clear in the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I).
    http://www.bloodhorse.com/Thoroughbred-Pedigree-Weekly/?&utm_source=PedigreeNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20130905

    • / Reply

      Dear BGG:

      Love Street Cry babies. What a terrific bloodline and what exciting possibilities to look forward to in Z’s babies and Z’s full brother. Love and Hugs, JB

  9. / Reply

    Dear Terry Crow,
    I am very sorry about the loss of your friend, Ron. I know you will do a fine job on the joke that he requested. Humor is such good medicine.
    I posted a previous message for you, but it got the designation of “awaiting moderation” so I don’t know if you could see it — this was last night.
    Take care and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. Lots of Hugs

    • / Reply

      Poor misunderstood Hovis. Hope he and mother know how much we look forward to Fridays because of him. Thank you Max for the smile on my face.

    • / Reply

      That Hovis – such a way with words!! (“dead from the neck down routine” LOL!) I guess the good news is the appearance of at least two potential “sharers.” Hope he has a better week.

    • / Reply

      Hovis,
      I’m still laughing out loud. I love the way your mind works! Too bad we don’t know what all our horses are thinking. I wouldn’t worry about ending up in a roadway somewhere, your mom would have all of us to contend with. hugs and careful kisses on that sunburnt nose.

    • / Reply

      Dear Max:

      Oh, this is too funny. Poor Hovis; the lady said go, so he went. Thank you so much for sharing Hovis’ Diary with us. I just love him. Hugs, JB

  11. / Reply

    Hi Max, thank you for the latest Hovis news. Poor misunderstood Hovis. Some weeks are good, others are not. You’ll be fine in the end, though, with all that charm. Hi Sheena and all other Hovis fans. Happy weekend to all.

  14. / Reply

    Dear Max Diolch Yn Fawr Poor Hovis , we cant have him buried on a newly constructed motorway!!!!I would love to see him FLY with his feathers blowing in the breeze.Ah, Mr Whippy, memories of childhood sunday afternoons and the “greensleeves” jingle.Lovely icecream!! hugs Sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena. My most vivid childhood memory is the day my friend and I brought a horse into our kitchen because we didn’t have anywhere to try her up near the house during the visit. My mother was quite calm all things considered. I did not get any ice cream that day. The horse got an apple.

  15. / Reply

    Hooray! The stars have aligned. Johnny V is riding Boisterous in the Bowling Green and Elena Strikes in the Pocahontas at Churchill. Don’t know how he is going to do that since one is on the east coast and the other is 4 hours later at Churchill Downs. But, I don’t care. Now he will not beat my favorite!

    • / Reply

      Dear Shirlee:

      Love your on going saga with Johnny V and the name Redheaded Witch. Love and Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Judy, Of course, Redheaded Witch is a chestnut. Love those red horses. I am glad you are enjoying my battle with Johnny V. If he is at Churchill in November, I hope to get to tell him how he has dashed the hopes of one LOL (Little Old Lady) in so many races.

        Have a good weekend both you and your sweet Lola Mae.

        • Dear Shirlee:

          Love your posts. How fitting that Redheaded Witch is a Grand Ole Chestnut. Hope you get to meet JV at Churchill so you can tell him “what a dratted rider he is”. Ha, ha! Love and Hugs, JB

  16. / Reply

    Forgot to add. I would have to drop a little money in the Pocahontas on a horse named Redheaded Witch. Don’t you just love that name?

  17. / Reply

    Thanks LE for sharing these pictures, videos and the information with us. Zenyatta has given herself to her boy – he sure looks like he is getting ready for the the world. Will be exciting to watch him in the future.

  18. / Reply

    Rachel and Brent: A Love Story
    Steve Hskin The Blood-Horse 05 Sep 2013 4:32 PM
    Racing fans over the past several years have held extended vigils, some lasting for months, for stricken horses such as Barbaro, Paynter, and most recently Rachel Alexandra. During those times, the internet was inundated with prayers for these courageous equine heroes who fought for life as hard as they fought for victory on the racetrack.
    This past February, those prayers circulated throughout Facebook and Twitter, as thousands of anguished horse lovers and fans of Rachel Alexandra expressed their heartfelt feelings for the great mare whose life was in danger following surgery to repair her damaged colon suffered after foaling a strapping 140-pound filly.
    As the masses followed the 7-year-old mare’s condition, a relationship was forming that would change the life of Brent Comer, medical technician at Rood & Riddle Veterinary Clinic, and very well may have altered the fate of Rachel Alexandra
    http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2013/09/05/rachel-and-brent-a-love-story.aspx

  20. / Reply

    Looking ahead-interesting article. BGG
    A Date for Delta: Mating Royal Delta
    Written by Alan Porter | Sep 06, 2013 – True Nicks The Blood-Horse
    It goes without saying that it takes an exceptional individual to win Eclipse Awards in three successive years. Among fillies and mares, the feat has only been achieved twice, by Zenyatta (2008-10) and Azeri (2002-04), although Susan’s Girl was champion 3-year-old filly of 1972 and then champion older mare in 1973 and 1975. Looking back to the pre-Eclipse Award era, we find only Cicada in 1961-63.
    So when we note that Royal Delta looks set to join that august group, it gives some perspective on her talent and accomplishments
    : http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/truenicks/archive/2013/09/06/a-date-for-delta-mating-royal-delta.aspx#sthash.WqiqmtYR.dpuf

  21. / Reply

    Hi Zenny….how is your beautiful self today…and the redhead…
    ….
    Hi CAPPERS….made my pick….not happy with it…but no odds on Departing
    ….
    hugs and prayers to all

    • / Reply

      Sheena. She was not happy with me, but she kept calm because you cannot yell around a race horse who is standing in your kitchen. We quietly removed the horse who was on a visit from a nearby stable. She was quite happy with her apple treats and didn’t seem to think anything was amiss. My father only smiled when he was later told because he and I used to go the races every Saturday without my mother, who stayed at home, perhaps for a rest.

  23. / Reply

    Dear Judy Goodnight God Bless you, Lola Mae,Charlie and all the Sweeties. Forgot to tell you Gwen and Laurence scattered Homer’s ashes at Fort Tryon yesterday. I believe, it’s named after Sir William Tryon, The last british governer of the province of New York. Sad news also, of Tuxedo Stan, the cat from Halifax, Nova Scotia.He’s very sick now, the cancer has spread to his nervous system. Hard decisions will have to be made.Love and hugs SheenaX

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena:

      RIP Homer. Prayers to St. Francis for Tuxedo Stan. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC and all the Sweeties

  25. / Reply

    Judy B-just read that Street Sense is coming back to USA. BGG
    Street Sense Returning to U.S. for 2014
    By Blood-Horse Staff Updated: Friday, September 6, 2013 8:14 PM
    After standing the 2013 breeding season in Japan, 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense will return to the United States to resume stud duties in 2014, Darley America announced Sept. 6.
    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/80524/street-sense-returning-to-us-for-2014?source=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz2eA9rTeqT

  26. / Reply

    Max,

    A horse in the kitchen? That’s funny! When I was a kid one of my pets was a pretty little Alpine goat. I took her to visit one of our elderly neighbors, walked her right into the woman’s living room. She asked “Is she house-trained?!!” lol

  28. / Reply

    Hope your morning is beautiful Zenyatta, red prince and Cozmic One and that you have a perfect day just being who you are. Love you soooooooo much.

    • / Reply

      Hi VQS last I saw lost her internet and could no longer post. Sue has a face book page and her cell number is listed. Her last facebook post said to text her if you wanted. I did text her then and she responded. I tried again about 3 weeks ago and did not get a response. I will try again today. Let you know if she answers back.
      Sue

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