Good Morning,
I must say this was such an exciting weekend of racing! So many of the graded stakes races we all watched were truly ‘thrillers’…with several of them requiring the aid of a photo finish camera to determine the winner.
My Barn 55 friend, Mr. Commons, lost by a ‘tiny’ nose in Del Mar’s Mile G2 Stakes. He ran an incredible race against older, very accomplished horses. Everyone at the barn really applauded him for his outstanding effort and accomplishment. I think Mr. C also felt rather proud of his race and the way he performed. When he returned to the barn after running, he was happy, playful, ready to graze and enjoy himself. He wanted lots of hugs, kisses, treats and attention! A high-hoof to you, MR. C. I’m wishing you all the best as your racing career continues to develop!
Yesterday, the Pacific Classic G1 at Del Mar was decided in a thrilling stretch run between Acclamation and Twirling Candy. (His sire, Candy Ride, won this race several years ago and stands here at Lane’s End Farm.) Acclamation held on to win in a wire to wire victory. Kudos to his connections and the ride by his jockey, Patrick Valenzuela. Patrick has always been known to be an incredible talent who can ration out speed on the lead with perfect timing. In this particular race, he was definitely at his best doing this!
The stakes races at Saratoga on Saturday were all quite interesting. Bernie’s son, STAY THIRSTY, won The Travers Stakes G1 in fine fashion. During the first part of the race, he positioned himself right off the leader, Shackleford. Then at the mile pole , he took the lead and went on to finish strongly for his victory. I know MY BERNIE is really proud of this guy for all of his achievements to date! Yeah, Stay Thirsty! Congratulations to all of the winners on Saturday. It was a great day of racing!
Throughout the weekend, though, we were all extremely concerned about the path and strength of Hurricane Irene. The scope of her presence and the intensity level of her travels were a constant source of consideration for all of us. On a horse racing level, Monmouth Park in New Jersey and Saratoga on Sunday in New York both closed. Then along the entire east coast, families were evacuated from their homes. Businesses were closed. People were asked to be safe, be careful, and stay in a protected place. Thus, as we are spending time reviewing all of the weekend’s activities, we must be thankful that the effects of Hurricane Irene were not worse. So many people had their lives change during ‘her’ travels. Let’s extend our thoughts and kindness to wish them well and keep their safety and welfare in our thoughts.
It is like so many things in life, when the review is in and people say it was ‘not as bad as it could have been’…this is certainly important. However, when YOUR LIFE has been directly damaged or changed by the incident…in this case…the hurricane, it is very painful. Blessings to all who have had their lives directly touched and influenced by Hurricane Irene! We are thinking of YOU and wishing you many blessings!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
judy berube
Dear Debbie G.:
Thank you. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Barbara G.:
Sent you an e-mail as soon as I could. Was worried about you too. Hugs, J.B.
Deborah Richman
Love this picture…I hope the people who look into your eyes in “person” know how lucky they are :)
East Coast Z friends (and Abigail in Montreal)…so glad to hear from you and know that you are safe. Thank you for checking in and sharing your experiences. I hope that any flood damage and trees down, etc. will be able to be fixed soon for you and yours.
Signofthetimes…very well said…”Irene was not a very fun girlfriend”
Kimberly Potter…glad to hear your daughter and baby are doing well. Fall will be here soon :)
Kathy B.
Just got my pictures printed from Z’s Hollywood Park farewell….it was nice to relive such an amazing experience. So glad the hurricane wasn’t a severe one….it could have been much, much worse and it is always better to be safe than sorry. Glad to hear everyone is well!
DJ
To Brenda S: N.T. Matt 6 is the idea:
The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be lightsome. But if thy eye be evil thy whole body shall be darksome. If then the light that is in thee, be darkness: the darkness itself how great shall be! No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
……………………Douay-Rheims Bible
Kathleen
Hi Zenyatta,
I was lucky to be at Del Mar on Sunday to watch Twirling Candy and Acclimation. It was a thrilling race. Both horses ran an excellent race. I was rooting for Twirling Candy but Acclimation was just a tiny bit faster. Both horses should be very proud of themselves.
Brenda S..
@ Judy B – I thought about you all weekend and was so frustrated that I couldn’t read or post anything so it was a relief when I got home today to know that you came thru’ unscathed. I was visiting my friend in Port Huron, Michigan and we were flipping between the weather channel and CNN. Her son lives in the Staten Island area and my daughter is in Maine so we were keeping a very close eye on things and I could see that RI was going to be hit. My friends son evacuated safely and damage at my daughter’s home was confined to her tomato plant.
@ Abigail – Much relief to know that you are safe. When I saw on the Tele where Irene was heading I knew that Montreal was in the line of fire.
@ signofthetimes and Kari B – I’m so pleased that Andrea Bocelli’s name has been mentioned. I love his music and think he is so talented, cute too!!
My visit to my friend was so we could have our first planning discussion for a trip to Ca. next year for the Breeders. Her daughter lives in San Diego and we want to combine the races with a visit to her daughter so we have lots to arrange and lots to look forward to.
Kari Bussell
@Barbara Gimaldi- this is the link to the Ruffian tribute video you requested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpV8f0h7Hvs
She was my first passionate love. I was a young girl and I promised her I would never forget. This video is my way of keeping that promise. Zenyatta is my heart and Ruffian has & will always live in it with my love for both reaching out to hold her. I have fallen in love with many along the way….
Signofthetimes
@Judy B and Russ
So glad your torment was fairly short although
I am sure memorable.
@Kari B and other Bocelli fans
I do love that song and it is so inspirational. So glad
You did not have to contend with Irene, Kari.
Just watched Easy Goer come in second in BC
Juvenile 1988. What a great race so memorable.
Gary Stevens is announcing and he has hair and a fractured
Ankle.
Signofthetimes
Info about Blind Luck
Her trainer may have anticipated the slow pace to
Be set up by Acclimation and the deep closer
That she is would have had no pace to run at.
Rather than burn her out save her for the boys
Next year. Zenny’s owners made the best decision
To meet the boys for the most money. HDG in
Woodward against Flatout second to Tisway????
Signofthetimes
Very Subtle, $30,000 filly won BC Sprint 1987.
She beat a bunch of boys in that race.
Signofthetimes
@Abigail in Montreal
Sorry you experienced some of Irene. The likes
Of her is faced by some of us frequently from
June to October every year. Glad it is sunny and
Cool today with limited after effects. Of course,
You do have snow ?????
judy berube
Dear Abigail from Montreal:
Glad to see your posting and OK. Hugs, J.B.
Abigail from Montreal
@ Judy B. and our other Z-dumpling Easterners: So glad that you are all okay and that most of you got “twirled” by Irene but not stomped! Was thinking of ALL of you ALL weekend long. I’ll sleep better tonight now that I’ve seen posts from most if not all of you!
@Sign: Your post gave me such a laugh! I hadn’t thought of snow but of course you’re right. There have been many memorable snowstorms & ice storms in Montreal….in fact, the last ice storm reduced the city to third world status. Hardly anyone had power…but me. The result: 2 (territorial!) cats, 1 (terrified because of cats) dog, 2 teens, my brother, sister-in-law & my mum all in a 5 1/2 room apartment!!!!!
I guess it just goes to show that like Zenny and many other mammals, it’s the unfamiliar that scares us….I see 24 feet of snow and just laugh!!! HUGS & LOVE TO ALL. PEPPERMINT KISSES TO MY SWEET ZENNY and her non-majiscule (not capitalized) baby zee.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Thank you so much for your concern for us. Very sweet of you. Saw Easy Goer at the Spa. He was a gorgeous Chestnut and so talented. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Kari B.:
Thank you for another beautiful video, this one of unforgettable Ruffian. Hugs, J.B.
Abigail from Montreal
NEWS FLASH!
Charlotte Farmer, Kathy Kimber & others are 3 hours from Lexington, Kentucky!
THIS IS JUST SO AMAZING!!!
DEFINITELY ZEN-WORTHY!!!!!
Signofthetimes
@Barbara Woods
Love the Blessing video, have worked with families
Who have members with brain RUMORS, in fact ran into
An old friend in hospital whose brother had one. A long
and challenging journey.
Signofthetimes
@Abigail
What a great snow story!!!! Snow can also be
Very challenging, that cool Canadian weather is so
Very pleasant.
Signofthetimes
tumors not RUMORS. Crazy I phone!!!
Sharon in Seattle
wow – 3 hours from Lexington! thanks for the update, Abigail. What a very moving experience and a great honor for a champion!
@Kari – always, prayers and best thoughts from me to you
Nancy
Zenyatta, you could’t get more beautiful
Barbara Wood
@East Coast Dumplings–so good to hear from all of you. Is anyone missing?
@signofthetimes–so glad you enjoyed “blessings”. I can’t stop playing it.
@Shari Voltz–what a lovely gift. People would be so jealous if they knew what a kinship we have here. I’m so glad you have a forum to teach about Z.
And on that note, I’ll say good night, sweet Z. Kisses on the nose from one of your fans in the heart of(hot–ended up with 106) Texas. Love you always.
nancy in nj
@ signofthetimes – thank you for your kind words and the beautiful reminder of the prayer. love, love, love it. did he ever perform the prayer with brightman? i always thought it would be a good pairing, but couldn’t find it.
KIMBERLY
Beautiful pic Z. Thank you for all your kind words….. They always cheer us up. You truly are an inspiration to us all…
Doreen
Zenny and Z fans – thank you for your thoughts and well wishes for those of us on the east coast. I was fortunate to not lose power and only had a lot of small branches come down in the yard. My brother was lucky in that the sumac trees that fell on his shed and two of his cars did not leave dents or scratches. However, he did lose power. In fact in Connecticut, where I live, over 750,000 customers lost power (about 1/3rd of all the towns in the state are totally without power). Some may be out of power for a week or more, so the effects of Hurricane Irene still are not over. Flooding is expected, particularly, the Connecticut River, which is already swollen from the rain we received. What was seen on national TV in Brattleboro, Vermont, will eventually come down and cause flooding in the city where I live. Today, in one of my college classes, a young lady who was told to evacuate, was one of 25, whose house was completely destroyed in East Haven. I count myself VERY blessed, lucky, and fortunate to only have minor tree damage.
@LauraJ – I was shocked to read your comments at first about Mike Repole. I’ve been following a horse named Go Go Shoot since his first race at the Meadowlands. He has accomplished much of his success prior to Mike Repole purchasing him. Last fall he fell in the Fall Heavyweight Handicap and has been recuperating on the farm where he first learned to be a racehorse. The Pletcher Racing Stable is very good about letting you know how your favorite horse(s) is/are doing. I was told that I could visit him on the farm in Florida. All I needed to do is to let them know of my plans ahead of time. I was also told that if Go Go Shoot would be unable to return to racing that he would be sent to Old Friends in New York, where he will be taken care of for the rest of his life. Go Go Shoot is a gelding, so there aren’t any profits to be made by retiring him and if he were ever to return to racing, he’ll be seven years old. There aren’t a lot of major races for him to run in where he would be competitive, unless if ran against other around his age, so I don’t believe that Mike Repole is in it for the money. He’s shown that he cares about his horses and allows them the time to recover. If it’s not meant for them to race again, Mike Repole has shown that he will do what is right by the horse and that they will be taken care of for the rest of their lives.
nancy in nj
@barbara grimaldi – your concern is very kind. thank you so much.
@ sharon call, mary copelin, deb richman and others i might have forgotten (still pretty tired)- thank you for your good wishes and prayers. always accept blessings and prayers! thanks again.
signofthetimes
@Max
Thanks for the link to Bernie and his son Stay Thirsty on Darley site. Bernie looks so very handsome, he is getting that older stallion look now.
Sally (B)
Lovely Z, I love your heart Z as you think of all those affected by Irene. Hope all the horses out east have been protected too from the flooding. Congrats to Stay Thirsty, your Bernie’s son, and way to go Mr. C!! Some day I hope I can look into your eye, tell you your the greatest race mare ever ,that I love you, and plant a kiss on your soft nose!! Take care sweetie.
I have some medical tests tomorrow. I don’t know how awake I will be to read your tomorrows post and respond. But I’ll catch up! love with 2 kisses on your soft nose, one for baby z
Sue Fredrick
Hi big Mama, I love looking at those beautiful eyes of yours, you always have a sweet expression on your face.
Good to hear you easterners are back up and running, prayers do get answered, and I pray you don’t have flooding in the next few days!
@Kimberly K great news on Noor’s journey home and quite an interesting story from Charlotte about the visage she saw in the truck mirrors. I’d like to hear more on that one.
@Stay Thirsty, Mo, Acclimation, Mr. Commons, congrats on your fabulous races.