Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Zenyatta News

Z and Baby Have New Paddock Mates

Photo courtesy of Lane's End.

Photo courtesy of Lane's End.

Here are today’s new photos of 12 Zenyatta, who weighed in on Friday at 191 lbs. Today he and his mom were turned out with the mare Spooky Minister and her three week old Candy Ride colt. They kept to themselves today, but we think they’ll be best buds in no time!

We’ll have more photos for you soon.
-Team Z

Reader Interactions

844 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Thank-you so much for the new photos and news about the Queen and her little Prince! We love seeing more of them.

    Congrats to Tasty on being a new mother! What a relief to know all is well with her. Thanks again for the news!

  2. / Reply

    Zenyatta,

    12Zenyatta is, as we say in Kentucky, “growing like a weed”!!! He’s adorable and so CUTE!!! You look fabulous and already have your girlish figure back! I hear that you are going to have a new boyfriend by the name of Tapit. In the horse world, you can have a new boyfriend every year if you want!

    Seriously, a big shout out to the Moss family and Team Zenyatta! Love staying in touch and hope that one day, we’ll be able to see Zenyatta again. I know the obstacles are there with keeping her and the baby safe with any type of open house – the’re safety and happiness is the priority.

    Much love!
    Sandra

      • / Reply

        I doubt Zenny will ever see California again. She is a Kentucky native; her first career of racing took her to a California base (but didn’t she travel well!!!), but then she moved on to her current career as a broodmare back in Kentucky. When she eventually IS pensioned, she will either stay right where she is, in the same expert and loving hands at Lanes End, or possibly go to Old Friends which is strongly supported by her owners the Mosses.

        If she were to come back to California it would be to be boarded at a farm somewhere, well cared for I’m sure, but it would NOT be to the back yard of her owners. They board all their mares at top quality farms; they don’t have a farm of their own. And horse need space, especially a big girl like Zenny who has been used to large open fields now as well as big roomy stalls.

        • We really don’t know if Ann and Jerry are going to buy
          A farm at this point. They may have many at 12
          Of Zenyatta’s children that they most likely will
          Not sell. They will have to purchase something large
          Enough to keep her children as it really will not
          Be cost effective to keep them at high end farms. I would
          Think Zenyatta would go to KY Horse park, but I
          Believe she will be pensioned close to Ann and Jerry.

          Time will only tell, but 10 to 12 children is a lot to pay
          For.

  3. / Reply

    What a great job Zenny is doing, Zenyatta 12 is looking great and is obviously thriving. Great news that Tasty has finally dropped her foal, I was really getting stressed about her. I’m sure that Zenny and Tasty will miss each other, they were such good friends and I was hoping that they’d stay together.

  4. / Reply

    Zenny, one of your BBF finally had her foal. We’re giving TT a very High Hoof and are surprised she delivered the little guy in the middle of the afternoon. No wonder the two of you got along so well…you both seem to like keeping folks on their toes.

    Team Z…how can we ever thank you for keeping this site alive. The pictures are fabulous and keep us smiling until our faces hurt.

    • / Reply

      TT withheld her prize; Zenny delivered privately,
      After The Mosses left and LE staff were delivering
      Another foal.

  5. / Reply

    Team Z thank you for the photos and for keeping us so up to date with Zenyatta and baby. He just keeps getting cuter and cuter. And what a good mama Zenyatta makes. I’m so glad to hear they have new paddock mates. I’m sure they will get along tremendously and the babies will have such fun together.

        • My sweet gelding’s barn name…oh, the memories! He still visits me in dreams! All my passed on relatives do, the last one I had, they were all talking at once, I wanted them to leave so I could talk to Buster! Twist N Run, reg name, he was AQHA. Thank You, Terry, for the stroll down memory lane!

        • @Sue F-I used to have a dog named Tide and I can only afford to live in a shoe now. @Andrea-If something I posted brought back such wonderful memories, it was my pleasure.

  7. / Reply

    Yea – congratulations to Tasty and her “little guy”. Can’t wait to see pics. I am sure Zenyatta and Baby Z will be calling to Tasty and her baby from different paddocks. God bless them all.

  9. / Reply

    Wow Tasty a huge congratulations to you and your connections. Take good care of yourself and the baby. Lots of Pictures soon . O. K.

      • / Reply

        Dear Max:

        You’r so welcome. Yes, SM is almost pure white. The little one is a bay. That makes, I think I read, 3 gray foals and 3 bays like Candy Ride that she’s had. Don’t think she’s ever been bred to any other stallion. The Pedigree Query only lists three grays, but another Z’ster posted that she has also had two bays by Candy Ride before this little guy.

        I get such a kick out of Z. I don’t think I’ve seen a photo yet where she doesn’t have the little one in front of her where she can keep an eye on him. Hugs,JB

        • Judy. Spooky ‘s colt is looking curiously at Z and Baby Z. He is probably thinking: “That’s the Queen.”
          I love that Baby Z is close to his mom and is getting his rest like a good boy.
          This is an excellent photo.

        • Thanks Judy, this photo is so beautiful. No matter how high the grass gets we can always spot 12Z by those antennae ears sticking up…..too funny, so glad the baby got her ears! Hugs

        • Dear Sue Fredrick:

          You’re so welcome. Oh, those ears. He’s something else. Love him. Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Love your comment, Max, that Spooky’s colt is looking at Z and thinking to himself, “That’s the Queen!”

  12. / Reply

    Really cute pictures. Thanks for posting them. I think there’s a way to predict the size that a horse will be, but I can’t remember exactly. i think the foal has to be a certain age, then you measure from the ground to the middle of the knee, then from there up to the withers and however far above the withers it is that’s the mature height.
    Has anyone else ever heard of that?

    Congratulations to Tasty and her connections!

    • / Reply

      To estimate mature height of a yearling take a string from point of fetlock to point of elbow, then take that length from point of elbow up.

  13. / Reply

    So happy Tasty had her foal. The only other one I know to watch for is Life IS Sweet. She and Bernardini should have had their date last April (don’t know the date). Anyway, I think it shouldn’t be too long.

    I was in a store today and saw that “War Horse” is going to be released for sale April 3rd. I never made it to the theater so will be ordering it OnDemand with our cable co.

    Mike Smith posted in Face Book that he is going to be at the Fairgrounds this weekend.

    Those are all the little tid bits I have.

    • / Reply

      Dear Marty:

      Thanks for the sale date on War Horse. I haven’t seen it yet either. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Mike E. Smith Entries
      March 29 – Santa Anita
      Warren’s Hopeful Wgt-124 Race 4 Claiming $12,500
      Verdula Wgt-121 Race 5 Maiden Special Weight
      Ten Devils Wgt-121 Race 7 Allowance

      March 30 – Santa Anita
      Hout Bay Wgt-121 Race 3 Allowance
      Afleet Cowboy Wgt-124 Race 5 Claiming $25,000
      Saratoga Yankee Wgt-120 Race 7 Allowance
      Bud and Brandy Wgt-124 Race 8 Maiden Special Weight

      April 1 – Fair Grounds
      Rousing Sermon Wgt-122 Race 10 Louisiana Derby

      Hopefully, Mikey will get #5,000 win at Santa Anita :-P

      • / Reply

        Thanks JAG for filling in the blanks. Hope you’re right about him getting that #5,000 win at Santa Anita.

        Lots of big races all over this coming weekend.

        Marty R.

      • / Reply

        May go on Friday with my daughter Jasmine! She’s not working that day … hope Mike can get close and win his 5,000 on Friday! Wouldn’t that be great video!!? I probably would be so excited and emotional I’d forget to turn on the camcorder!! Silly me!

        • I hope you and Jasmine get to see the 5000th win! Good luck to Mikie, Jasmine and you!

    • / Reply

      War Horse is a great film. Reminded me of Lassie Come Home. Watch for the whistling part near the end. Even an old goat like me was moved.

  14. / Reply

    Veterinary literature says mares can control
    Their progesterone secretion and that hormone
    Is the one that stimulates labor and delivery.

    Guess Tasty went on strike and finally realized
    She better have this baby so she would not be
    So uncomfortable.

  15. / Reply

    Dear Judy,
    Love the tweet photo of Zenny with her new paddock
    Mate and goal. Her foal is curious, maybe since he
    Is number five she is a little more laid back with
    Him than Zenny is. Old Zenyatta 12 is napping, taking
    After his mom. John always said that Zenny liked
    Her naps. Can’t wait to see the boys playing.

    • / Reply

      Dear Sign:
      Yes, little Spookey Minister 12 seems to be curious about Z12 in that photo. You’re probably right about SP being an experienced mare; she’s not as vigilant as Z is with Z12. Kind of like humans anxious with a first baby and not so much with a second and third. Yes, our little guy likes his ZZZZ’s. Pun intended. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Judy and Sign. One of the best stories from Mario via the Kennedys was the one about Z taking power naps before a race. Also who can forget the napping style of Life is Sweet? Definitely world class. Does anyone have any news of Life is Sweet?

      • / Reply

        Dear Max:

        I can’t find anything. Didn’t she have her Smart Strike colt on March 23, 2011 (Bernie’s Birthday). That would make her due with the Bernardini foal late February or early March 2012. I bet she’s foaled by now. Although, two words: Tasty Temptation. Ha, ha. Hugs, JB

  17. / Reply

    Hi Zenny and Z12: Yes it does take a little time to get use to new situations. Little Z12 and the Little Candy Ride colt will be playing together in no time. Zenny, you are such a good mom. Naturally you would be very protective of your baby. I can see that you would take your time getting to know your new paddock friends. You’re little one is growing up too fast. Z12 is 191 lbs. already.

    Love you Zenny and 12Z.

  18. / Reply

    Good going Tasty. Glad you and foal are OK!!!
    Busy time on the farm w/ all of you little critters comin along. Best time of the year and nothing prettier than seeing a new foal and momma in the stall and pasture.

    Thanks for all of the news. Lovin it!!!!!

  19. / Reply

    Dear Z Family thank you to those that wrote to my Corey. He is a really sweet little boy. He was amazed that Baby Z could walk. I just got a kick out of how suprised he was. He went home sick today.
    I wish I could see the Twitter pictures of Baby Z and Spooky Minister 12 but Twitter is blocked by the school. I will look when I get home.
    Thank you for all the good information. I feel like this is like the diary : )
    I am also going to buy War Horse. I never have time to go to the theater. Love, Shari

  20. / Reply

    Steve Haskins tweeted
    One of my favorite trivia questions: Name the only horse to win 4 consecutive Gr. I stakes at 4 different tracks and 4 different distances

    And, the answer is____?

    • / Reply

      I have no clue….
      could be Zenny or john Henry…
      Or our friend Cigar or Citation …
      however…maybe Kelso

      • / Reply

        Hi Ashton,
        I’ll have to check that out.
        I know that both Rachel Alexandra & Zenyatta won 4 consecutive Gr 1 races on different tracks.
        The gotcha is different distances.
        So, I am wondering if it someone older before a race length was changed.
        Have to check Secretariat–for example.
        Trivia questions are fun.
        Steve Haskin picked a tough one.
        Hugs,
        Keta

        • Native Diver – but that was before the races were graded … do those count? Tough one!

        • The Diver had stakes wins at four different tracks SA, HP, Del Mar, GGF, and Bay Meadows – all at different distance. All total 34 stakes wins in his lifetime – he lived until 8 years old. His racing career was cut short due to colic and rupture, and he was only getting better at 8 years old!

        • Karen-I don’t believe that the four races you refer to had Grade 1 status. However, I agree with you. The Diver was spectacular and only got better with age..

    • / Reply

      Now I would never ever have gotten this answer
      Steve Haskin tweeted Horse: Criminal Type
      Pimlico Special 1 3/16 then Met Mile then Hollywood Gold Cup 10F and Whitney 9F
      Steve also tweeted
      I was 12 in ’90 but the Met Mile was a classic that year Criminal Type Housebuster Easy Goer Black Tie Affair. What a field!
      Criminal Type history
      A descendant of Nearco, he was bred at the famed Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky and owned in partnership with Jurgen K. Arnemann. He was sired by Alydar out of the mare Klepto, making him a half-brother to the Eclipse Award winning turf mare Estrapade and the Italian Group One winner Isopach.[1] It was perhaps because of the success of his siblings on turf that he was originally sent to be trained in Europe.
      D. Wayne Lucas was his trainer
      In 1990, at age four, Criminal Type began to show promise on the U.S. dirt tracks, then at age five he won seven of eleven races entered and earned two Eclipse Awards including the most prestigious award of all, the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. Criminal Type won four consecutive Grade 1 races: The Pimlico Special, the Metropolitan Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup, and the Whitney Handicap. In his wins, Criminal Type defeated 1989 Horse of the Year, Sunday Silence, eventual 1991 Horse of the Year, Black Tie Affair, U.S. Outstanding Sprint Horse Housebuster, and winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male Horse and Hall of Famer, 1989 Belmont Stakes winner Easy Goer. Other quality horses vanquished by Criminal Type include Opening Verse, Lively One, Ruhlmann, and Flying Continental.
      Criminal Type was the last champion to run in the Calumet Farm devil’s red and blue colors.
      signofthetimes: His pedigree includes Native Dancer!!!

  21. / Reply

    Eblouissante (3-Year-Old Filly)
    Date: March 28, 2012
    Track: HOLLYWOOD PARK
    Distance: Five Furlongs
    Time: 1.01:00 Handily
    Track Condition: Fast
    Surface: All Weather Track
    Rank: 12/36

    I also posted this info under the Eblouissante question in the forum…

    • / Reply

      JAG, isn’t that her fastest time yet? I still don’t know how important that ranking is, especially if it includes times for older males, who I think would be faster…..just because. My lack of training, racing knowledge is showing. Thanks for the update on her training. Wonder if her first race is very far off. Marty R.

      • / Reply

        I think John is really taking his time with her as he did with Z. This is a lovely filly and they want to do “right” by her. They are not “Pushing” E. She will tell them when she is ready. That is what I think.

        • Alex Bowdoin,

          I agree. I think John is being careful with E., too. I believe Vertigeneux (my apologies if I’ve misspelled her name) anyway, Zenny and Eby’s momma had ankle problems and I think Zenny had some ankle issues as well so that slowed down her training. I haven’t seen anything about any problems with Eby, but John definitely knows what to look for and avoid. And it’s absolutely to his credit that Zenyatta retired totally sound in body and spirit. He will have Eby race when the time is right.

      • / Reply

        12/36 means 36 horses worked 5 furlongs that day and “E” was the 12th fastest. They are not divided by age or sex, just the total number worked at that distance. The importance of the ranking depends on what the trainer was looking for in the work. 1.01 flat is a good, solid work unless he was looking for a bullet [which I doubt.] [Bullet: fastest work @ the distance for the day, denoted by a “bullet” in bold type.] Hope this helps.

        • Angela From Abilene,

          Thank you for your response. I’ve seen the term bullet and wondered what it meant.

          Before the races at Arapahoe Park, my local race track, the announcer will announce changes to the races and other information. One of the things he sometimes points out are the workout results for some of the horses. I’ve tried taking those results into consideration when trying to choose a winner, but is seems the horses with the fastest work times aren’t necessarily the ones who win. I’m thinking these results must have meanings for the trainers besides just speed.
          Marty R.

        • You are correct, Angela. The problem with looking at workouts on paper is that, unless you saw it in person, you would not know if the horse went fast early or late and what the trainer had in mind. As far as a handicapping tool, I use workouts and the spacing of them as indications of a horse’s fitness.

        • Thanks Terry,

          I knew there had to be more to using the workout times for handicapping than just the latest one. I actually hope to learn more about betting this year when the track announcer holds his Dos and Donuts get togethers this season. I try to pick a winner, don’t necessarily bet, and that’s it. I can’t say I’m making the track any money. LOL

          Marty R.

  23. / Reply

    Just read an article in current Equus magazine about herd pecking order. They used Zenny as an alpha mare regardless of the herd she is placed. They said she has such an aura about her that her body language commands her position. I imagine she is a kind leader but definitely a LEADER. I know that people around her share this feeling.
    Congrats to TT and her handsome new son!

    • / Reply

      That is exactly what Winter Quarter Farms said about her. She is Alpha and will put
      others in their place, but maybe only and kick or a bit not vicious. Kicking and Biting
      is the way for a mare to communicate that she does not like something or someone.

      Stallions are much more aggressive; they use their non verbal behavior by approaching and trying to intimidate and of course biting, but their bite is very different from a mares.
      Could cause injury.

      • / Reply

        In a mixed herd, the Alpha mare is the most aggressive member. The stallion is only aggressive towards threats to the herd but the Alpha mare will bite & kick at everyone, including the stallion to keep them in their proper place. If you ever have the opporunity to sit and watch herd dynamics in action, it’s better than anything Agnes Nixon can write!

  24. / Reply

    Since the forum already has my name listed (ooey! blush! blush!) I posted my videos there for those who don’t have You Tube or FB … I uploaded one and another is in the works. Check back there under my name once in awhile to see other videos I may post. ENJOY!

  25. / Reply

    Looking forward to seeing pictures of Tasty’s foal.
    I am so confused about how to proceed here. Are we all meeting here and THEN moving on to the discussions? I’ve been checking out the discussion topics, but I feel like I’m losing touch. Have been extremely busy, too, though.

    • / Reply

      Barbara, I think we can all post here as well as diving into the forum. I agree it’s a bit confusing if you want to keep in touch with everyone since they are split among various topics in the forum. I suspect Team Z will keep adding news bits so we can “meet” here.

      • / Reply

        I agree Terry, forum is too fragmanted at least for
        Now. The webmasters should have decided on broad
        Discussion topics. For example Videos is just videos no
        Dialog. Perhaps it will improve over time.

  26. / Reply

    Dear Tasty congratulation for your baby so glad both of you are well, big kiss.

    My adorable Zenyatta big kiss for you and your adorable baby love you, Ingrid.

  27. / Reply

    I agree with you all. I like the Forum but, like you, I feel that we’re all split up. I like to come here because, it’s so much easier to keep up with things going on with Our Z Nation Family.

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