ZENYATTA WILL BE BRED TO TAPIT
Owners Jerry and Ann Moss announced today that ZENYATTA, the 2010 Horse of the Year, will be sent to Tapit to be bred in 2012. “ZENYATTA’s pedigree is a great match to the A.P. Indy sire line, and in choosing Tapit, we think this will be a dynamic mating. Her first mating was to Bernardini, a son of A.P. Indy, and we are thrilled with her colt.”
A grandson of Lane’s End’s two-time leading sire A.P. Indy, Tapit is by Pulpit and out of the stakes winner Tap Your Heels. Tapit, a Grade 1 winner, was third on the General Sire list last year and is currently ranked second on that list. He is the sire of three Breeders’ Cup winners in his first four crops, including last year’s champion juvenile colt Hansen. Tapit stands at Gainesway.
ZENYATTA is boarded at Mr. and Mrs. William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. She foaled a colt by Bernardini on March 8 and the Mosses were at Lane’s End for the birth.
Pam Zacek,
What a beatutiful picture of Baby Zand our queen Zen, maybe you all have a great day, on the blue grass, and wow, I heard about AP Indy, wow, for the new one to pick for Zen but to me this one, Little Zen will be the best of the lot, Look at him, hes so cute, and looks, just like Mom, real smart, have a good blue grass day, and , and the carrots, too, Looks like Zen your the best Mom of them all, showing, him the grass, LOl, Love ya, glad your healthy and Baby Zen is healthy, I hope they pick a great Name for your baby, a real good one,
‘
Teresa E.
Tapit, eh? How cool would it be to have a nearly white foal like Hansen is? Anyone know what color Hansen’s dam is? I am a big fan of his and hope he goes all the way…well as far as he can get LOL.
So its obvious they are going to breed our Queen every year. What a crappy life, always pregnant, then go through the pain of birthing, then raise, love your foal and then he’s taken away. I know that’s they way they do it but I just don’t like it.
I think Tiznow would be a good match for her, size, looks, conformation. And if they want to stay with the Slew/AP Indy line, why not just go back to Berni? You know you can get a great foal from him already. Look at that fine boy she has now.
Anyway, it would be cool to have a white/grey horse as the Queen’s daughter.(I say it will be a filly this time!)
And I’m sure someone already has come up with Zapit for the name. naaaa, bad name.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Teresa:
Here’s the pedigree chart for Stormy Sunday, Tapit’s Dam. Click on the small horse icon and her photo pops up. She’s a medium color Bay. Hugs, JB
http://www.pedigreequery.com/stormy+sunday
carol in utah
Judy…thought Tapits dam is Tap Your Heels…who just foaled at lanes end within last couple of days
Alex Bowdoin, MA
It is Tap Your Heels.
carol in utah
I have it…Stormy Sunday was bred to Tapit and ….produced Hansen
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Carol in Utah and Alex B.:
Please excuse me. Teresa asked who Hansen’s Dam was and I inadvertently posted “Tapit’s” Dam. Meant to say “Stormy Sunday, Hansen’s Dam”. Hansen is by Tapit out of Stormy Sunday. You and Alex are both right. Tapit’s by Pulpit of of Tap Your Heels. Sorry for the confusion. Not getting enough sleep lately. Ha, ha. Hugs, JB
WMJoelfan5
http://www.pedigreequery.com/hansen2
Hansen’s dam is Stormy Sunday, who was bay.
Sharon in Atlanta, GA
I so love Hansen. He’s like a ghost coming around a track. It’s so unusual to have a grey turn that light at such a young age.
If 12Z wasn’t weaned at 5 or 6 months, Z would wean him herself. It’s the way nature works. For sure neither of them will be happy with the separation but it doesn’t last that long. Nature is far kinder to horses than it is to humans. Our babies are truly never weaned. They’re still our babies when they’re 40 or 50. Z would probably always know him if she was around him but she wouldn’t feel the loss the way we would. She’ll be alright and so will Baby Z. The people at LE will help with all of that. Thank goodness Z is with them. What a fine group of people they are and so very knowledgeable.
Patricia/Far northern CA
Sharon, well put. Take a look around at wild animals… nature gives them the tools they need to survive (physically and emotionally).
A wild mare may be running in a group that includes her nursing foal, her yearling, and maybe even a 2-year-old. If the group hasn’t been broken up by predators (including humans) there could be even others, an older daughter with her foal or foals, and any mare older than 1-2 years old in foal as well. Some will survive, some won’t, and that’s nature’s way of balancing out a population.
Colts, as they reach puberty, are usually chased out of the herd by the stallion, and they form little bachelor herds which may or may not remain nearby the main herd. I have a friend in Texas who runs ALL her stallions (about 14 as I recall) together in one big pasture, by the way; when she wants to breed one she brings him up to the breeding shed and he does his business and goes back with the boys when he’s done. For a couple of years I ran my young Arabian stallion with two geldings near the same age, and they were the best of buddies. He learned herd manners and even today, at age 27 years and 11 months, he is the easiest of horses to live with and work around; and he has mares just across his fence for company (former “wives” and a daughter). He’s still “all boy” but he is “all gentleman” as well. With horses AND people.
And (last anecdote for this time) my old Appaloosa stallion was a range stud in Canada until he was 5 (with numerous foals to his credit) and then they broke him to be a ranch horse and he went on from there to become a well known show horse (in English and Western tack and Nez Perce costume!) — I got him at age 15 and routinely rode him in groups with mares and geldings and even other stallions… and occasionally he was turned out in a large field with several geldings. Perfect gentleman at ALL times.
People put artificial rules and demands and limitations on horses— often without looking at the species itself and its natural behaviors and needs. They are NOT humans, they do NOT experience life in the same way we do… but if one takes the time to observe and study them, and interact with them, they are wonderful companions, a great way to get from Point A to Point B, wonderful sporting companions, or just plain eye candy to enjoy from a distance.
The entire team around Zenyatta, from the Mosses on down, John and Dottie and Barn 55, and all the folks at LE, all know and understand this and they do and WILL do what is ONLY the best for Zenyatta. ALWAYS.
If she had had trouble foaling, or had trouble bonding with or raising her colt, things would be different. But she is a wonderful broodmare in EVERY way, and she so obviously loves and nurtures that baby; she has found a happy and productive second career. I don’t think the Mosses have a big back yard to plonk her into, and she’d have been bored long ago in a small, confined space. Horses are expensive to keep, and though the Mosses are affluent folks they still want to make sure to put Zenny to the “highest and best use” — and if she is happy doing that, FABULOUS. They will NOT sell her foals; we (if we are patient!) are in for some wonderful racing in the next few years. I myself cannot wait.
Patricia
Suz CA/TX
The most darling picture yet. The Prince is growing up so quickly. Glad to hear about the next date nite. Hope it’s a grey filly
Still thinking good thoughts for Tasty
Janie (in L.A.)
What a precious picture! TOO CUTE for words. Thanks for the update about Tapit.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Hi Everyone,
Tapit, great choice by the Moss’. So happy to read all of your interesting and informative posts on A.P. Indy’s line and color gray. Think it would be lovely if Z has a gray (maybe a filly next time).
Z Team, thank you so much for this beautiful photo of Z and Z12. So appreciate it. Hugs, JB
Terry Crow
Today’s hall of fame joke-You might be a redneck if the cockroaches leave you a message telling you to clean the place up.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Hurray Terry C.:
You’re back. Hugs, JB
Sharon in Atlanta, GA
Hey, Terry. It’s so great to see you posting again. Do you have any redneck jokes for GA? There should be a whole lot of those out there.
Terry Crow
Sharon-Georgia is the redneck capitol of the world. All of the jokes apply to Georgians. However, for you I will try to supply some that apply more strictly to GA. Remember, I am not laughing at rednecks, I am laughing with them.
signofthetimes
Oh wow, so glad you are back hocking, have as always
Enjoyed your commenting. Great one today, I am
Having Orkin out tomorrow!!!!
Terry Crow
Very funny, Signofthetimes-You are back in form.
Karen Gogue PROUD Nanny/Granny ♥♥
Terry, how much do you want them to make the check out for?? :)
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Terry, thanks for resuming some Redneck operations! Even knowing the reasons, I still have missed that.
Jeanne Sutton
What a great photo. You should give credit to the photographer! Thank you!
Tamara
For those of you commenting on how awesome it would be for Zen to produce a gray foal… Remember, unless albino, gray foals are born dark :) They will look for gray hairs around the eyes (some form goggles…too cute), or even as minute as a single gray eyelash can indicate the foal will turn gray. In this case, if the foal is destined to be gray, most likely it will be born bay and then turn gray as it ages.
As for breeding her now, it is common to rebreed a mare on what is called her “foal heat.” Tends to bode well for conception. And, considering that 12Z will only be a few weeks old, he most likely will travel with her to Gainesway as separating them would produce anxiety for them both and Zen *may* not then be receptive to Tapit.
What an exciting choice in stallions!
Patricia/Far northern CA
Actually she was not bred on her foal heat, which is typically 7-10 days after foaling; that’s already past. More usually a mare is rebred on her 30-day heat, when the foal is about 30 days old. The foal heat is sometimes used when breeders want to get a problem mare in foal; but I have always believed (through education, advice, and experience) that bypassing the foal heat gives the mare a chance to recover from any possible bruising or other minor issues from foaling; gives her uterus a chance to get back to normal, flush out any remaining matter from this foaling, etc. I NEVER bred a mare on foal heat and my mares (because I paid attention to their health and systems and behavior) almost always conceived on one cover and always carried to term.
And if anyone asked me for advice I always told them to forget the foal heat and go for the 30-day one. It may be easier to GET a mare in foal on the foal heat, but if she still has some unresolved issues or healing to do from the last one, she could lose this next fetus. I HAVE seen that happen.
*****
Yes, 12Z will travel with Zenny to Gainesway; some farms have an actual small foal pen in the breeding shed so the mare can see the baby during the breeding process. And several famrs I’ve seen in the past which use breeding chutes wil have a little corral built on the end where the mare’s head is, again so they can see each other. Even if they just have someone holding the foal where she can see it, the mare will be much more cooperative and more able to relax. I seem to recall the National Stud in Newmarket has this arrangement.
At any rate the visit to Gainesway will be by van, and it will be a brief one with return to LE and regular routine the same day. Luckily they’re all concentrated around Lexington.
Lisa in TN
I have had mares that won’t breed while nursing. So they were the every other year mare. I figured that there was a reason for them not catching or coming back into heat.
Sue Noel/Sun Valley,ID
@ JAG–You are SO right!! What a great observation!! Isn’t he just the most gorgeous foal ever??? Love evrything about him.He looks so intelligent and seems to be so secure and confident already What a blessed boy he is to have Z for a mom and Ann and Jerry as his grandparents!! Hope he never knows an unhappy moment!!
He has had so many pictures taken,he seems to know just what to do when he is looking into the camera!! I can just hear him thinking,”here they come again,POSE”.
Thrilled about the new breeding,a gray baby would be exciting!! We can all be assured that EVERYTHING done for Zenny,EVER, will only be done in her best interest!! She is loved by the Mosses too much for any other outcome!!
@ Z and Baby Z–Have a perfect day with the sun on your backs and a soft breeze to ruffle your manes!!
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
I think his mother is teaching him to model. After all, what horse knows more about posing for pictures than Zenyata?
suew/Va
Your comment is “too cute”.
Shannon J. in Seattle
LOVE that he is going to Tapit as he throws such GORGEOUS and talented babies BUT his Enick was only a C whereas his sire (a SON, not grandson) of AP Indy, Pulpit was an A++ so I am tad confused. Perhaps they are hoping for another Stardom Bound, Zazu, Hansen, or CAreless Jewel. While he has had some nice colts his true calling seems to be in his daughters so hopefully between him and Z the foal will be a filly and the next big white horse to race!
Either way, as gorgeous as Baby Z12 is and as gorgeous as Z and Tapit are, I have no doubt the foal will be stunning! Tapit will liekly bring in the precocity for sure. LOL! My prediction is it will be a filly & look like dad but run liek mom! Wouldn’t THAT be cool.
Also, as a side note, TODAY is baby Z12’s daddy’s birthday! Today is Bernardini’s official birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU STUD (LOL)!!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Happy Birthday my favorite Boy, Bernardini. Hugs, JB
Alex Bowdoin, MA
Hi shannon, I like your prediction very much. A filly that looks like Tapit and runs like her Mama!
ladybri77
“Perhaps they are hoping for another Stardom Bound, Zazu, Hansen, or CAreless Jewel. While he has had some nice colts his true calling seems to be in his daughters so hopefully between him and Z the foal will be a filly and the next big white horse to race!
I agree, Shannon!
LauraJ (Cincinnati OH)
Nicks are a statistical assessment of which male lines, crossed with which other male lines, are likely to produce better racers. They are just one thing to consider when breeding. Also, you may get different results depending on which nicking program you use.
As for why Tapit and not Pulpit, I think it’s mostly because Zenyatta has a Pulpit half-sister, Treasure Trail. She was not a successful race horse and hasn’t set the world on fire as a broodmare. Of course the cross wouldn’t be the same, but since Pulpit didn’t work well with her dam, maybe the Mosses simply decided not to take a chance. Or maybe Tapit was a better fit physically.
Terry Crow
LauraJ-You sure know your stuff.
signofthetimes
Pulpit is also 19 years old, I am sure that played
Into the equation, with fertility possibly declining.
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Thanks, LauraJ! I learn more each time.
Marshall (NC broad)
Shannon J.,
Thanks for the word on Bernardini’s BD!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BERNIE!!!!
Cheers!
ladybri77
“Perhaps they are hoping for another Stardom Bound, Zazu, Hansen, or CAreless Jewel. While he has had some nice colts his true calling seems to be in his daughters so hopefully between him and Z the foal will be a filly and the next big white horse to race!
I agree, Shannon!
Jane in Seattle
I love all the Tapit foals, and I’m sure Zenny’s will be wonderful, but I’m still disappointed they didn’t go with Dynaformer. I know the nicks aren’t as good, but if breeding were nothing but nicks, seems like there’d be Secretariats a little more often. I like Dynaformer because he produces big colts that can go long distances on all surfaces and break from the gate quite a bit faster than Zenny. And there’s the obvious dream of another Barbaro, though not from La Ville Rouge. And Dynaformer isn’t getting any younger.
An interesting note on another side, did you all read the article about the genetics of over-sized hearts in horses? Secretariat couldn’t pass his on because it’s on the y chromosome, but Zenny can! It’s a big factor in the most spectacular race horses =-)
Having seen how much Zenny loves her baby, I am at last glad she’s retired. Before there was just a little niggling doubt, but now – her life really does seem prefect.
LauraJ (Cincinnati OH)
The postulated “big heart” gene is not on the Y chromosome. It is thought to be on the X, if in fact it exists. Secretariat couldn’t pass it to his sons, just his daughters. There is nothing of importance on the Y except the genes that make a male.
carol in utah
Oh so true
Jane in Seattle
sorry, I meant to say x chromosome, as you can by my saying Secretariat couldn’t pass it on but Zenny can. But thanks for correcting the typo. =-)
WMJoelfan5
Love the Tapit choice. Tapit is heterozygous for grey it seems since he can produce both gray and other coloured offspring.
Marilu V
Adorable picture! Thanks Z Team for the latest information.
Marilu
jeanielangford
Great choice. Tapit is a great match. Nice picture of our girl and z12.
Ingrid Arnone. South Beach.
My sweet Zenyatta I think Tapit is a great choice he is good sire, and he is so good looking, the sad part is that you going to forget your prince, but what can we do, that’s the way life is. Tasty please hurry up I am so worry about you, miss you all very much, Ingrid.
Louise Castello
OMG!!!!YAY!!!!! Tapit is exactly who I was hoping for. What a beautiful baby they will have!! To the doubters, if Zenyatta was a wild horse, she would breed every year if she was healthy. If her body is not ready, she probably wouldn’t conceive. I think this is geat news. Thanks for letting us in on this good news.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Absolutely fantastic, a Zenyatta/Tapit foal. Will truly be something and a great half brother or sister to the bustling and growing colt that she has now. Love you so much Zenyatta and miss seeing you run. You and your little fellow are looking great and I bet the grass tastes mighty good right now. You both are my sparkling and shining stars! My Love & Blessings!
Terry McNamee
Tapit is a good choice, but I hope next time the Mosses will NOT choose another stallion from the AP Indy sire line. The last thing we need is more and more AP Indys, because there are already so many. In Zenyatta, the Mosses have the opportunity to produce an outcross future stallion or mare that would really benefit the breeding industry. Thinking ahead to the future of American breeding, I would have gone with a stallion like Hat Trick this time.
carol in utah
Hi Terry….Hat Trick one of my favorites….and with him you could get a BLACK..maybe
Allen
Excellent choice, just look at Tapit’s record as a sire. In one of Zenny’s last posts she mentioned how good looking Hansen was with his white/gary coat. So it should be love at first sight with Tapit. If Z12 or any of Zenny’s foals run like there mother it won’t matter what color they are, the only thing the other horses will see is there tail anyway. Zenny you and Z12 sure are looking good. Love you Big Girl. Any word on Tasty yet ?
Alex Bowdoin, MA
I would like to THANK the TEAM Z member who took this picture! It is now my desktop background on my work computer. It is AMAZING…THANK YOU, THANK YOU….HUGS TO ALL, Alex
cindy albrecht, seattle
Hello everybody,
I just love the new picture, he sure is the image of MOM, well done Z. I am just thrilled about you being bred back to TAPIT, he is a huge favorite of mine, I always loved him while racing, such a huge heart, and then he is proving to be a dynamite sire. he deserves all the acolades and you deserve each other. Continue to enjoy the spring and summer and of course your date.
Love to you and yours
Alex Bowdoin, MA
Hi Cindy, this colt in the picture is by Bernardini. She is to be bred to Tapit for the next foal.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Hi Alex:
Have you visited the Forum yet? Hugs, JB
Kelly J. /ND
If the foal is a colt the name should be Zapit.
Alex Bowdoin, MA
I was thinking about the La Troienne family. How about Sky Mesa? He is from the direct female line. Does anyone know if he crosses well with Z?
Deborah Richman from So. Cal.
I love this picture of the Queen and her little Prince! Thank you Team Z!
And I don’t know much about breeding, but from everyone’s comments, Tapit sounds like he will be a great match! How fun to watch little Prince 12Z grow, while anticipating the birth of his 1/2 brother or sister!
Joen Mitchell
Obviously the A.P.Indy line is a great cross for Zenyatta, but let’s get real and call it the Seattle Slew line. Slew was A.P.’s sire, a Triple Crown winner, a superlative race horse, and the most dominant thoroughbred sire of the latter part of the 20th century. He was also one of the most imposing individuals I ever met (which was in his later years at Three Chimneys) How great that little 12 Zenyatta, in his breeding days will add to that line the heart of his incomparable dam.
LauraJ (Cincinnati OH)
I don’t think anyone is disrespecting Seattle Slew by calling it the “AP Indy” line. It’s both. It could also be called the Nasrullah line, or the Pharos line, or the Bend Or line, etc. I agree that Slew was a superb race horse and sire, but Mr. Prospector has to be considered the most dominant of Slew’s contemporaries.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Joen Mitchell:
So true. This will be another Royally Bred foal. Hugs, JB
Ingrid Arnone. South Beach.
Dear Judy B, in July they are going to be announcing the winner that name Rachel’s baby, I hope you are the winner. Hugs Ingrid.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Ingrid:
How sweet you are. I don’t know. I’m sure they’ll pick something just right. I’ve read they received 6,000 entries in the contest. Hugs, JB
Ingrid Arnone. South Beach.
Dear Judy B, I like for our adorable prince the name Z’& B’ White Star, do you like it?
Ha, ha, hugs Ingrid.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Ingrid:
Yes, I do. He does have a White Star Burst on his beautiful face. Hugs, JB
Laura S
Don’t forget, A.P. Indy was by Seattle Slew and out of a Secretariat mare – can’t get more royal than that.
For those who are worried about Z being bred every year, don’t. It’s what mares are designed to do. Also, due to the universal January 1st birthday for TBs, she will get occasional years off, depending on when she foals. If she doesn’t catch by a May breeding, they’ll probably have to let her stay open for the year. Her dam, Vertigineaux, wound up open this year instead of delivering Zenny’s full sibling. It happens.
Luv'n Zenny & Zunior
Vertigineaux is 17 years old now. And she still producing beautiful babies.
Jane (southern California)
I thought I heard that Vertigineaux was bred back to Street Cry (maybe last year?) But I have not heard anymore about it. That is a repeat breeding of Zenyatta and would be MOST interesting! Have you heard anything or know where we could find something out?
Maureen From Santa Barbara, CA
Jane, She was bred to Street Cry but did not take. Spo no foal this year. John S. told me she did not take and Coolmore/Ashford emailed me in Nov. and said she was not in foal. Hope that helps. Maureen P
signofthetimes
I think it is called the AP Indy line because of
The sire Seattle Slew and his dam out of Secretariat.
He is a combination of two of the greatest TB
That were born raced and sired.
JoJo Zumwalt
WAY COOL NEWS!!! I Love TAPIT babys!!. Hope the foal comes out grey!!!
Trisha from VA
Is this going to be a “Tapdancer” Should be interesting to see.
No matter what our girl has or does , it will always be the best of the rest.
Love you big girl and 12Z . Any news on Tasty yet?
Love hugs and kisses to you Zenyatta, 12Z and all connections.
robyn
why breed her back so soon give her a year off you don’t need the money and you don’t need to saturate the racing world with Z babys If you are looking to make money which I’m sure you are. Then just breed her every couple of years people will pay for haveing the exclusivity of one of her babies if there is one on every conner (or race track as it maybe ) then it just becomes less exciting let people anticape and lets see how this first foal does.
LauraJ (Cincinnati OH)
Robyn, she doesn’t need a year off. Being bred back will do her no harm and it won’t hurt her current foal either. She gets the best of care, and her owners have always been solicitous of her welfare. If she needs a break she will get one.
As for money, the Mosses are billionaires. They aren’t looking to score big by selling her offspring. Besides, she can only produce one a year. Even if she produces a foal every year into her 20’s (unlikely), the most she would have is 15 or so. That’s hardly enough to have one on every track, even if they were all racing at the same time.
nancy applegate, cincinnati
The Mosses are horse-loving philanthropists, incredibly altruistic people.
Suzanne G (IL)
Hi LauraJ,
I know you are very knowledgeable about horses and that Zenyatta is getting extraordinary care and that she is capable of being bred back yearly. However, she seems to me to be an extraordinary horse capable of learning and being more than a means to enhance ‘the breed’. Couldn’t she be taught long lining or something similar at some point in time to keep her mind active and her body fit?
We also know that she loves inter-acting with people but that’s not going to happen if she’s pregnant for the next 5 or even 10 years. All the same rules that have been in place surrounding visits to Lane’s End will stay in place because she will ALWAYS, or almost always, be pregnant. It could also be that having this foal has changed her disposition as far as her public is concerned.
Thanks, Suzanne G
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Thanks again, LauraJ.
Patricia/Far northern CA
Robyn, at the risk of being thought rude, you apparently don’t know much about horses… we’re here to educate whenever possible. Zen is a YOUNG mare, in perfect health; why EVER should she be given this year off? She is not a human; she is a HORSE, designed superbly for what she did (Racing) and what she is doing now (producing babies). She is happy and healthy and whatever success her foals have, her owners will be keeping them for as long as they live if they care to.
LauraJ has made some most excellent entries on several topics in today’s blog and is obviously very knowledgeable. Pay attention to what she says… we can all learn. Even someone who watched Citation and Native Dancer and then raised Arabians for 5 decades…
Nancy A Nash Coleman
Awesome pairing! I’d been hearing rumors but, wasn’t sure ’til I saw this! WOOOT! Now I can’t wait to see this foal! Glad all is well with Z & Zbaby! My best to all of you!