Happy Friday, Everyone!
Wow, it has been a very busy week in our industry. There is so much going on that I want to share with you.
First of all, I’d love to congratulate FRANKEL (GB) on his success in winning the SUSSEX S. (G1). He is now undefeated and has a race record of 8 for 8. FRANKEL (GB) is truly a sentimental favorite in my camp as he is named for a very dear friend. Jay Hovdey, in the DRF, wrote a special piece on all of this in a recent article. Dottie and Bobby were very close friends for years. Ruben Loza, who now works as one of MY JOHN’S assistant trainers, held the same position for Bobby for 25 years. Jose Luis….who currently grooms MR. COMMONS and STAR BILLING for My John…was a long-time groom for Bobby. “Chuma” (as he is known around the barn) is also such a hard-working gentleman. He has groomed so many other wonderful horses during his career as Medaglia D’Oro, Sightseek, and Intercontinential to name a few.
So, it was with great joy and pride that MY TEAM watched FRANKEL(GB) win #8 on Wednesday. A heartfelt congratulations to his owner and breeder, Juddmonte Farms, his trainer, Mr. Cecil, and the entire team who works with this exciting colt!
I’m sending him a special HIGH HOOF for a job well-done!
Both of the SUMMER MEETS on each coast are in full-swing….and this weekend, Monmouth Park has a wonderful stakes program including the HASKELL. This should be a very exciting race!
Then at Saratoga, several big stakes races are taking place including the JIM DANDY and THE THE RUFFIAN. These should be great to handicap and enjoy. At Del Mar, we have some very accomplished sprinters competing in the BING CROSBY. So much action!
From all reports, the dirt surface at Santa Anita is terrific! This is fabulous news. In California, they now have Santa Anita open for training in addition to Del Mar. Hollywood Park closes for the next 5-6 weeks to allow the maintenance crews to completely clean out the barn area and freshen up everything that needs to be repaired and painted. The track crew, headed by Dennis Moore, is given the opportunity to work on the track and the surface to get it freshened up for the upcoming year. This is traditionally done in CA each summer…one year Santa Anita is closed to accomplish these maintenance needs and the next Hollywood Park. This alternating system works out quite well for everyone and it really helps to keep everything in the best possible shape.
Thus, since nothing can be left out at Hollywood Park for this big clean-up process to take place…everyone and everything needs to be out of Barn 55. My John and his crew did a great job getting this organized and properly storing everything that was in MY STALL. It was all safely packed for the future!
So all of my horse BARN 55 friends had to relocate as well for the summer. They were split between Santa Anita and Del Mar. In the photo above, you see STAR BILLING on the left and EBLOUISSANTE on the right getting ready to travel. They are loaded on the van and on their way to Del Mar. They are comfy, cozy, the windows are open just right…and these girls are READY TO GO TO THE BEACH!
I gather “E” wanted to snack along the way.
The TOO CUTE part of all of this is that “E” is in the same exact stall on the van I always used. In California, I shipped on Vida and David Randall’s Ranch Runner’s van. That was MY STALL! They even put a plaque on the side of this stall with MY NAME on it. So, I guess for all practical purposes, I still get to travel right with them…..in spirit!
Have a FUN weekend…and enjoy RACING!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
DJ
To Terry C: Very good! Unfortunatley I wish it were more funny than true!
Cheryl
Did you see Bernie’s son Thirsty yesterday, he was awesome! Love him too!
Sue Fredrick
I’m probably the only one saying it but go ASTROLOGY, then Shackelford, but I sure pray for safe trips today for all. They had a bad accident at an English track yesterday don’t know the results. TVG’s English announcer said something interesting…….where American jockeys are only supposed to whip every 3rd stride, there is no restriction in England, so they can whip as much as they like. I don’t like that at all. Just an interesting tidbit. Good luck to all today.
judy berube
Dear Gary Moulton:
Thank you for the link on Frankel. Loved All Star Dave. Talk about consistent. He loved Saratoga. Hugs, J.B. http://www.thoroughbred-world.com/artman/publish/article_436.shtml
Terry Crow
@signofthetimes-Your beloved greyhound and my old basset will be good friends at the Rainbow Gate. Bless you.
judy berube
Dear Gary Moulton:
Forgot to say Good Luck today. Hugs, J.B.
DJ
To Charlotte: If you reconsider, know that it would make us happy to know you were there!
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To All: It’s raining in So. Cal. We had thunder and rain throughout the night and now it is still raining. A blessing, but I wonder what it will be like at Del Mar. We’ll see :) Hope other states are or will receive this rain too.
DJ
To Gary M: Thanks for the tip! Off to Del Mar, the first and only time I will be going this season. Good luck to you!
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To Diana S: Thank you again for the cute Dumpling Tag..it makes my mouth water looking at it :)
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To JB: Hugs now, will be gone until tonight. See you in Evening Prayer, God-willing.
judy berube
Dear DJ and Terry Crow:
Hope I didn’t sound disrespectful. But, I always think to myself that it’s important to know when it’s time to give up the privilege of driving. I hope if I live long enough, I remember that. Hugs, J.B.
Terry Crow
@Barbara Wood-Simple, but eloquent. @Judy Berube-You have those guys in RI, too? @Gary Moulton-Loved the story on Dave. We can all envy him going out doing what he loved best.@Karen Gogue-Howard Hughes isn’t alive?
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
So sorry you have to part with your beloved Greyhound friend. Our adopted racer, Lou Lou, lived to 14. Remember the wonderful bond and loving years you had together. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
DMCQ:
If you haven’t seen it, rent the DVD “Let It Ride”. Very, very funny movie on horse racing. Characters choose horses in a race by number, color, their cat’s name and because nobody else picked him. All the great handicapping in the world and even when you know, you never know. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Kari Bussell:
Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Sue Fredrick:
Frankie Dettori was suspended (again) for excessive use of the whip last week, I think. Why don’t they just set a rule like in the States? I don’t like it either. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
Unfortunately, we do. Glad to see you back to your old self. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear DJ:
Hugs, J.B.
Trina Nagele
GOOD NEWS–The HORSE AND MAN blog today has pictures of darling recently rescued foals and mares, followed by Saturday’s photo menagerie, but scroll down and it gets even better! On the entry for July 29 find more FEEL GOOD stories one after another: first, the story of Snowman, the champion show jumper; then amazing video of the orangutan Surya, grinning with joy as he romps with his hound dog friend; next the NOT TO BE MISSED video of a rescued Saddlebred who proudly and carefully carries the most ADORABLE little girl dressed in fairy costume around the arena—a fairy tale come to life! Then Lusitanos on a photo shoot in Portugal. Continue down to July 27 to read the HAPPY END story of JR, with marvelous photos of this incredibly CUTE foal, his beaming human rescuer who has also become his adopter, and the BEAUTIFUL mare who has accepted him as her own. ENJOY!! http://horseandman.com/
@Gary Moulton—I enjoyed reading your informative tribute to Fourstardave and thanks for the link to the article on Frankel, “the best there’s ever been.” Bobby Frankel must be so pleased with his namesake. Good luck to you with your handicapping.
@Signofthetimes—You continue in my thoughts as you release the spirit of your greyhound girl to run free of earthly constraint. Hugs.
Cynthia H.
@Charlotte Farmer: ANY day in Arcadia is a lovely day in the neighborhood! Hope your dream of visiting comes true, soon. If you have a spare minute, I woul love to meet you. Sant Anita is where I live and breathe.
judy berube
Dear DJ:
Just read your “Prayer for a Peaceful Death”. So beautiful made me cry. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Shari Voltz:
Wishing your Dad all the best. Hugs, J.B.
Trina Nagele
About DAWN CONRAD @Charlotte, Barbara Wood and Kari Bussell—I believe Dawn is not posting until she gets back from her trip to Kentucky and other parts with her mom. I don’t think she mentioned how long the trip will be, but I think we’ll hear from her as soon as she is home again. (Hugs to you, Dawn, when you read this. Hope you had a great time.)
The Kennedys in San Diego
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64275/goldikova-makes-history-in-prix-rothschild
You have to love these fillies and mares!
judy berube
Dear Trina Nagele:
Thank you so much for the Good News link. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Kennedy’s in SD:
Thank you for the link on wonderful Goldi. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Kari Bussell:
It will take some time, but hopefully your buds will adjust to the new surroundings. They are creatures of habit, like us. But, like us they learn to adapt. They are so lucky to have you to love them. Rooting for Shack in the Haskell. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Lisa g.:
Thanks for sharing your story about your nephews and Secretariat. My nephew was born the year Big Red won the Triple Crown. I told him all about Secretariat through the years and he loves TBs too. He bought the DVD of the Secretariat movie for his child. Its good to see the love of Big Red and horses in general being continued through the generations. Hugs, J.B.
Abigail from Montreal
Here’s a YouTube link to Goldikova’s Prix Rothschild win in France. It’s in French but the footage is terrific. Basically Olivier P. (jockey) says that she did it all and he just sat there. He didn’t even touch her with his whip. And Freddie Head (trainer) says that Goldie “told us that she was ready to run again.” As it turns out, this great mare @ 6 yrs.old ran right into history!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdcWZHsQXdA
Anne from Paramount, CA
Hello Queen Z! Hope this Haskell Sunday finds you well and as cool as possible! Good to know about HollyPark being packed up. You do keep us up to date! Also explains about Doug O’Neill telling us yesterday am about Lava Man being at Santa Anita…we had hoped to visit him at Del Mar and were disappointed he wasn’t there, he was at S.A instead.
@Karen Gogue and all dumplings: : “over the humplings dumplings,” LOL. Count me in!
@JAG and Karen Gogue (again!) thanks for the Zenyatta At Home book and the Maggie and Don references.
@Lisag, enjoyed your family-nephews story!
@signof the times, so sorry about your loss.
Jill in NJ I like the “Fire and Ice” reference!
@Terry Crow, I know what you mean about Del Mar handicapping…after two weeks we are discouraged, too. Happens every year, but after a year’s absence, we forget and jump right back in. We’ll see… keep those jokes coming, they help! :)
@ALL, I will return later with another Zenyatta related story. Rod just came in from shopping for supper tonight and now I must interact with him …Sigh. Just kidding folks! First topic of conversation will be the Haskell, of course!. @those of you who are there, have fun! Be back later! :)
J Smith
What a gal that Goldi is. Thanks for link Abigail. Safe racing for all today. For anyone that didn’t see Stay Thirsty’s race (though I’m guessing someone has posted it above) it is on You Tube, and most likely on Thirsty’s face book by now. Bernardini’s other 3yr old is back from a lay off on Monday in the Amsterdam, To Honor & Serve. He has details on his fb page.
Barbara Wood
@Gary Moulton–thanks for the great story of Fourstardave. Made me weepy in a good way.
@Terry Crow–I can so identify with your joke for today. I read your comment to me, and then I couldn’t remember what I had written to elicit it!
I agree with those who speak out against whips. At least there are SOME rules in effect. I remember someone once got suspended for striking the horse in the face.(Jeremy Rose?) I can barely bear things like that. Always go back to what Jerry Bailey said about it not doing any good–the horse is already doing his best. And to think that a horse might break down from too much pressure is unthinkable.
OK, I seem to remember Dawn Conrad mentioning something about 21 days, so I’ll hold off on the Amber Alert for now. Dawn has more restraint than I do. If I missed that many days, I would feel hopelessly behind.
Forgot to mention earlier–welcome aboard, Susan.