Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Zenyatta News

New Winter Photos

Winter landscape from Lane's End. Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Winter landscape from Lane’s End. Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane’s End

Happy Friday!

Alys recently spent some time with both Zenyatta and her colt. She sent us these photos of Zenyatta getting some attention in her stall and the yearlings enjoying winter weather out in the paddock.

We are also proud that Bloodhorse has named the birth of Zenyatta’s colt the most popular story of 2012. You can see the whole “2012 in Review” newsletter by clicking this link.

Bloodhorse 2012 in Review
Bloodhorse 2012 in Review

Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesty of Alys Emson/Lane’s End

Reader Interactions

1,573 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Good news about Atlantic Jewel:

    http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/superracing/atlantic-jewel-wont-race-until-spring-of-2013-at-earliest/story-fn67lu29-1226553352979.

    This is an example of a trainer who is patient and ready to let the horse tell him how it is feeling, without pressure to compete. Mark is a really careful trainer (unlike some I could name) and I like that he’s always been prepared to pull a horse from a race, or hold them back until they are good and ready. I’m also pleased that Coolmore (owner of the mare) are also giving her time.

    • / Reply

      Dear Kathy R.:

      Always good to see a trainer do what’s best for the horse. Thanks for this link. Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Thanks for the info on Z’s future, maybe, little Princess :) or again Prince II, . So it is almost like last time then, timewise.

        • Dear Sunny:
          You’re so welcome.

          The Prince was born on 3/8/12 and Z went to Tapit, I think around three weeks later. So, yes, around the same time. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Dear Karhy R,
      It is so wonderful to see trainers like this.
      The owners pay more on the front end, rather
      than the back end for injuries.

      Thanks for sharing

  2. / Reply

    Dear Zenny Fans, Dumplings and All,

    The black of night still hovers
    as the morning trickles forth.
    Remind us to keep this day
    fresh and reverent.

    Remind us with our old dogs’ swishing tail,
    our cats’ soft meow,
    our horses’ pricked ears,
    the scent of coffee brewing,
    with the blessing of this unknow day.

    A gift from You, is it not?
    a present to unwrap
    minute by minute
    hour by hour.

    Remind us to Thank You
    for this day when
    the night again rustles in.

    Amen

    Have a blessed and wonderful day

  3. / Reply

    DAILY RACING FORUM: SNOWFALL TAKES THE PASEANA HANDICAP AT SANTA ANITA

    – a really nice filly and she is not great; huge in size and heart; one to watch in 2013
    (video posted in link below)

    ARCADIA, Calif. – Snow Fall won her first stakes in California, and the second stakes of her career, in Sunday’s $81,700 Paseana Handicap for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

    Tyler Baze guides Snow Fall to her first stakes win since arriving in California in the Paseana Handicap.
    Snow Fall ($13) had an ideal trip under jockey Tyler Baze to secure a convincing win by 3 1/4 lengths in the race over 1 1/16 miles. She was timed in 1:42.66.

    Baze had Snow Fall in second for the first half-mile, stalking pacesetter Distracting through fractions of 23.80 and 47.61 seconds.

    Snow Fall took the lead on the final turn and was not threatened in the stretch. Distracting, the 8-5 favorite, held second in the field of seven.

    Curvy Cat finished third, followed by Great Hot, Candrea, Charm the Maker, and Sweetly Peppered.

    Snow Fall races for Peter Abruzzo, Taylor Made Properties, and George Saufley and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Snow Fall joined Hollendorfer’s stable last fall. She was second in the Kalookan Queen Stakes for sprinters on Dec. 29 in her California debut.

    Snow Fall, 5, was trained by Michael Stidham as a 3-year-old and by Graham Motion as a 4-year-old. For Stidham, Snow Fall won the Pike Creek Stakes at Delaware Park and was fifth in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park.

    Hollendorfer said that Snow Fall will be pointed for the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes over 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares on Feb. 16.

  5. / Reply

    DAILY RACING FORUM: HORSE OF THE YEAR OR HORSE OF THE AGES
    (it seems like Zenyatta had more than 5 grade ones, guess not)

    Steven Crist: Horse of the Year candidates a bit short on Grade 1 credentials
    By Steven Crist

    Barbara D. Livingston
    Horse of the Year favorite Wise Dan won three Grade 1 races in 2012, fewer than many of the top Eclipse winners since 1973.
    Whether it is Fort Larned, I’ll Have Another, or Wise Dan whose name is called from the podium Saturday night at the Eclipse Awards, the 2012 Horse of the Year will have had a below-average number of Grade 1 victories in his campaign for the sport’s top prize.

    How far below? That was the question I set out to answer after writing two weeks ago that two Grade 1 victories by such an honoree would be a “historically low” number, which meant at the time that I knew it was low but hadn’t counted them up for each of the 39 Horse of the Year campaigns since stakes races became graded in 1973.

    Now I have. It turns out that two (Fort Larned) or three (I’ll Have Another and Wise Dan, if you count his Grade 1 victory in Canada) is indeed below average (the average is 4.12, the median is 4) but has happened a dozen times before. At the other end of the spectrum, the exercise provided a reminder of just how good the very best Horse of the Year campaigns really were.

    [COLUMN COMPANION: Horse of the Year and Grade 1’s]

    The tally is somewhat muddled by the changes in the grades of races over the years. Races that we now assume have always been Grade 1’s did not always have that status, and new races often had to wait a year or three to attain Grade 1 status. When Secretariat won the Canadian International in 1973, for example, it was considered only a Grade 2 race. John Henry’s 1981 Arlington Million and Cigar’s 1996 Dubai World Cup were ungraded for their inaugural runnings.

    There’s a further muddle when comparing younger and older horses who have won the honor. Of the 12 Horses of the Year who won only two or three Grade 1’s, seven were 2-year-olds or 3-year-olds who did not race full seasons, such as Conquistador Cielo in 1982 or Charismatic in 1999. This is not to say that a truly exceptional 3-year-old can not win more: Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), Sunday Silence (1989), Holy Bull (1994), and Point Given (2001) each won five such races as 3-year-olds. (Easy Goer actually won six Grade 1’s in Sunday Silence’s year. No, I didn’t vote for him.)

    Here is the breakdown by number of Grade 1 victories during their Horse of the Year seasons. (A list of what Grade 1 races each horse won can be found on my blog at drf.com.):

    Two Grade 1’s (9): Conquistador Cielo (1982) Spend a Buck (1985), Ferdinand (1987), Black Tie Affair (1991), Cigar (1996) Favorite Trick (1997), Charismatic (1999), Tiznow (2000), Ghostzapper (2004).

    Three Grade 1’s (3): A. P. Indy (1992), Curlin (2007), Havre de Grace (2011).

    Four Grade 1’s (11): Secretariat (1973), Forego (1974-75-76), All Along (1983), John Henry (1984), Criminal Type (1990), Mineshaft (2003), Saint Liam (2005), Invasor (2006), Curlin (2008).

    Five Grade 1’s (11): Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), Spectacular Bid (1980), John Henry (1981), Sunday Silence (1989), Kotashaan (1993), Holy Bull (1994), Skip Away (1998), Point Given (2001), Rachel Alexandra (2009), Zenyatta (2010).

    Six Grade 1’s (2): Affirmed (1979), Alysheba (1988).

    Seven Grade 1’s (1): Azeri (2002).

    Eight Grade 1’s (2): Lady’s Secret (1986), Cigar (1995).

    Of the 11 horses who won five Grade 1’s en route to Horse of the Year honors, all but Kotashaan (all turf) are already in the Hall of Fame or shoo-ins when they become eligible (Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta). To look back at the campaigns of the two who won eight Grade 1’s in a year – more than all three Horse of the Year finalists combined to do in 2012 – is to marvel at what seems like a bygone era of true barnstorming.

    [2012 ECLIPSE AWARDS: List of finalists, full DRF profiles]

    Lady’s Secret made an astounding 15 starts in 1986, 13 of them in Grade 1 races, winning 10 times: She took the Grade 3 El Encino and Grade 2 Molly Pitcher in addition to her eight Grade 1 triumphs in the La Canada, Santa Margarita, Shuvee, Whitney, Maskette, Ruffian, Beldame, and Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She somehow also found time to run second in the Apple Blossom, Hempstead, and Woodward, and third in the Met Mile and Iselin.

    Cigar in 1995 was a more efficient 8 for 8 in his Grade 1 starts, with victories in the ungraded Massachusetts Handicap and a Gulfstream allowance race to boot. He reeled off his eight Grade 1’s from coast to coast, taking the Donn, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Oaklawn Handicap, Pimlico Special, Hollywood Gold Cup, Woodward, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Breeders’ Cup Classic.

    That’s the difference between a Horse of the Year and a Horse for the Ages.

    • / Reply

      Interesting article, sign. Thanks for posting. I think it is important to note the fact that training methods and theories have undergone drastic changes, especially in the number of races horses run. The best example I can cite is that Citation actually ran in a race, and won it, between the Preakness and the Belmont. Did the trainers of that era know more? It would be interesting to research the number of breakdowns then compared to today.

      • / Reply

        Dear Terry: Agree, would be interesting to know if research has been done on a comparison on breakdowns over the years. Not even sure if such a study exists here in Australia – although most of our breakdowns are 2 year olds pushed too hard.

      • / Reply

        Great comments, TC and Kathy R.

        Love your point about Citation running in a race between the Preakness
        and Belmont, a very hardy group. Wonder what changed in US breeding?
        Was it breeding for a speedy good looking horse over a horse with great
        bone and musculature that had speed, stamina and soundness.

        Wonder who might have that information? Jockey Club??

        • This article also does not mention the fact that a horse may have won more Grade I races during a year in which is did not win HOY than when it did.

  6. / Reply

    PAULICK REPORT: BEHOLDER’S FIRST START, 2013 – SAN YNEZ, GULFSTREAM
    JANUARY 19, 2013

    BEHOLDER EYEING SANTA YNEZ STAKES
    by Press Release | 01.13.2013 | 1:33pm

    Ask Ray
    Richard Mandella and his entourage will head to Florida shortly in advance of the Eclipse Awards at Gulfstream Park next Saturday. The Hall of Fame trainer is expected to be one of the recipients when it is announced that Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Beholder is best of her division for 2012.

    It won’t be the first Breeders’ Cup dance for Mandella. The California native, who turned 62 last Nov. 5, trained five national champions. In addition to 1993 Horse of the Year Kotashaan, he conditioned three others, all 2-year-olds, fillies Phone Chatter and Halfbridled in 1993 and 2003, and male winner Action This Day, also in 2003.

    Mandella wasn’t about to compare apples and oranges when asked about similarities between Halfbridled, who also won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and Beholder, who is scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut in the Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes a week from Monday, Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, two days after the Eclipse Awards ceremonies.

    “You never know how good a horse is going to be when you first get one, but Beholder gave us an indication of her talent early on, and once she started training, it was pretty evident,” Mandella said.

    “Physically, they don’t look alike, but on the race track, they’re both pretty good.”

    Beholder, a bay daughter of Henny Hughes owned by B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm and bred by Clarkland Farm in Kentucky, has three wins from five starts. She has earned $1,215,000.

    This would be Mandella’s first win in the Santa Ynez, for 3-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.
    New to the Paulick Report? Click here to sign up for our daily email newsletter to keep up on this and other stories happening in the Thoroughbred industry

    • / Reply

      There is a terrific movie out there named On The Muscle, which follows the Mandella stable during that fantastic year. Very entertaining.

      • / Reply

        Dear TC and Judy B,

        Love that movie, it is soo good. Richard Mandella is a firm but kind trainer.
        One of the funny parts is when Pleasantly Perfect is laying down in his
        stall (guess he was a laid back guy) and Richard promised him some time
        off from training if he would win the BCC.

        Judy,
        If you e-mail me your new address, will send you the video. It is sooo very well done. The Kennedy’s also mentioned it.

        • Dear Sign:

          Thank you so much. How sweet of you. I’ll send you my new address. Hugs, JB

        • Dear Judy B,

          So glad to share it. You will really enjoy it.

        • Judy-Give us a report about what you think of the film. Glad sign was able to provide it for you.

  8. / Reply

    Lordship blue hen Swiss Lake set to visit Frankel
    By Tom Pennington Racing Post 1:27PM 14 JAN 2013
    SWISS LAKE, a star producer for Lordship Stud in Newmarket, is another name to join the illustrious list of elite mares set to visit Frankel this year.
    The 14-year-old daughter of Indian Ridge, who is expecting to Frankel’s sire Galileo this year, was a high-class performer on the track, winning two Listed sprints.
    Swiss Lake was bought for $500,000 at Keeneland in 2004 by Kern/Lillingston on behalf of Lordship Stud owner Trevor Harris. She has produced five winners, four of them stakes performers including last season’s Group 3-winning sprinter Swiss Spirit.
    http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/news/bloodstock/lordship-blue-hen-swiss-lake-set-to-visit-frankel/1187055/

  9. / Reply

    Racing Post‏ tweet
    Cheltenham Gold Cup possible Bold Sir Brian among 17 entries for Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday. Silver By Nature & Katenko in too

  10. / Reply

    Due to a number of requests, I have been working on talking animal jokes. Here is the first one. A hyena is drinking at the watering hole one day when he sees an elephant come for a drink. When he got close to the water, the elephant stopped short and inspects a turtle for a few seconds. The the elephant rears back and kicks the turtle, making it fly for the better part of a mile. The hyena asked the elephant “what did you do that for?” “Well,” answers the elephant, “about 80 years ago that turtle bit my foot. Today, I finally found him and paid him back.” “Eighty years? How could you remember what that turtle looked like after all that time?” The elephant replied “I have turtle recall.”

      • / Reply

        Dear Janet: Thanks for posting that lovely tribute – I didn’t know all of the horses, since being Downunder, but they were stunning images of great athletes. Thanks again. Hugs, Kathy R.

    • / Reply

      Dear Janet:

      Thank you so much for this link. Another reason why I like Barbara Livingston so much, besides her photography and her writing; her true love for horses. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      I didnt know Skip Trial since, he was born when I was just a kid but, I didn’t know that he was by Bailjumper. I knew Bailjumper very well. He was such a sweetheart, in and out of the breeding shed. It was a very very sad day when he had to be put down. I believe he was around 24 or so. As far as I know, he’s the only Stallion buried whole at the ranch. And, only those that were there, know where he was laid to rest. That includes me!!

    • / Reply

      Dear Janet,

      These photos of the 2012 Memorium is wonderful. The one from
      Bloodhorse was posted. It is so good to see how other racing
      journals present similar material. There are some really wonderful
      photos in this link.

      Thanks

  12. / Reply

    Rightful Image (6-Year-Old Gelding) Workout
    Date: January 14, 2013
    Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
    Distance: Five Furlongs
    Time: 1.00:20 Handily
    Track Condition: Fast
    Surface: Dirt
    Rank: 1/40
    Keta Note: That was a Righteous workout!!

  14. / Reply

    I was wondering what ever happened to Mr. Besilu. Anyone know??? Wow, Balance to Franklel? Wowsers!!! I’ve always wondered what happens when you fly a Mare to be bred. Do they stay and foal there or will she fly back to KY once she’s safely in foal?? Things that make you go hmmmmm…..
    I saw Casey’s Paynter photos and OMG I can’t believe the difference. He looks fantastic!!!

    • / Reply

      Dear Heidi:

      I was wondering about Mr. Besilu too. I have been checking on Equibase and according to his chart there, he has never raced as yet and there are no works listed. Hope it’s not due to an injury. Have not been able to find anything more. Will keep checking. Hugs, JB

  16. / Reply

    KY Tbred Assoc. tweet
    ANIMAL KINGDOM (KY) for @TeamValor fired a bullet 5F turf work
    at PMM this morning
    as he preps for the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf H. on Feb 9th

  17. / Reply

    Lane’s End‏ tweet
    First reported foal by our record-setting G1W Twirling Candy is a bay filly
    born at Calumet last night! Congrats…
    Keta Note: No photos yet

      • / Reply

        KETA,

        The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo is in town. There are cowboys, cowgirls and livestock galore in Denver right now. And, typically, the weather is atrocious during Stock Show time. That scenario doesn’t suprise me at all. It gave me a chuckle. Thanks for posting this.

        • Even w/ the bad weather,still sounds like heaven.
          Hope to make it out some day. I’ll bring my cowgirls! We’ll visit our stray cow-girl in school out there!
          Thanks,Marty.

  19. / Reply

    BLOODHORSE: UNCLE MO’S AND CAPE BLANCO’ FIRST FOALS, TWO FILLIES

    Congradulations to the breeders and the stallions !!!

    First Foals by Uncle Mo and Cape Blanco
    By Blood-Horse Staff
    Updated: Monday, January 14, 2013 4:00 PM
    Posted: Monday, January 14, 2013 2:04 PM

    The first reported foal by Eclipse Award winner Uncle Mo is a filly born Jan. 4 at Greg and Steve Justice’s Justice Farm near Lexington. The newborn is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Erica’s Melody.
    Greg Justice described the filly as being “a very nice, correct filly with plenty of leg and quality. She is of good size and was just what I was hoping for.”

    Erica’s Melody will be bred back to Stay Thirsty .

    Cape Blanco’s first reported offspring is a filly out of Sigatoo, who is by North American and Irish champion Black Minnaloushe. The newborn was foaled Jan. 8 at Jim and Pam Robinson’s Brandywine Farm near Paris, Ky.

    Pam Robinson described the foal as being “a fantastic filly. She is knockout gorgeous and a well-balanced, strong little athlete. I will be breeding back to Cape Blanco .”

    Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie—Playa Maya, by Arch ) and Cape Blanco (Galileo—Laurel Delight, by Presidium) stand at John Magnier and partners’ Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. Uncle Mo stands for $35,000, and Cape Blanco’s fee is $17,500.

    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/75567/first-foals-by-uncle-mo-and-cape-blanco#ixzz2I0T3aRTz

  20. / Reply

    BLOODHORSE: CONGRATULATIONS TO RAMON DOMINGUEZ FOR THE MOUNT
    ON ANIMAL KINGDOME

    01/14/2013 3:39PM
    Gulfstream Park: Animal Kingdom pretty much ready for Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap
    By Mike Welsch

    Barbara D. Livingston
    Animal Kingdom, here training earlier in the month, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.08 on Monday morning at Palm Meadows.
    BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – If trainer Graham Motion had his druthers, the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap would be run next weekend, not on Feb. 9 as scheduled. That’s how good his 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is doing in preparation for his much-anticipated 2013 debut.

    Going in company with regular workmate Badleroibrown, Animal Kingdom breezed five furlongs in 1:02.08 on Monday morning at Palm Meadows. Animal Kingdom broke off three lengths behind his target and posted splits of 13.08 seconds, 25.26, and 38.01 for the opening three-eighths, ran by his stablemate near midstretch without much encouragement while finishing strongly into a very stiff headwind, then proceeded to gallop out six furlongs in 1:13.77 and pull up seven-eighths in 1:28.74.

    Motion is planning to use the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap as a prep for Animal Kingdom for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 30. Ramon Dominguez will be aboard Animal Kingdom for the first time in the Gulfstream Park Handicap.

    “The horse is doing great,” Motion said. “I have to keep reminding myself the race is still four weeks away and that he’s still got three more works to go. It’s kind of frustrating in a way, because he’s ready to go now. But the timing of the race is very good. It would even be better if it was two weeks from now, because it would give him even more time to get over it, but overall the timing is perfect. We’re just kind of treading water with him at the moment. I don’t want him to be flat out at this point. I told my rider to just let him go around there easily and let him finish up strong, and that’s exactly what he did.”

    Animal Kingdom and Badleroibrown were the only horses permitted to work inside the dogs, which were positioned well out into the course Monday at Palm Meadows.

    “They have been allowing horses training for graded stakes to work inside the dogs up here,” Motion said. “I believe Tom Bush also worked his good grass horse Unbridled Command inside the dogs here last week.”

    Unbridled Command also is a candidate for the Gulfstream Park Turf, having won his last five starts, including the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. He breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 inside the dogs last Thursday morning at Palm Meadows.

  21. / Reply

    Does anyone know how much earnings it takes for a horse to get into the Kentucky Derby? I have forgotten
    I have just fallen in love with this beautiful young colt. “LeRoy’s Boy” by my favorite “Leroi” He’s in the Barn of Bill Mott. He’s only had one race and He did win it. Woo Hoo. But only I think about 40 something thousand in earnings. He’s two and such a gorgeous youngster. When he’s going back to the winners circle in his first win looked so much like Secretariat from the side with his mane blowing in the wind. . Got more blaze on his face, though. Oh my, what a pretty boy. Good Luck to you LeRoy’s Boy. Well Done Papa “Leroi”

    • / Reply

      I thought they changed the “get in” for the KD to a points system…..certain races worth different points….$ don’t count …..got to win the right races…..big flap last year because the Illinois Derby got no points …..figured it was because Churchill Downs affiliated with Arlington not Hawthorne….but I could have completely misunderstood

      • / Reply

        You are absolutely right. Churchill is affiliated with Arlington and used that to downgrade the races at Hawthorne, among others.

    • / Reply

      See above.

      The interesting thing is anything done as a 2 year old does not count.
      TP is not really happy about that but accepts it as Shanghai Bobby is
      starting with a 0 in 2013.

      Not sure of the reasoning for changing this, other than very few of the 2 year
      old were successful in the KY Derby???

      • / Reply

        Dear Sign, i did find the info. This is so enteresting. I don’t know this could be kind of good. I guess will have to see. Some major points to come.

        • Dear Peggy N.:

          Good to see a post from you. Hope you enjoyed you vacation. Hugs, JB

        • Dear Peggy,

          Definatly think it could be a good thing to.
          Glad you had a good vacation.

        • The big problems will come later when the arguing starts about who should be in and who shouldn’t. Graded earnings, I thought, was a good guideline, but it did encourage a lot of tracks to increase their purses to lure horses to their races.

  25. / Reply

    This is just a test – I seem to be unable to post – does anyone else have this problem, or has the smoke really got to me?

  26. / Reply

    I just tried to post a link to a story about a horse called British General: I suspect there is something in the link that isn’t acceptable to the “brain” of the Blog. So I’ll summarise. British General lost his dam in the disastrous Victorian bushfires in 2009 – the stable lost most of its horses, and British General as a yearling managed to survive. He has just had his second win at Flemington in the Chester Manifold Stakes over 1400m. Sorry about the mess up on my part, but I thought it was such an amazing story. Fingers crossed that this posts! Hugs, KathyR.

    • / Reply

      Dear Kathy R,

      At times this has happened and it is random and has happened to most of us.
      Try and repost, it will most likely come through.

    • / Reply

      Thanks,Kathy R.
      What a story. Keep on gettin it, British General. I will be cheering for him,Kathy R. Keep us up to date,please!

      Hope things are improving for you folks,ya need a break……

      • / Reply

        Dear Sign, Ann and Terry: I’m glad that came through – the piece I tried to post had a photo, and more details than I gave here, but I’ll keep an eye out for more information. I really got the panics when it failed to post, and thought I’d lost contact forever with you all – must be feeling fragile with the fires and all, but got emotional at the thought I’d lost you all. But had a re-look at your latest prayer, Sign, and felt a lot better. And even more so when my little bits went up. Sorry for the babble. Hugs. KathyR.

        • Babble all you want to,Kathy R. I am sure you’re on edge w/ the conditions in your part of the country.
          Good to hear from you,thanks for checking in!
          Hugs to you and yours.

  27. / Reply

    Happy birthday, Karen Gogue! Here’s a new poem for you.
    (Note to others: The second syllable of “Gogue” is pronounced–if I have it right this time–with a hard “g” followed by “wee,” like the first syllable in the name Guido. And here’s a link to last year’s birthday poem for Karen for those it might interest: https://staging.zenyatta.com/diary/diary-post-418/comment-page-5#comment-110394)

    A Birthday Poem for Karen Gogue
    (January 15, 2013)

    Looking back,
    2012 was for Karen quite a year.
    At times we for her health did fear,
    But at the Breeders’ Cup
    We were delighted to see
    That for our dear Karen Gogue
    Things were thankfully looking up.
    Another highlight
    For us all
    Was the delight
    Dottie Shirreffs took
    In Karen’s beautiful tribute books,
    Which so distinctly showed
    Karen’s heart and soul
    From conception through execution.
    Many will recall
    Karen had, in her creative way,
    Early on found
    The perfect solution
    How to give Dottie a special gift
    Which would our love for her convey,
    And, though the process was not swift,
    The final result was grand.
    Karen conceived and planned
    A scrapbook
    Wherein Z-sters’ personal photos would abound–
    Each one’s photo
    Into the book would go,
    Along with their name
    And a few of their words.
    Throughout Zennyland,
    Karen’s call for contributions was heard,
    And in they came
    To her abode,
    Sent by Zenyatta.com posters,
    Whether East- or West Coasters,
    From the Midwest or Southwest,
    The Gulf or a Great Lake,
    And ’twas all for the sake
    Of showing dear Dottie
    How thankful we were for the Diary–
    How strongly she our hearts stirred–
    And to let her at last see
    The faces of those
    Who faithfully followed her Voice of Z prose.
    The presentation to Dottie
    Was initially planned to be
    On Dottie’s 2011 birthday,
    But one thing or another got in the way
    As Karen filled one scrapbook,
    Then a second, and a third;
    It Karen took
    Endless months of travail
    Before she considered the project done
    And felt it nothing did lack.
    Then she to SoCal Z-sters let it be known
    The presentation would take place,
    Most appropriately,
    Before the first race
    On the day they also would unveil
    The life-sized bronze of Z
    At the Santa Anita track.
    The scrapbooks, having by then grown
    From just one
    To three,
    Together made a hefty stack
    Which Karen in a large gift box did pack,
    Secured with lovely ribbon ties.
    John Shirreffs, for his part, that day
    Had to devise
    A plausible guise
    So he Dottie could persuade
    Together with him to make her way
    To a spot in the shade
    Close to Clocker’s Corner
    Where we Dumplings, who adore her,
    For her waited, to her great surprise.
    Seeing us, and the gift on display,
    Dottie uttered softly, “Oh, you guys!”
    And continued with little cries
    Of “Oh my”
    As she opened each book
    And time took
    To discover
    Within their covers
    The many testimonies
    Of how very much
    We love her—
    They did Dottie truly touch,
    And the credit is all Ms. Gogue’s!
    Come October, Karen was at Hollywood Park
    With other Dumplings to see
    Eblouissante’s first start
    And to cheer
    Her thrilling from-last-to-first victory,
    A racing debut
    Reminiscent of her famed half-sis!
    Karen, we’re glad that you
    Tomorrow will not miss
    As Ebby goes on the quest
    For win number two.
    (Go, Ebby! May you surpass all the rest!)
    And we wish you, dear Karen, all the best
    As you today embark
    On a new year—
    May you be blessed
    With good health and every happiness!

    Happy birthday, Karen, and many, many happy returns!

      • / Reply

        Dear Karen G,

        Hope you have a great birthday and a wonderful birthday week.
        Also, hope you are entering the Santa Anita video contest.
        You have some winners.

    • / Reply

      Happy Birthday to our amazing Karen! You have been one of the “souls” of this blog – we love what you write as well as your absolutely amazing videos that give us those “almost like we were there” experiences. Meeting you at the BC was a real treat, and I will be forever grateful for ALL of the ways you made it such a fun experience!! Very best wishes for a super year! <3 <3 <3
      Sandy

  28. / Reply

    Dear Zenny Fans, Dumplings, and All,

    Come and embrace me Lord
    Hold me secure
    Hold me strong
    Hold me forever
    In your everlasting arms.

    Amen.

    Have a wonderful, blessed day.

  29. / Reply

    BLOODHORSE: JOHA TO RACE THIS SUMMER

    (Kind owners realized putting him (a 3 year old) up for sale with a minor; and is a candidate for the triple crown trail, withdrew him and will rehab and train him
    for a return to racing this summer)

    Connections Plan to Race Joha this Summer
    By Frank Angst, @BH_FAngst

    Updated: Monday, January 14, 2013 9:06 PM
    Posted: Monday, January 14, 2013 5:19 PM

    The connections of Joha are comfortable switching to Plan B with their grade I winner, who was withdrawn from the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale and will be pointed to a summer-fall racing campaign.

    A homebred for Wade Wacker’s and Derk Ball’s Bluegrass Equine Bloodstock, Joha was entered in the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale but the 3-year-old Johar colt developed a minor injury, according to Allen Kershaw, general manager for Bluegrass Equine Center. Because part of the attraction for potential buyers would have been picking up a 3-year-old for the Triple Crown trail, Kershaw said the owners decided to pull Joha from the sale. He would have been offered Jan. 7.

    “It only seemed fair to make that decision,” Kershaw said.

    Wacker and Ball race Joha in the name of Bluegrass Equine Bloodstock, an operation that features the Bluegrass Equine Center in Salvisa, Ky., and a farm near the Kentucky Horse Park. To prepare, Joha will return to where he received early training, Bluegrass Equine Center, which specializes in rehabilitation work.

    “We’re going to let him grow up a little bit,” Kershaw said. “He’ll have access to the training facilities here, including the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. We’re hoping for a June return.”

    Last year Joha scored a front-running victory in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) on the Polytrack at Keeneland. He also won the Colin Stakes on the Polytrack at Woodbine.

    Racing on turf, he finished a close second to Balance the Books in the With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga. Joha closed out his juvenile season with off-the-board finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II)–his first career dirt start–at Churchill Downs.

    Trained by Mike Maker, Joha has earned $427,538 from eight career starts.

    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/75574/connections-plan-to-race-joha-this-summer#ixzz2I3646Ebk

    • / Reply

      I had wondered why Joha had been pulled from the sale, I’m very happy to see the explanation and it’s good to know that his owners are sticking with and by him. Thanks for posting this.

      • / Reply

        Very welcome news about Joha. The simple fact or the matter is that we need more good race horses, the emphasis on race.

  30. / Reply

    DAILY RACING FORUM: ROYAL DELTA WORKS

    (most likely will pick up the Eclipse award for older female;
    the photo of her in the article is an outstanding one by
    Barbara Livingston)

    01/14/2013 4:34PM
    Gulfstream Park: Royal Delta, Ron the Greek work
    By Mike Welsch

    Barbara D. Livingston
    Royal Delta, almost certain to be named champion older female on Saturday, breezed a half-mile in 49.20 in her second work since winning the BC Ladies’ Classic.
    HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Royal Delta and Ron the Greek topped Sunday’s work tab at Payson Park. Royal Delta breezed a half-mile in 49.20 in her second work since winning the BC Ladies’ Classic. Like Trinniberg and Shanghai Bobby, she is expected to pick up a trophy at Saturday’s awards dinner as champion older female of 2012.

    Ron the Greek worked four furlongs in 49.10. A multiple Grade 1 winner, he is expected to have a rematch with Mucho Macho Man in Saturday’s Sunshine Millions Classic. Ron the Greek finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with Mucho Macho Man second.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.