Happy Wednesday!
Last month we spent a morning with John Shirreffs and his crew at Belmont Park. We tagged along to watch Coz and Ziconic gallop and work on morning lessons. After bath time and treats from us the brothers even posed for a photo together. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for videos.
Enjoy!
Team Z
Video: Our morning at Belmont
Video: Coz and Ziconic pose for a photo
Zenyatta's Web Team
Hi everyone,
Some comments made today and yesterday are missing due to server maintenance. Thanks for understanding.
-The Web Team
Bluegrass Girl
A salute & thank you to the Web Team for the great job
you do updating and maintaining this site.
Know how much it is appreciated.
Thanks, BGG
shirleeinindy
As I said yesterday. I wonder if “Little Red” is mad because he got the hand me down blanket with the hole in it? Not to worry Red Prince, you will get plenty of nice blankets of your own.
Safe trips to all the horses tomorrow at Churchill but a special blessing for sweet Lea.
Mary Margaret in Georgia
Good observation! I didn’t even notice the tear.
maureen ph[llips
My thoughts exactly. His the baby so should get the hand me down. He will get his day in the new Blankey. It is well.
Bluegrass Girl
Good for Racing: Mario Espinoza (VIDEO)
TVG Published on Jun 11, 2015
The son of a horseman, track life has always been a way OF life for Mario Espinoza, and its demands are many. Still, what it takes in time, and the toll it takes on body, it can repay in extraordinary ways. In this edition of “Good for Racing”, Mario tells us about his special connection to one of the sport’s most beloved icons – Zenyatta.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdgGCJwCiKc&sns=tw
Celeste_in_TX
Thank you for posting the link to that video, BluegrassGirl!!! How wonderful to see Mario’s remembrances of our Queen! What a wonderful compilation of clips, too. Kudos to TVG!
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
This is a wonderful tribute to a very loyal, hard working, valued member of Zenyatta’s family. Mario is the first person to be profiled in this serried by TVG. I was so excited when I just happened to see it yesterday! Thanks for posting the link BGG! This is a real keeper!
Ann NC
Thanks BGG.
That made me cry. Mario is very special.
lin volk
Thank you for posting; I really enjoyed hearing from Mario. So glad they highlighted him.
Bluegrass Girl
Triple Crown Winners (Profiles of TC winners (
thank you Blood-Horse)
Past winners of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes
The Blood-Horse June 11, 2015
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/triple-crown/triple-crown-winners
Note: The correct sub-head on this should be either Past and Current winners at Kentucky Derby etc. or All winners. American Pharoah is included
shirleeinindy
BGG,
No matter how many times I watch, my beloved Alydar does not beat Affirmed. So close but never there.
judy Berube from Rhode Island
My Dear Z Family:
Just want to let you know that Lola’s PT went really well today; not even a whimper. She was such a good girl. I was able to do some repetitions myself after the vet showed me how. It does take two people to do the procedure properly, though. One person has to hold Lola and make sure she lays flat on her side and doesn’t try to flip over during the exercise, while the other person does the repetitions; 20 twice daily. One of my neighbors has agreed to help me. The vet said as soon as the sutures are removed on Tuesday, I can buy a life vest and put Lola in the tub to get the very best rotation exercise for the leg. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks she should be able to put weight on the leg and walk on it.
Thank all of you for your prayers and for being such wonderful friends. Love all of you, JB and LM
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Judy.Hope all went well with Lola Mae.Thinking of you both.Goodnight God bless you LM PC HT Cap Hercules Frank and all the sweeties.Love and hugs SheenaX
sheena.davies(wales)
I posted this link earlier William was exercising CC at Newmarket today.His US family are with him now.Sheena.
http://www.facebook.com/britishchampionsseries
SallyB.(AuntiecherishesZandheryoung)
Can any one answer Vicki’s question on the bottom of page 9?
Thanks, Sally B
SallyB.(AuntiecherishesZandheryoung)
Zenyatta, love you with kisses and your sons
loving thoughts of zprincess and dear Sir
Auntie Sally B
Tizgood
Dear Vicki
Money talks and no one knows what they sold the breeding rights
To AP for at least not yet. Secretariat was sold for 3 million dollars and that
Was in the 70’s. It is not clear as to whether the Zyats have kept a small portion
Of the breeding rights or not. It also depends on when they decided to start his stud career which is the end of 2015, so he will not race on 2016. And as for enjoying life in a pasture Vicki dream on there is no money in that and no Triple Crown winner would
Would be doing that, much too valuable.
Love and Hugs
Bluegrass Girl
What’s next for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah?
By Mark Inabinett on June 08, 2015 at 7:00 AM, AL.com
Excerpts from article (Good article on Breeding Rights)
Zayat has control of the racing future of American Pharoah even though he has sold 75 percent of the horse’s breeding rights to Ashford Stud, the U.S. branch of Ireland’s Coolmore Stud. Zayat said he has control of American Pharoah’s racing schedule for the rest of this year. After that, he, Baffert and Coolmore will make a “collective decision” about the horse’s racing future. But Zayat conceded it was “unlikely” the Triple Crown winner would race as a 4-year-old.
However, the Wall Street Journal has reported the deal with Coolmore was made in January and cited sources that it was worth between $8 million and $13 million. Ahmed Zayat indicated the agreement included a Triple Crown bonus, though, and told ESPN the Belmont victory would push the deal “substantially” past $20 million. Bill Oppenheim, an analyst and columnist for Thoroughbred Daily News, reported the breeding rights as worth around $30 million now.
How much money could American Pharoah make for his owners at stud once he retires to Kentucky? That would depend on his stud fee. Initial estimates are he could command $100,000 per live foal and produce at least 100 foals. American Pharoah’s sire, Pioneerof the Nile, alternates breeding twice a day and three times a day during the season. One hundred foals at $100,000 a foal would earn $10 million.
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/06/whats_next_for_triple_crown_wi.html
Ingrid Arnone
Dear Blue,
Thanks for the up date.
Hugs Ingrid.
sheena.davies(wales)
Hovis has been invited to race in Lingfield next year!!!!He needs a jockey oh, AP must be sorry he retired!!!Good luck to Karen and Aunty Becky today they are taking part in Airfield Anarchy.Hovis may be an orphan by tonight!!Safe trips to all horses and jockeys this weekend and at Royal Ascot next week.Sheena.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/hovis-friday-i
Tizgood
Maybe AP will come out of retirement to ride Hovis, I bet getting those
Heavy guys to run does take a lot of work and only the guys made of steel
The jumps jockey’s can do it !!!!
Bluegrass Girl
Get a cup of coffee/taa & relive Triple Crown day through the superb
writing of Steve Haskin. Lengthy but worth every word. BGG
Belmont Recap: Phait Accompli
By Steve Haskin Hangin with Haskin The Blood-Horse June 11, 2015
For 37 years, the gates to racing’s pantheon have remained shut, rusted with time, leaving a number of fallen heroes strewn along its steps.
But this time, there were no heartbreaking nose defeats, no safety pins, no horse suffering a fractured leg in the stretch, no bent shoes, no getting stepped on by another horse at the start, no horse being eased at the quarter pole for no apparent reason, no stumbling badly coming out of the gate, no injuries and subsequent defections the day before the race, no jockeys ganging up on the favorite, no sloppy track, no Lasix and steroids controversies, no horses getting spooked by the starter on the track or a cameraman in the gate, no horses getting caught in the final yards.
This time, there was nothing that could stop the irresistible force known as American Pharoah and his date with destiny.
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2015/06/11/belmont-recap-phait-accompli.aspx
Celeste_in_TX
Just what I was waiting for. Thank you!!
Tizgood
Usually the owners retain the racing rights, but of course all of this money depends on his sucess in the shed. AP could be infertile and all of the money will be down
The drain. AP’s stud fee will not be more than his site and as it stands his sire’s will be $100,000 according to Winstar. AP is a TC winner, but not proven in the shed and for the most part Secretariat was a bust in the shed except for Lady’s Secret
So all of the big money talk is just talk now, he has to get mares in foal and a reasonable number and have sucessful progeny or the money goes away.
Tizgood
Sire not site
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
Secretariat wasn’t a bust. Sure, he failed to reproduce himself, but he was a decent sire by any reasonable standard. Besides Lady’s Secret, he begat Risen Star, General Assembly, Kingston Rule, Pancho Villa, Tinner’s Way, Terlingua, Super Staff, and quite a few other good race horses. And he was an outstanding broodmare sire as the maternal grandsire of Storm Cat, AP Indy, Gone West, Chief’s Crown, and lesser stallions as well. His granddaughters are also the dams of many successful horses.
Max
Well said LauraJ. As a dam sire, Secretariat has produced some very great race horses. AP’s distaff includes him.
Deb E.
It was impossible for Secretariat to reproduce himself immediately. In fact, there was some question as to whether he might be sterile, so fertility tests were done and a test mating was arranged with an Appaloosa mare named Leola to see how Red fared in the breeding shed. He did well: his first foal out of Leola was a colt named First Secretary. He was a red Appaloosa with three white socks who grew to be 17 hands! He suffered an injury and never raced but FS was a great sire of numerous winners and speed record breakers in his class. So Big Red’s blood is also found in the Appaloosa breed. I got this information from Raymond G. Woolfe Jr.’s excellent book, Secretariat. Interestingly, Secretariat’s lead pony was a beautiful gray Appaloosa named Billy Silver. They were good friends, too!
Max
Wise Dan has Secretariat on both sides of his pedigree. This explains Danny’s red coat, 100 % cashmere. Dan is also the most interesting horse in the world.
Tizgood
Laura J
Secretariate never created a line like Seattle Slew and his grandson AP Indy. He peppered his genes throughout TB genetics but did not make a huge impact like other TB. He was by far the greatest thoroughbred racehorse in the US and his 31 lenghth victory at Belmont will stand for a very long time if not forever but he did not consistently produce a line of racehorses like his grandson AP Indy.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
Tizgood, you defined Secretariat as a BUST. He was not. He got plenty of good runners, which alone is enough to invalidate that label. No, he was not a sire of sires; however, being a sire of sires is not the only measure of a stallion’s value. Broodmare sires are just as important; after all, every horse has a dam as well as a sire. Plenty of stallions, for example Dixieland Band, Carson City, Quiet American, Maria’s Mon, Housebuster, Kris S., and Deputy Minister to name a few, are better known as damsires. It would be foolish to underestimate their significance to Thoroughbred breeding.
And without Secretariat’s daughter Weekend Surprise, there wouldn’t BE an AP Indy, a Malibu Moon, a Pulpit, a Tapit, etc. Without his daughter Terlingua (who was a damn good racehorse in her own right) there wouldn’t have been a Storm Cat or any of his descendants. Without Secrettame, there’s no Gone West, no Mr. Greeley. And you said yourself, his genes are present throughout the TB population. Look at how many top horses count him in their pedigrees. Just how big an impact do you want?!!
Barbara Wood
One of the best articles I ever read. Thanks so much!
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear BGG,
Thank you so much for these great posts! As usual, the Steve Haskin article is simply superb. He is such a gifted writer.
Have a good weekend!
Hugs and Love
sheena.davies(wales)
Bobby bach’s getting well fed!Sheena.
http://www.facebook.com/dyfiospreyproject
Tizgood
Dear Sheena,
This is a great video of life on the nest and bobs being fed, gosh the control Glesni has of each Tallon is amazing just like fingers. And the Bobs are growing so big. The night video of Monty bringing in the mullet was amazing !!!!!
Love and hugs
Nancy
judy Berube from Rhode Island
My Dear Z Family:
Lola’s PT went very well; not even a whimper. I was able to do some repetitions myself after the vet showed me the procedure and I will continue at home. As soon as the sutures are removed on Tuesday, the vet said I can place Lola in the tub and have her swim. That’s the most beneficial way to get the range of motion that is needed. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks she will be bearing weight and walking on the leg. Will keep you updated.
Thank all of you again and again for your prayers and caring friendship. Love all of you, JB and LM
shirleeinindy
Per his facebook page, Materality scoped sick after the race. Seems he had the virus that was going around Pletcher’s barn.
Barbara Wood
Oh, no., We wondered what was wrong. Hope the others who have been disease-free don’t get it.
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Shirlee:
Really like Materiality. Wishing him well. Love and Hugs, JB
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Tizgood.The “bobs” are growing so fast!Pity the rain has come tonight for them.Hope Glesni can shelter them well.Hugs Sheena.
Tizgood
Dear Sheena,
Just checked in on Glesni and the Bobs, did not
see any rain, the are almost getting to big to fit
under her, Monty is going to have to come and help
sit on them.
Love and hugs
Deb E.
I am very angry right now. I just pulled this week’s issue of People out of my mailbox and I EXPECTED to see an article on AP’s Triple Crown triumph, at least a page. Instead, he gets a passing mention in the “Passages” section (with a tiny picture) of 4 lines. Total. Come on, People! I realize Melissa McCarthy is a talented, award-winning comedienne with the #1 movie in the country and Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s first pictures together are undeniably adorable, but THIS IS HISTORY!!! Good lord, you gave Zenny a whole page (she looked fantastic of course). American Pharoah deserves better.
Max
He’s getting the covers of Sports Illustrated and Vogue. Might be just the beginning.
Deb E.
Actually it was 7 lines. I don’t know why I typed 4. How GENEROUS! I’ll be sure to pick up SI, but I thought Caitlin (formerly Bruce) Jenner was on the cover of Vogue? Will The Pharoah be in Vogue in July?
Max
Looks like it will be July or August edition. They need some lead time to prepare. This could be very interesting. Will AP be wearing a designer blanket and shoes?
Max
Jenner is on the current cover of Vanity Fair.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Max and Deb E.,
I saw the Sports Illustrated today while waiting to get my hair cut. The article in it by Tim (I forgot the last name) was excellent, IMHO. There were a few photos, too. I am going to try to get that edition for a keepsake. I have kept my issue of Newsweek with Secretariat on it from 1973 so I want to have the SI issue with American Pharoah, too. I think Time should have an issue with AP on it, also — Big Red was on the cover of Time, Newsweek AND Sports Illustrated! Do I remember correctly that Newsweek no longer publishes a magazine, but only exists in online form?
Hugs and Love
Deb E.
His new blanket, which was probably made in anticipation of Saturday’s victory, is white, purple, and gold with a crown on it and says AMERICAN PHAROAH 2015 TRIPLE CROWN WINNER and has symbols for each of the three TC races along the bottom on each side of the blanket. He was chewing on it during his morning bath on his last Today show appearance.
Max
Chewing on his blanket. What a great horse.
Ann NC
Agree. JB’s, Papa Charlie is a pro blanket bandit.
Tizgood
How funny chewing on his blanket !!!!
Tizgood
Unfortunately horseracing is not that popular of a sport to get a lot of recognition and AP was not like Secretariat or Seattle Slew a real ICON before he won the Triple Crown. I really like the idea of having him on the cover of Vogue; he os a very handsome horse !!!!
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Z family.Judy B is having difficulty posting so she asked me to tell you all Lola Mae enjoyed her 1st PT session and is continuing her exercises at home.She will have her sutures removed on Tuesday and then start swimming in the tub.I am sure we all wish Lola Mae well and that her recovery goes well.Thinking of you,sweetie and your mum.Love and hugs SheenaX
Barbara Wood
Yes, she is a little trooper!
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Sheena,
Thanks for this update from Judy B.!
I am glad that Lola Mae liked her PT session and that she is doing well.
Will continue prayers and good wishes for smooth recovery.
Take care!
Hugs and Love
Ann NC
Lola Mae is the bravest pup I know.
Get well, LM.
Deb E.
Saturday, June 13th from 8-10 p.m. NBC Sports Network will covering Churchill Down’s racing card during their “Downs After Dark” celebration which will feature the presentation of racing’s new king, American Pharoah, at 8:10 p.m. to the public. He will be paraded before the grandstands about 20 minutes before his connections are presented with a specially engraved Kentucky Derby trophy in honor of his victory. Admission to the event is $10.
shirleeinindy
Deb,
Thanks for the information. Didn’t see anything in the local paper about it on the TV schedule of on air sports events.
sheena.davies(wales)
Today would have been the 86th birthday of Anne Frank.
“I don’t think of all the misery but the beauty that remains”RIP Sheena.
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Judy .Wishing you and Lola Mae a peaceful night.God bless you LM PC HT Cap Hercules Frank and all the Sweeties.Love and hugs SheenaX
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Z, COZ, ZI and Montey:
Goodnight. Love all of you so much. Hugs, JB
Z Princess, Dubai, will always love you,
Peggy (N) South Georgia
Heading down to Ocala on Tuesday. Hope to get to see Hip # 603. 2 year old Filly from the Family of Eight Belles. Just love this family. Both sides of the family tree. Unbridled Song, Unbridled and on the other Miss Abita, Dixie Union, Dixieland Band., Northern Dancer. Was so fortunate to get to see Dixieland Band before he died . Just loved him.
Dearly loved Eight Belles so I know I want have a dry eye when I see this Filly. Keeping my fingers crossed to get to see her.
Will report back on her.
Tizgood
Dear Peggy,
I bet she is beautiful and she is fast, hope she has better conformation.
So look forward to seeing her on the track and hearing your report.
Love and hugs
Elizabeth in NM
Dear Zenyatta Family,
We had a delay, but are leaving this morning for our summer trip in the camper. I’m already feeling ‘Zenyatta ‘withdrawal’ coming on! I will keep everyone of you in my prayers, as I always do daily. I will truly miss you all and of course Momma Z and her boys. I think we’ll be gone 3 weeks or so.
The new baby bunny crop and the quail babies are all thriving. The baby roadrunners come up and ‘knock’ on the windows and doors daily – they are ‘really’ juvenile delinguents even when they are grown up – well I don’t think they ever really ‘grow up’. The hummers dart in and out throughout the day for sips from the hummer feeders hanging on our tree on the front patio. They all think our adobe home is ‘theirs’! (which I suppose it probably is…. partly).
We have to make ourselves leave, but it’s always exciting to go photographing, camping and hiking.
Everyone here in Zenyatta’s web community has become an extension of our family to me. I will keep you all in and of course Zenny and her family (humans and horses) in my prayers as always. And hope you have a blessed, wonderful and exciting rest of June and July.
If we get internet reception, I’ll post a bit, but not sure we will in the wilds. Will miss you all and hope you stay happy and safe.
with much love, Elizabeth
Elizabeth in NM
PS Forgot to mention that all of the quail ‘babies’ are half grown and look like little terradactyls (spelling??) – bird dinosaurs. This place is really a ‘zoo’!
Love you all!
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Elizabeth in NM,
We will certainly miss you! Hope you have a lovely camping trip and get lots of great photos. Take care and have fun!
Safe travels!
Hugs and Love
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Elizabeth.Have a great trip.I will miss your posts and look forward to your return.It’s damp on the Dyfi today but Glesni is sheltering her “bobs” who are all growing so fast even “Bobby bach”.Love and hugs Sheena.
Especially Horses / So Cal
I’myoursugardaddy – out of Tasty Temptation is entered today in a $5,000 Claimer at Delaware Park.
Delaware Park has free live video. IYSD is entered in race 9 at about 5:15 pm EDT. H’e number 3. You can see a replay if you miss it.
Max
Hope that all works out for Sugar. He needs good fortune to smile on him.
Ann NC
Poor boy finished 5th. Wish my lottery ticket would come in, he would be mine.
Tizgood
He was her only foal wasn’t he?
Ann NC
Another foal passed away.
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Max.Have you heard Sheikh Mohammed is planning to buy Warren Place and Lady Cecil may retire.Oh,my God it’s the end of an era!The programme about Frankel is on TV as I write,Seeing how ill Henry looked at the end of Frankel’s career.
Did you hear about Brown Panther’s injury?Sad we will not see him at RA.The short guy said the Fly got upset at the first flight in Auteuil and it all went wrong from there.Sheena.
Max
Had not heard that news about Lady Cecil. Kind of ironic given the history. Story at the time that he left Cecil without his horses was that Maktoum objected to the leading part which was being played at Warren Place by Cecil’s then wife. How many women are training horses like Kathy Ritvo or Josie Carroll or managing horse operations like Dottie in Dubai or Saudi Arabia? Zero?
Sorry about the Panther. Hope that he will return soon. He’s feisty.
Heard about The Fly getting spooked. Shorty is quoted as wanting The Fly to come back for another year. He mentioned the evergreen Uncle Junior.
Tizgood
Dear Sheena,
Read about the Fly’s first jump. The bonehead took off from way too far out and had to stretch really far to get over and scared him self, he is known for being bold at the jumps
But that was a bit ridiculous !!! He was far from bold he scared himself to death beacause he did not know if he could make it over, cost him the race. Some horses !!!!
Hope he comes back, great horse !!!!
Sandra Frey
Team Zenyatta, thank you for the fabulous photos of Cozmic One and Ziconic. They are extraordinarily handsome boys and hope they do well in the racing world. I am always captivated by their photos, videos, and news about them. Hope Zenyatta is doing well and starting to get a little baby bump on her. Very excited about her War Front foal next year!
Blessings and love,
Sandra Frey
Especially Horses / So Cal
Chrome’s little sis, Hope’s Love, finished second today in her debut. Closed fast.
Ann NC
Wow, wow, wow, she almost got it! She looked great. Next time pretty girl.
Karen R.
Hope’s Love ran impressively for her first race. Hoping its the start of another special racing career like her big brother.