Zenyatta

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Foal Watch: Day 3

Ann with Zenyatta. Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Ann with Zenyatta. Photo by Kyle Acebo.

Yesterday was our third day in Kentucky for foal watch 2016. Zenyatta was in the mood for carrots and quality time with Ann, and she had plenty of both!

As promised, we have some fun facts to share about Zenyatta’s current paddock mate. She was not only bred and named by Jerry and Ann Moss, but just like Zenyatta, she was sired by Street Cry. She and Zenyatta have grown quite close in the last few months, and it delights us to see Zenny share her treats with a friend.

We won’t be following this mare, who never raced, on our website but we thought this information was too cute not to share! We look forward to watching Zenyatta and her friend raise their foals together.

Day four of foal watch begins!
Team Z

Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Photo by Kyle Acebo.


Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Photo by Kyle Acebo.


Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Photo by Kyle Acebo.


Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Photo by Kyle Acebo.


Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Photo by Kyle Acebo.


Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Photo by Kyle Acebo.


Photo by Kyle Acebo
Photo by Kyle Acebo


Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Zenyatta’s paddock mate was bred by Zenyatta’s owners, Jerry and Ann Moss. Photo by Kyle Acebo.


Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Zenyatta’s paddock mate. Photo by Kyle Acebo.

Reader Interactions

171 Comments

  4. / Reply

    Such fabulous pictures and such a joy for all of us to enjoy Zenyatta’s quality time with Ann and her nice relationship with her horse friend!

  6. / Reply

    I have no doubt that Zenyatta is the generous type who shares her carrots.

    With her bulging sides, she looks to be a few days away from foaling. The fetus is not yet in position to be born.

    So far some good racing at Meydan! Looks like the Japanese will have a KY Derby entry in Lani, a beautiful grey son of Tapit out of a Sunday Silence mare. Polar River was second in the UAE Derby.

  8. / Reply

    The connection between Ann and Zenyatta is so special and very evident in pictures. Hoping we will have a happy healthy baby very soon.

    On another note. Saw a picture on the Forum of a bird flying right in front of Ziconic as the gate opened. Don’t know if that played any part in his poor start. Would think that would startle a young horse and perhaps Mike didn’t even see the bird.

      • / Reply

        She has a name but her owners may not be interested in having it publicized.

        It only says that the Mosses were the original breeders of this mare and she’s by Street Cry, not that Mosses still own her.

  11. / Reply

    Ann glad your spending time with Zenyatta. She’s always so happy when you’re with her. Please give us the name of Zenny’s paddock mate. Xoxoxo please tell Zenyatta hi from me.I was one of last years winners to have a visit with her. God bless, Donna

  12. / Reply

    Thank you of these special photos of a girl and her horse!! Mrs. Moss and Queen Zenyatta take great delight in each other’s company, and each one seems to act like a tonic on the other. I am happy Zenny has an equine companion with whom to share her paddock, treats, and adoration. I am certain that bird did distract Ziconic from the game at hand. Kyle, you take special photos! Zenyatta, you are in the prayers and thoughts of Zenyatta Nation as you prepare for delivery. May all go well, Dear Girl.
    Love to All,
    Mary in Boone

  13. / Reply

    These pictures of Ann with Zenyatta make me feel all warm inside. Thank you for posting them. Love that Zenyatta!!

  16. / Reply

    Thank you for giving us this beautiful new blog post with all the wonderful photos! I especially love all the pictures of Zenyatta with her Ann, shining the light of their special bond even on what seems to be a chilly day. Kyle and Alys are great photographers for always capturing these very unique moments in time so we can enjoy them also. Wow! These photos lift my heart and remind me again how grateful I feel for the generosity of Team Z to continue to share our Queen with us. Thank you!!

  18. / Reply

    Wish I could see the photos. They are compressed and can’t see the images.
    Any help or explanation? Jan Overman

  19. / Reply

    Dear Kathy.Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend too.A big change in our weather wet and windy today.It was perfect for Lambourn Open day yesterday.Sprinter looked superb plus Long Run.Trouble with my PO emails I can send them but nothing in the inbox I telephoned them and the fault is their end I cannot see them returning over this holiday weekend.Lovely pics of Zoe and the ratties are enjoying themselves in Hawaii.More news of Blue later plus she has a sister Blue 25!!!Watching a mixture of chases and Meydan.Have a great day.Love and hugs to you,Kisses for Holly,Nikko and Sugar.SheenaXOXO

      • / Reply

        Dear Max.On Channel 4 before it moves to ITV in the new year.BBC gave up all racing in 2012.Just been a nasty fall in a hurdle race I hate our hurdles they are an accident waiting to happen no doubt I will be putting up an RIP later.CC will be on at 5pm.Sheena.

        • From your posts, it seems as if you get to see a lot of races. Too bad the main channels here do not show more races.

        • Mullins is still trying to end the 50 year drought of winning the Ryanair, last won by his father. He’s not certain that Outlander can do it, but he’s giving him a chance.
          If Annie goes to Aintree, will the Moose be there too?

  20. / Reply

    Beautiful photos. Such love in both of their eyes. Thank you for sharing. Can’t wait to see the new baby. Praying for a Safe delivery and healthy baby.

  22. / Reply

    Zenny looks ALOT more perked up now that Ann is with her. They have a very strong bond that you can really see. Great job Ann. You are truly a loving horse owner. We just had a baby colt in California. He is now almost a month and a half old. Jockey club accepted our name, “Big Red Valentine”. He was born on Valentine’s day at 8 A.M. He is a complete chestnut with a big white star. No socks. He is a gorgeous and and a very BIG Baby!!! Dam is Addison’s Honor. Sire is Suances.
    Ann, Thank You again for all you share with us , and all of you on team Z.
    Sincerely, Marilyn Braudrick

    • / Reply

      Dear Marilyn B.,

      Congratulations on Big Red Valentine! Love the name, and it’s most appropriate, too. He sounds like an absolute dream, big chestnut AND a big white star. How exciting!
      Enjoy your new colt and best wishes to you and BRV. ?

      Hugs and Love

  23. / Reply

    Hi Zsters?
    Thx again for keeping us updated and for that tidbit of info on Zs paddock mate. The pics are too cute. I love the bond between ann and z. So sweet.
    HugZ❤ prayerZ, vamp

  24. / Reply

    I’m like my other Zen family here: my favourite shots are of Ann with Zenny and these are outstanding, Kyle!

    Neat finding out that Zenny’s paddock mate is also by Street Cry and a Moss homebred!

    NEWS FLASH: If you haven’t already seen it, Ziconic had a bird fly passed his nose when the starting gate opened. Gary Tasich got a close-up & posted it on FACEBOOK.

    Love & hugs to all and big kisses to my BIG GIRL. Sending Team Z and all here Easter Greetings!

  25. / Reply

    Today’s devo on Christ’s crucifixion:

    WHEN HE SAID “IT IS FINISHED,” HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ME
    DEVOTIONAL
    by Melody @ DaySpring

    When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (NIV)

    I had read this Scripture in John 19 so many times – the last words Jesus spoke on the day He was crucified. I knew that in those final moments as He was there on the cross, He simply said, “It is finished,” closed His eyes, and died.

    There’s such gravity in that moment. Imagining the Son of God, our Savior, with His battered and broken body nailed to a cross, stirs up a sense of both sadness and shame. He endured such terrible things that even thinking about them leads me to close my eyes in sorrow. Most every time I heard or read the story, my focus was on what happened, the events themselves, and less so on those three simple words He spoke at the end: “It is finished.”

    A few months ago, my friend and Pastor Rodney Holmstrom spoke on this Scripture before a large Celebrate Recovery congregation, and he challenged each of us to really consider those words. In that moment, he said, Christ was not simply stating the obvious – that his earthly life was over. He was declaring that our sins were forgiven once and for all, their price paid by his sacrifice.

    I knew this in my head. Of course I did. But had I taken it into my heart?

    Rodney asked us, could we say these words out loud? “When he said, ‘It is finished,’ he was talking about me.” Could we write those words in a journal and mean them? Could we look into a mirror and speak them?

    I tried, and I was surprised by how difficult it was for me to say them, how easy it was to shy away from them, as if my mistakes were too great for his forgiveness. It was simultaneously painful and humbling to realize the truth in that statement, and the truth was this: In that moment and by his death, Christ paid the price for every sin no matter how great – even for mine. Every wrong I had ever or would ever commit was forgiven, the debt for it paid in full, before I ever drew my first breath. I only had to accept it. How could that be?

    I left that service that night with the weight of those words still clinging to my thoughts: When he said, “It is finished,” he was talking about me. At home, I tried saying them aloud again and again. And while it was still difficult, I found that each time I spoke them, my heart had a harder time rejecting them. The truth began to win. Later, I spent some time writing and creating around John 19:30 in my journaling Bible, and I found that with each moment that I lingered there, those words became further etched onto my heart.

    It’s fascinating how we can spend years knowing something without fully accepting it as certainty. Since childhood, I had believed that Jesus died for our sins and accepting him meant we were forgiven. But isn’t it often easier to think that applies to everyone else?

    I came to recognize that the shame and guilt of my own mistakes had clouded my understanding. I had believed the lies in my head (as so many of us do), like: I’ve made too many mistakes. Maybe I’m different. How could he really forgive me? My sin is just too great… I had let those lies sink deeply into my heart. But speaking and writing that simple, declarative sentence began to destroy the lies by covering them with his truth – that no sin is too great for his mercy, not even mine – and it brought me immediate peace and joy.

    Today, as you consider the events from the day Jesus was crucified, as you ponder that weighty moment when His spirit passed, try speaking those words aloud (even if you have to whisper them to get them out): When he said, ‘It is finished,’ he was talking about me.

    Then say it again. Accept this truth, and annihilate the lie that your sins are too great or too numerous. Try writing it down or reflecting in the pages of your journaling Bible. How does it feel to know that every mistake – past, present or future – is covered and the debt is paid in full? He was talking about me. He was talking about you.

    HugZ❤ prayerZ, vamp

      • / Reply

        Sheena. Sue’s post says clearly to take comfort that there is hope. The Christian belief is that the Son of God died and rose again so that we wretched ones who are all sinners can be saved. It’s a religion of hope. Look to the Light is the message at Easter and all year.

  26. / Reply

    Thank you team Z and Kyle for the lovely photos. My favorite is “The Kiss”, such a sweet expression of love between these two. I forgive you Zenny for holding on to baby bump even though you missed my birthday, I know it’s your call so whenever you’re ready I’ll be happy for either/or as long as things go well. Don’t wait too long though, by the looks of you, we don’t want a Clydesdale, LOL. hugs to all

  28. / Reply

    I’m always amazed how gentle and loving Zenyatta is; it’s like she has two personalities. On the race track, she was high-strung, and a fierce competitor, determined to pass anything in front of her!! Off the track, she was drawn to people, and they to her. She loved people so much, and was so gentle, that you could put a baby by her head, and not be afraid. If you didn’t know who she was, you would think she was an especially trained therapy horse; she had that way about her, and it has never left her. She is truly a gift from God; I often think about those white feathers Ann use to find when she was with Zenyatta, as a sign she truly is that gift to us all who believe in this lovely soul that was given to the world named Zenyatta!!!!

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