Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Zenyatta News

Weaning, Before and After

Zenyatta and 13Z, August. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
Zenyatta and 13Z, August. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End

Happy Tuesday!

Zenyatta’s youngest boy was weaned last week, and it all went very well. Alys sent us some photos before and after, and as you can see the boys are quite large and independent at this time. Z is happy to be back with her old friend Life Is Sweet and they definitely seem to share a bond. We’ll have more photos to share with you soon.

-Team Z

Before:

Before weaning, August. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
Before weaning, August. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Before weaning, August. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
Before weaning, August. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End

After:

13Z with fellow weanlings this week. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
13Z with fellow weanlings this week. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Zenyatta and paddock mates, including Life Is Sweet, post weaning. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
Zenyatta and paddock mates, including Life Is Sweet, post weaning. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End

Reader Interactions

1,196 Comments

  1. / Reply

    So very happy that the weaning went well. I always worry at this time for mom and her offspring. Hard on both.
    I am so glad also that Zenyatta has been reunited with Life is Sweet. That is wonderful news. Helps my heart so much. And so glad 13 Z has his paddock mates.

    Thank You so much all of Team Zenyatta, Ann, Jerry, Lane’s End, Alys.
    Thank You so much for sharing with us.

  2. / Reply

    Hi Zenny
    I hope you and 13Z are handling this well. I am sure that 13Z is having a great time with his new found friends.

    Zenny how great is this that you and Life is Sweet are now able to catch up on things. I bet both of you had such fun chatting it up over the good old days. I bet both of you can’t wait for your John to come for a visit. You’ll have to fill us in on Life is Sweet’s family . You had 2 boys what about Life is sweet?

    Take care Zenny.

    • / Reply

      Dear Linda:

      Life Is Sweet had a colt in 2011 by Smart Strike, a filly by Bernardini in 2012 and a filly by Tapit on 4/19/13. Hugs, JB

  3. / Reply

    Dear Max

    Just a little bit of news I saw. Didn’t know if you saw it. Todd Pletcher, as Agent bought a Dynaformer Colt at the sale. Would have loved to have seen him sell live but I didn’t just saw it in the results. Hey, this might be another one for Uncle Johnny to ride.
    Would just love to have seen what he looked like. Those Dynaformer’s are just beautiful to me.

  5. / Reply

    Smart Strike Colt Sells for $1M at Keeneland
    Hip 426 with Video
    By Blood-Horse Staff Updated: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 7:22 PM
    A Smart Strike colt out of Canadian champion older mare Serenading, by A.P. Indy, sold for $1 million late in the second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 10 in Lexington.
    Mike Puhich purchased the bay colt, who was bred in Kentucky by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and N.E.T.P., for a partnership. The colt, who was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale, will go to Pegasus Training Center in Washington to begin early training.
    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/80599/smart-strike-colt-sells-for-1m-at-keeneland#ixzz2eXKPKnhS

  6. / Reply

    Million-Dollar Filly Ends Keeneland Day Two
    Hip 438 with Video
    By Blood-Horse Staff Updated: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 7:23 PM
    The second session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 10 in Lexington ended with a bang as Andrew Rosen landed the day’s fourth yearling to reach $1 million.
    Rosen went to $1 million to purchase the final yearling offered on the day, a Malibu Moon filly (Hip 438) who is a half sister to grade I winner Power Broker. The filly was consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent.
    Through two sessions, eight yearlings have sold for $1 million or more
    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/80600/million-dollar-filly-ends-keeneland-day-two#ixzz2eXHyGx6a

  7. / Reply

    What a treat to find this post. Still don’t have my usual computer which means I can read the posts better than I can respond, but I just had to say AMEN to the previous comments. Not-so-little Red is gorgeous – so glad the weaning went well – thrilled that Zenny is back with her BFF!! Thanks as always to Alys, Team Z, and the Lane’s End folks for the beautiful pictures and for keeping us in the loop. Love seeing Zenny and the girls just “hanging out” in the last shot. They certainly look comfortable and accepting of the fact that life goes on. HIgh hoof to all!

  9. / Reply

    I have come up with a name for 13Z. Since 12Z (Cozmic One) was given a name “of the stars with a Zenyatta tie-in”, I thought that “Astral Zensation” would be perfect! :-) Love being able to see both the colts growing up and their beautiful mother. Thank you so much for sharing all of them with us! All hail the Queen and her Princes!

  10. / Reply

    Wise Dan worked today at Keeneland

    Dan just wanted to tell you I so hope you win at Woodbine. I hope also that you have a wonderful safe trip to Canada. What a beautiful race track that is too. I have been to Canada twice but never visited Woodbine. I went in the Winter and I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. Loads of Snow..
    Wow Secretariat raced there too.
    Listen Dan are you going by plane or van. You know we have to know all these things about you. However you go, Easy You Go.
    GodSpeed to all

  11. / Reply

    This is for the non-horse people that have commented here about the “horrors” of weaning and one Amber, in particular, whose contribution is that it is a pity that Z is just a breeding machine now. Weaning is natural and should be painless. If we don’t do it the mare has to, and she can and will become quite mean. The best weaning method I’ve seen is the method used at E. P. Taylor’s Winfields Farm in Canada. The method is described by the farm manager in the Brough Scott book written about Nijinsky. Winfields weaned at 17 weeks and their method was to paddock groups of 20 to 30 mares who all foaled within a two or three week period together. Then as each foal reached 17 weeks, the mother was removed from the paddock, leaving the foal among its “friends” and their mothers. Eventually all the mothers were removed from the paddock leaving 20 or 30 happy foals. 13Z, Zaapit, is going to be a monster.

  12. / Reply

    Thanks for the lovely video of Life Is Sweet, it’s wonderful to see a horse feeling so safe and comfortable that she can stay down in the straw until SHE is ready to get up. I think it says a lot about John’s love and care for his horses.

  13. / Reply

    God Bless America.

    It’s a beautiful spring day here in Canberra, with a huge blue sky. I send my love to you all and will pause to think of the courage of so many on that dreadful day. Hugs KathyR.

    • / Reply

      That day is so surreal to me. I woke up in the morning as usual and I prepared myself to leave as I had a trip of approximately 150 miles to make, one way, to get to my first appointment at 10:30 a.m. my time. On the way I listened to a tape I had made of my favorite music and never turned on the radio. I conducted my meeting, went to my next one, again without turning on the radio, and then left for home and arrived at about 6:00 p.m. my time. Imagine my surprise when I turned on the TV. Nobody I interacted with that day mentioned the World Trade Center. I am sure I was one of the few people who did not know what had happened.

  15. / Reply

    I can hardly believe our PrinZling is old enough to wean!!! Glad all went well!! He now enters the next phase….blessings on him!!! Our Queen is happy to be back with her manest best friend. Hope the flies give them all some peace!!! Love to Zenyatta, CoZ, and PrinZling, Mary in Boone

  16. / Reply

    By way of explanation – if anyone is confused – my message was sent at 11.27 am, Wednesday 11 September – Australian time.

    • / Reply

      Dear Kathy R

      Thank You so much for remembering. I remember too with such a heavy heart. i don’t think America will ever be the same again. But we go on. And Remember so lovingly all who lost there lives We will see them again.
      I think about so often too of all who went down on the plane in Shanksville, Pa. How brave they were and all the lives they possibly saved. God Bless em.
      And I will always always remember what Todd Beamer said. “Let’s Roll” I will remember that all my life. What hero’s they are.
      Love You all………………………………………………………….A word of inspiration and Love Todd, “Let’s Roll”

        • Dear Judy

          I’ve started getting teary eyed all over again. Every time I think about it.
          You know, I was trying to think of the flight # and could not of the plane in Pennsylvania, Can’t forget it…..Oh My, It was United Flight #93.
          You know they said it was the only plane that didn’t reach its destination. But, you know after it’s destination was changed, I would be willing to bet it did meet its destination. You think “Heaven” I would think so, for some of them.

    • / Reply

      Peggy and Judy-I am back to normal, or what passes for normal for me, although it took a while. I shared this with Kathy R, who was kind enough to send me an email, but this is the first time I have mentioned it on the blog. When I told the joke at Ron’s funeral, I had arranged in advance for his son Barry to deliver the punch line. I wasn’t sure how that would be received, but his wife loved it and she was the only one I was concerned about. It is often said, and it is true, that funerals are for the living. I agree with the philosophy that it should be a celebration of life.

  18. / Reply

    LOVE the photos of both the Queen and her son!! AWESOME! Every time I see them I see nothing but HEALTH and HAPPINESS!! So glad ZENYATTA went to Lane’s End – KUDOS to the entire team there and to Team Zenyatta!! THANK YOU for all you folks do! Thanks to Ann & Jerry for sharing her with us!!

  19. / Reply

    what a WONDERFUL surprise- after a long workday, to come home to see this update. Love that 13Z is a big boy now, and that Zenny is back with her BFF, Life Is Sweet. Thank you Lane’s End and Team Z for keeping us so well informed….

  21. / Reply

    Thanks again for sharing wonderful photos of my very favorite thoroughbred family. Wish I could be there to pet them. So happy the weaning went well. Best regards.

    • / Reply

      Kathy R. Having a real soft spot for Saloon, I would like to see him get the chance to visit Nelly. According to her groom, Nelly loved Saloon. I’m certain that Saloon felt the same. It would be very difficult for man or horse not to fall in love with Nelly.

      • / Reply

        Dear Max:

        So true – you know Nelly has to be something special when a big boofy bloke like Peter Moody goes all soft and emotional when he talks about her (and good on him, I say!).

  23. / Reply

    Hi Zenny and Life is Sweet. So happy you two are together again. How wonderful for you both. Glad the boys did well with the weaning. It doesn’t seem possible it’s already time for that. Loving you all <3

  24. / Reply

    12 years ago- it certainly doesn’t seem that long ago. Where were you when you heard the news about the Twin Towers? What thoughts ran through your mind? What have you done to make sure that your children, your young nieces and nephews, your future, NEVER FORGET? Do you remember how we came together as a country? How we held hands, prayed, cried? Do you remember seeing the news of the first responders rushing into one, then two burning buildings, trying to save the lives of people trapped hundreds of feet above in those two towers? Do you remember how we vowed as a nation that we would stand together? We wouldn’t forget, we would NOT let those deaths be in vain?

    12 years have passed. Children have grown up not knowing their father, their mother, their aunt, uncle, grandparent. Do you hold those children in your hearts? How about the spouses and loved ones of those who were lost? The heroes on flight 93 who prevented the US Capitol from being attacked by crashing their plane in a field in Pennsylvania?

    When I think of 9/11, I feel deep pain- the pain of loss- of knowing that our country was forever changed on that day, that our borders could be breached, that terrorists COULD hurt us on our own soil. I have always believed in maintaining military strength, that we should always thank those in uniform for serving our country, whether it’s a military uniform, police uniform, fire uniform, because every single day, they put their lives on the line for us. I also think of
    hope, the fervent hope and belief that this nation will always remember, will always persevere, will continue to stand together and show the world that Americans are strong, resilient, courageous and most of all, caring.

    If you’re too young to remember September 11, 2001, I urge you to read up about it, ask people older than you where they were, what they felt when our world changed forever

    • / Reply

      Thank you, Casey. I remember it so vividly. I had made a quick trip to Wal-Mart before heading to my Tuesday Bible study. It took a while to sink in that our generation was facing the very face of evil. All of a sudden, as we were glued to our tv screens for days, the people who died in the Twin Towers and in the planes and on the ground became real people to us. We embraced them and their families in our prayers. And who could ever forget that fence with signs about the missing?
      My thanks to our wonderful military forces who keep us safe, the nurses and doctors who faced unthinkable trauma that day, and the firefighters and police who lost their lives trying to help. May we never forget. Hugs to all.

    • / Reply

      Thanks, Casey. It is always good to remember even though it brings such feelings of sadness. I tried to watch a program on Animal Planet last night that was dedicated to the search and rescue dogs of that day. I watched for a while but my heart could not take it so I had to tune into something mindless on Science Channel. After twelve years it still breaks my heart and most likely always will.

    • / Reply

      Family and friends of those who were lost—you are in my thoughts and prayers. I had visited NYC in 1999 and visited the World Trade Center. I was at work on the morning of Sept 11 2001 and someone had pulled up the news on their computer. At first everyone thought it was a tragic accident but much too soon it became evident that it was done intentionally. The news coverage was just incredible that day. I again visited NYC in Oct 2001 and viewed the site from a boat in the harbor. It was lit up with floodlights as they were working around the clock and the rubble was still smoking. Unbelievable! As we walked around the city, NYC residents would cross the street to thank us for visiting their city.

    • / Reply

      I was driving to an appointment, car radio on, when the station announcer said a plane had hit one of the towers. I was thinking of a small plane and thinking of the pilot who must have been killed and hoping there weren’t passengers. After the appointment I heard what really happened, saw the news on tv, and cried. People from my dog club that are certified for search and rescue loaded their dogs and went to help. Will never forget that day.

    • / Reply

      Dear Casey:

      Will never forget that day. My nephew was living in NJ and working in NY. He often attended meetings at the Trade Center. We were beside ourselves until he was able to get through and let us know he was alright. He came home a couple of days later and stayed for a week. He lived and worked there until 2006 when he moved back to Rhode Island permanently. He still visits friends and all of them were deeply changed by that day. Everyone knew someone who worked in those buildings.

      My heart goes out to all the people, families and heroes on that day who were not so lucky and to all the heroes that put themselves at risk to save others. Love and Hugs, JB

  25. / Reply

    Can I ask if you are going to give Zen a break from popping out foals after her third? Even a year to gather her strength again would be good.

  26. / Reply

    God bless them. Glad the weaning went well, seems like it was just yesterday Coz was weaned and now he is such a big handsome boy!

  28. / Reply

    Good morning Zenyatta, Cozmic One and red prince. I love starting a day looking at your beautiful family. Kisses on all your soft noses.

    • / Reply

      What a cute picture of the girls with LIS’s little one! From this rear shot you can see our Queen had “junk in the trunk” as they say and those hindquarters were the engine that drove her to greatness.

    • / Reply

      The brave people on that plane should never be forgotten and, as long as I am alive, they never will be. It is hard to imagine how much worse things might have been if the hijackers had been able to carry out their plot. Their action took real courage. God bless all their souls.

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