HAPPY MONDAY, EVERYONE!
I hope all of you had a great weekend. The Preps really put everything into a BIG UNKNOWN for the Kentucky Derby! It will be interesting to see how it all plays out during the next few weeks! This is such a FUN time of the year!
Yesterday was very exciting! EL VINO, my gallant workmate for many of my pre-race workouts, is now having a fun time on the track and winning his own races. He was such a great sport last year and really worked hard to assist me with my racing career. Now he is having his own success. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM!
When a horse is preparing for BIG RACES and competing on a very high level, the workouts need to be challenging and solid to substantiate the preparation. One needs to be extremely fit and ready for competition. In 2010, I ran in all Grade 1 races. As this is the highest level we have in our sport, my pre-race workouts were very important to my success!
EL VINO really helped out with this part of my training program! He was the horse who set the pace for me in many of my works. He was also part of the team drills John would orchestrate to often prepare me for my Grade 1 races. Words truly can’t express how appreciative I am of his efforts. As a matter of fact, John often said he deserved an AWARD of his own for being a fabulous SUPPORTING PLAYER!
EL VINO looks so comfy, cozy and happy back at the barn relaxing after yesterday’s victory. It was his second WIN in a row! Sunday was a rather warm day in Arcadia, so Frank and Ruben very safely set up a nice big fan by his stall to really help him enjoy the moment!
On his stall door, there is also a yellow sign which says SECURE AREA…DETENTION STALL…DO NOT APPROACH! In California, it is absolutely MANDATORY that this sign be posted by the stall of every single horse who is running that day…a minimum of 4 hours before his/her race. This sign is meant to indicate several things to everyone: 1) this horse is ENTERED TO RUN ON THIS DAY 2) the stall is MONITORED and SECURE and 3) this horse is not to be touched or bothered by anyone before the race except the immediate barn staff who will need to put the equipment on the horse and take he/she over to the paddock to run. This is one of the many industry precautions taken to protect the integrity of our SPORT. These rules are essential and extremely important!
I must say, it is deeply touching to see EL VINO again! I am so happy for him! Dottie was telling me that several people stopped her at the races yesterday and commented that ‘he had cotton in his ears’ just like ME…and they bet on him because he was my WORKMATE!
She also mentioned while in the Winners’ Circle, EL VINO literally bowed his head 3 times towards the camera when posing for his picture. It was as if he was sending ME one great big…”YIPPEE, Z, I DID IT!” This is TOO CUTE!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Sally (B)
Oh sweet Z your comments about El Vino were just so cute and heartwarming! He kind of became the wind beneath your wings. How great is that! You worked hard to become the greatest! Then, he watched you and picked up on some of your adorable traits. Whoopie! for El Vino’s wins!! I ordered a couple fiction books from Bloodhorse that I have read. Oh boy,
I sure appreciate all this interesting info; glad to know you and others are protected in many ways! Just watched the most awesome video of you that Kirren offered on your post. You just bring so much emotion from me. Hope you are enjoying your fun and freedom in the paddock. Love you so much; with a kiss on your soft nose.
susan in tn
congrats to el vino! i find the “behind the scenes” info fascinating! i’ll have to look for el vino’s race online-we don’t get hrtv. THANK YOU, TEAM Z! you are the best in so many ways. love you, zenyatta!
@ dawn: thanks for the birthday wish to our boy!
Sally (B)
@Kirren Dolan Wow!! Thanks so much!! Please tell me where you were to capture the most awesome footage of Z. I just loved it!! I”d pay for this anytime! It is great that special people like you share this. I was missing Z, and your video helped me get through it.
Vicki B.
I liked hearing that Dottie and Ann talked in interviews about protecting Z’s privacy & keeping things private at present. There’s no real need for “a daily drama”.
tony and sue
@Vickie, we agree. We liked the way Dottie and Ann handled the question of Zenny’s breeding. The main reason she’s at LE is to get her safely in foal. This diary is an added bonus…we stay connected while Zenny continues living her new life. We suspect “official” word will come from her team at LE around the 45 day post the breeding date. If memory serves us correctly that’s the date when the pregnancy should be well on it’s way.
El Vino ran a great race…he was so good with Zen’s training and it’s just nice to know he’s enjoying his special time on the track. And, we’re anxious for the next round of the bronze contest. Good luck to everyone still in the running.
Fran
Hi Z! We had a very busy weekend with horse shows, kids skiing so I am having a very relaxing day at home today. So interesting about the racing “musts”. I hope you are having a wonderful day! Our trainer’s mare had a foal at 1:00 a.m. this morning-a little colt-he is so cute. Have a great rest of the day Z!
sandra gomez
I AM SO HAPPY FOR EL VINO! BARN 55 HAS ALOT OF #1 HORSES COMIN’ OUT OF THERE! JOHN IS A GREAT TRAINER AND ALL “YOU GUYS” ARE GREAT HORSES.. GOOD COMBINATION!! I LOVE YOU ZENYATTA, I REALLY DO!!
Cindy from LA
Gosh!!! Don’t know how I missed El Vino’s race. Another
Successful gelding. Great post. Love the detention sign!!!!
What did you do in detention? I guess the grooms
Were around to keep you occupied. After all that training and to
Be sequestered must have been strange. I guess you got used
To it.
Please enjoy your time of sequestration. I know
You are used to a crowd, but it may not be the
Best for you now. I guess that is why we don’t hear
Much about broodmares. The farms don’t want a lot of
Commotion so the pregnancy’s go well. RA has been retired
Quite a bit longer that you. Enjoy your time of rest
With the girls and without your fans for awhile. Broodmare
Of the Year. ( early wishes). Enjoy the mud, carrots, pears and bananas!!!!!! Sweet Dreams XXXOOO
Kirren
Sally (B), thanks for your comment! Some of the footage I got while visiting Z at Barn 55, and race footage is of the Breeder’s Cup Classic ’09, the Hollywood Park Vanity Handicap 2010, and the Lady’s Secret 2010, which was Z’s final race in CA. I have video and pictures from seeing her other days (including her Zenyatta Day send-off at HP), but I had to narrow it down to only about 5 minutes of video, which was hard because she’s wonderful in everything I got! :)
harold
yes, it’s too bad your not in the derby at lease we would have hope of a winner. this year it’s up for anyone to win.
Jan Doyle
@Kirren – Thanks so much for the video. What a treat to watch. Congratulations on El Vino win, Zenny did you have your hooves crossed for him? Enjoy your day, sweet one.
Debbie G
Thank you so much, Kirren, for that awesome video. I was smiling and crying throughout the whole thing. How great it was to watch our Zenny running again. :-)
Linda Shull
Wish I would have bet on him. He is a great horse and had a great friend in you.
NIK
@Kirren – I immensely enjoyed your video montage…brought back great memories…I never get tired of anything Z!! I took video shots also but since I’m just an amatuer nothing came close to being as good as yours.
Roxi Cook
All this racing info has been fantastic! I have even gone to Equibase.com and signed up for their FREE Virtual Stable alerts. Every time John has a horse in a race, I get an email to alert me, and then another email that lets me know how that horse finished. I have also added specific horses to my Virtual Stable and signed up for alerts on ‘The Kentucky Derby trail,’ and others too. It’s SO COOL! I love it!! So the next time El Vino or Yankee Station or Mr Commons or anyone else in John’s barn is in a race, I can be sure not to miss it! Go BARN 55!!!
Linda/Maryland
\See Zenny, while he was helping you, you were helping him. Now he has his turn on the track. I know you are proud of him. I can hear you saying” Trained him myself”
“TOO CUTE ”
Love you Zenyatta~!!!
J Smith
Roxi, I’m so glad you said that about Virtual Stale, I wondered what it was. Now I will have to sign up. I could do my taxes, but Virtual Stable will be so much more fun!
Rosemarie Cola
Wonderful news about El Vino, wish I knew he was running. I’ll now put him in my DRF stable and I won’t miss him next time.
Z, can you have Dottie make me and a lot of others feel better. I’ve been watching the weather channel and it seems Kentucky is getting a lot of bad weather. What do they do at Lanes End to keep you and your buddies safe in bad weather? Are there any special plans they have when say tornadoes are in the area?
judy berube
Dear Z,
This is my second post today. For some reason, the first one didn’t go through. El Vino ran so like you yesterday, coming from behind the pack to win. Brought back memories of you. Love you. Dottie thanks for all you do. Love to all of you. Judy and Russ
Paula Higgins
I love this post Dottie/Zenny!!! I heard El Vino won and it is so well deserved for such a valiant work mate to Zenyatta. Very informative post. This blog is a great learning experience for all of us. I love the fan!! El Vino looks very comfy in his stall. In my next life, I want to come back as one of John Shirreff’s horses.
I was horrified to hear about the horses who died in that fire. That’s all I can say because it broke my heart. Someone needs to be made accountable for this in a very significant way.
Shari Voltz
@Kirren what a GREAT video. I wish I could have seen her up close. I am thankful that you are sharing it with all of us. I am going to show the children tomorrow morning. They will love it. Thanks again :)
Barbara
Great diary! Too Cute! loved it thanks Zenny and Dottie!
Barb France
El Vino look very happy with his win! I was wondering about the sign so thanks for updating us on it. When you have a chance, could you explain the way horses are handicaped with weight and why some races are not handicaped with weight. Have always been curious about this.
@Kirren-loved your video, always brings tears of joy seeing her with her fans!!Thank you!!!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
That’s a nice pic of ElVino enjoying his time of glory after winning his race. He was fantastic! Everyone cheered him on and hooped and hollored rejoicing his win! He was adorabloe as he bowed towards the camera in the winning circle-he no doubt was savoring his moment in the limelight after his win. He has been so used to you being the one in the winning circle, Zenyatta. I can’t help but wonder if he learned to bow and do his little moves from you. It was so nice seeing your Dottie on TV yesterday and she speaks so highly of you-she loves you lots Zenyatta and so do I! Miss seeing you in the winners circle. Hope you are enjoying yourself-take care and keep on shining-you are the brightest star that lights up the sky! Love & Blessings
Linda
That was a very informative post. Must say, I have learned a lot about the sport of horse racing. Thanks Z!
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, Congratulations to El Vino on his 2nd straight win!! He really paid attention to John training you. Zenyatta, it is so great to see those colors in the winning circle again. El Vino looked so good in those blue & white leg wraps too. It’s fun to hear from everyone that was there at the race. Dottie, thanks for sharing the info about protecting the horses before the race. I always wondered what precautions were taken for the horses.
@ Trina-Thanks for sharing the photos of El Vino by Suzanne Thomas on Barn 55. I love El Vino’s face. Great photo of The Sherriffs.
@Kirren-Your video is awesome! Your photos are wonderful and go great with the music. Z is so beautiful to watch. I never got to see her race so I am so thankful for you & others that did to share these wonderful moments.
@Abigail-Thanks for the link to the beautiful foal.
@Marilu V- What a wonderful post on friendship.
Zenyatta, about 2 months ago, I found a beautiful racing painting by an ex-jockey and looked up the artist and asked him if he used you as a model, that it looked like you just a different color. He said “Yes because she is just so perfectly balanced & beautiful.”
I hope you have a good restful night. Sweet dreams Lady Z. Sending Hugs & Kisses With Love, Amanda G.
s in san diego
Hi all….still at work..but wondering…Is El Vino called Vinnie around the barn? Look forward to reading everyones post tonight. :))
RHONDA C
DEAR QUEEN ZENNY, WE LOVE HEARING ALL OF YOUR STORIES. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE RACING WORLD. CONGRATS TO EL VINO–HE IS LOVELY. ZENNY, I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING–YOU MAKE MY DAY. I LOVE YOU SWEET GIRL. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. I AM PURPOSELY NOT ASKING ABOUT BERNIE OR WHEN YOU WILL BE IN SEASON AGAIN, BECAUSE I KNOW DOTTIE WILL KEEP US UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING. AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE. LOVE YOU, BABY GIRL. XOXOXOX
Tory
I love to hear you talk about other horses. Maybe some day you will talk about Peppers Pride and her accomplishments and join her Fb page.
Paula Higgins
Kirren! What a fantastic video you put together!!! Really incredible footage of the Queen. I felt like I was actually at her races thanks to your excellent filming. Thank you so much for this. It is a real gift to Zenyatta’s fans.