Good Morning,
It was so much fun having BRUNCH with all of you yesterday! We should do it again one day soon! I DO LOVE TO EAT!
I wanted to share a photo of my ’2 year old sister’ with you! EBLOUISSANTE is now at the training center in South Carolina. Here she is a few days ago…getting ready to go out and practice her lessons. Hmmm! I see some definite family similarities. I think I’d know those ears and hind quarters anywhere! I’ve lived with them myself for years. I guess we get these qualities from our MOM….VERTIGINEUX.
In the thoroughbred industry, very simply speaking, your family line as far as being a sister/brother (1/2, 3/4 relative etc.) is primarily recorded in detail through your mother. A MARE only has one foal a year as the gestation period is approximately 11 months. A healthy STALLION, on the other hand, may be bred to 60-100 or so mares each year….depending upon his popularity.
So when you are looking at a PEDIGREE PAGE for a foal (a history of the family)…it is basically traced through the MARE and HER OFFSPRING. In my direct family, my MOM has had several foals while owned by my breeder, MAVERICK PRODUCTIONS. In each of these cases, my MOM was bred to a different stallion….but what ties us together is the fact that we are all foaled (born) from the same MARE. Speaking on behalf of myself, in pedigree terms, ZENYATTA is BY STREET CRY out of VERTIGINEUX. When referenced in this manner….BY…means SIRE (Father of the foal/horse) and OUT OF refers to the MARE (Mother of the foal/horse).
Thus, on MY PEDIGREE PAGE, you would see the following in relation to my MOM. Listed right below her name, VERTIGINEUX, would be the following foals she gave birth to through 2009:
2002…WHERE’S BAILEY, b f, by Aljabr. (Year of birth, foal’s name, b…meaning color bay, f for filly and then by…and the stallion’s name)
2003…BALANCE, b f, by Thunder Gulch
2004…ZENYATTA, dkb/br f, by Street Cry ( dkb/br…means dark bay/brown in color)
2006…TREASURE TRAIL, b f, by Pulpit
2007…SOUPER SPECTACULAR, ch c, by Giant’s Causeway (ch for chestnut and c for colt)
2009…EBLOUISSANTE, dkb/br f, by Bernardini.
In 2005 and 2008, the mare did not have a foal. She has had some since…I just did not list them here.
A full brother/sister….would have the same MOTHER and FATHER.
Thus, when it is not a FULL…it can be a 3/4 or 1/2 brother/sister depending on the various pedigrees influences of the stallion. Thus, as you can see from this, I am not a FULL to any of these siblings….as my MOM was not bred back to Street Cry.
It never ceases to amaze me what a small world we actually live in. My breeder is listed as MAVERICK PRODUCTIONS and when I was purchased this is all my Team knew. All of the paperwork, pedigree pages, and my Jockey Club papers (birth certificate) all list my breeder this way. It was not until months later that any of us on my TEAM found out this was Mr. Kronfeld…a man Mr. Moss knew from the music business. They had not spoken in years…..so I was the one who reacquainted them through all of my racing accomplishments. This is so special!
Additionally, MR. COMMONS and MAKOMA, 2 of my friends from Barn 55…..who both WON this weekend at Santa Anita…..have an interesting ‘small world’ story. Mr. Commons learned his early lessons in South Carolina with Mickey Preggar….just like Eblouissante is doing now. Makoma was with Jeanne and April Mayberry in Ocala, Florida, during her training center days…just like I WAS! There are a number of training centers in our industry….but here we are…..sharing so many wonderful experiences with these two! This is such a small world! We are so fortunate!
Dottie said she’d check the files to see if John has photos of ME at 2…..at the training center….taken at the same stage as ‘E’ is now. Let’s hope! It would be so much fun to compare us at this stage of our lives. YEAH, MOM! This FAMILY THING is so much FUN!
Enjoy your day!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Rosemarie Cola
I saw your half brother Souper Spectacular run at Monmouth. He almost got wiped out by the horse next to him coming out of the gate, but he stayed on his feet and lived to race another day.He was a warrior like his sister! I took a couple of photos of him and he is a handsome boy. If I remember correctly a chestnut like his daddy Giant’s Causeway. Hope you have a full sibling someday Z. But in the meantime E looks beautiful. Good luck to her!
Denise
Gorgeous! Keeping my eye on her too! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa B
Precious Zenny thanks for the update on Eblouissante. I’ve been searching for any news on her for about 8 months now and there have been very little to find. Your Mom has great genes. Both E and Yourself are so beautiful. When I first saw a pic of her she reminded me of you. Yes, the ears and just the way her shoulders and hind quarters looked. I can’t wait to see her run. I watched Makoma at SA and she ran an awesome race. With the TEAM she has how can she not. Thanks for all the great info you give on your diary posts. I am getting into the pedigree of thoroughbreds and it is alot to learn. Please keep us updated on Eblouissante. I plan on keeping an eye on Makoma…Since she has the great team you have!! Love YOU OOXX
Margaret
@Ensign
I just wanted to add that when the mare is bred back–at about 7-10 days–this is a naturally occurring foal heat. Mother nature at her finest. The mares are not fed hormones or anything.
With Z possibly giving birth in late Jan next year they may have to wait a couple of months to breed her. If the following foal is born prior to Jan 1–it would be considered a yearling on Jan 1 even if only in reality two days old!
tony and sue
Zenny…we just read where you raised over 12,000 for the local YMCA! Some lucky folks will get to meet you and another lucky person got one of your halters. It’s so amazing how you just keep on giving. {{{ }}} and lots of love from Va.
Paul
Zenyatta, your sister looks a lot like you which means that she is beautiful. All the information about how a horse’s family line works is very interesting, yet a little confusing at first. It just shows that I have a lot to learn about horses and that I won’t learn all of it overnight. There is a lot of info there that I didn’t know. Over time, I will understand it better. It helps that I watch the TVG channel. It is a very good teacher as is this diary.
L
@Tony and Sue,
I was surprised there weren’t more people on here talking about the auction item that was a chance to meet Zenyatta in June/July this year.
I hope it made good money for the YMCA!
Deborah Lawson
Zen, love Eblouissante’s ears, such a pretty baby! Thank you for sharing the info on your siblings.
jan
QUESTION: WHAT IS THE LITTLE ROUND CIRCLE MARK BEHIND THE HORSES LEGS..THANKS.
Nancy
Just out of curiosity, WHY wouldn’t the owners of Zenyatta’s dam breed her back to Street Cry? Seems like a no brainer to me.
L
@Jan,
Are you talking about what looks like a dot of mud, just above E’s knee on the inside of her left front?
Gloria
Thanks for another lesson, Big Mama Z. I am so excited for EBLOUISSANTE to run!! I have read a little about her. And, I have often wondered why Street Cry was never bred back to your mama. I know the odds of getting Zenyatta II is a long, long, looooong shot, but why not? Well, it was fun to see Mr. Commons and Makoma win last weekend. I miss you big, girl. You’re the best!! XOXO
L
@Nancy,
Because Coolmore does not breed to Darley stallions and visa versa. They do not support each other.
ENSIGN
@ Margaret,
.
Nice points added : )
.
It’s been shown that breeding back on the foal heat often results in lower pregnancy rates and many farms have a rule in place that they won’t cover foal heat mares during the 1st few weeks the breeding sheds are open often for that reason. It’s an extremely busy time with many open and maiden mares vying for their desired day in the shed, and where a foal heat mare may have a lesser chance of conceiving it’s often not worth ‘tieing up’ the stallion for that mare vs an open or maiden one.
.
Many breeders will give mares an extra week to 10 days after the foal heat and short cycle the mare back in and breed then, rather than wait for the next natural heat cycle.
ENSIGN
@ L,
.
I’m assuming Jan is asking about the chestnut, but I’m not totally sure either ;-)
cheryl
i see maybe another winner maybe in your sister. hopefully she is brought along slowly as you were !!! hi from cheryl in drenched ohio
dakota
Curious to know why they wouldn’t have bred street cry and vertigineux again..look at the wonderful results in queen z.
mj
Congratulations Barn 55 on your wins!! Z, your posts are always so terrific, and I’m glad to see that you are enjoying your mud baths. I’m looking forward to seeing your sister run in CA, but no one will replace you! Best wishes to all.
Jan
L,
Yes, E’s left leg has it. I notice all horse’s have it on their legs?? I’m just learning about horse’s on this post, so I am totally ignorant to the terminology.:(
Irene Caty
Hi dearest Zenny. Glad to get a look at your sis E. She is a big girl also but I bet she will not be as big as you. You are right about the rear end and ears and those are important features at least they were for you. Thanks for shareing the picture. I guess John will get her when she gets ready for racing. If she is alot like you were he will enjoy that. I dont believe in my heart that any other horse will accomplish what you did. That was close to being a miracle. It will be fun to follow E. when she is ready. I would like to know what John thinks of her legs. I know he has already seen her for sure. Thanks for all the briefing on the pedigree. you are right on about the whole thing. You are so smart that I’m not surprised. Glad you had a great day, will watch for more interesting pictures as we go along. Love you sweet Zenyatta.
Cynthia A. Holt
You are so right , dear Zenyatta—there is definitely a family resemblance! My wish for your little sister is that she be given all of the time, dedication and patience to grow into herself, just like you were. She has a very alert and intelligent eye, and I can just picture those beautiful ears stuffed with cotton balls! I am mystified as to why your dam and sire have not been bred back. After all, they did a pretty good job of it the first time around! But then, there could only ever be ONE glorious, precious YOU, even if you had a dozen full siblings!
Shari Voltz
Dear Zenyatta my class and I looked at the picture of your sister then they had a million questions about her (so cute). I also showed them the visual aid of how a horse grows after conception. They were amazed. That was a really cool site and the children made all kind of comments about how it looked like a dog at first and so on. Thank you (Dottie) Lady Z we love all of the horse education. I hope you had a rain free day. It rained like crazy here. Now it is cold again. I can’t wait for spring. Zenyatta you have a warm, relaxing night. I love you and send so many Hugs and Kisses from me and room 215 in Ohio.
PS Dawn thank you for the beautiful words in post #94. Just know you are in my prayers everyday. You touch my heart. God Bless, Shari :)
L
@Jan,
Here is a link to a good explanation about the chestnut.
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-03/953958107.Zo.r.html
Bridget
E AND Z R SISTERS!!!!! SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE BOTH OF YOU BEAUTIFUL GIRLS LIVED IN THE SAME TUMMY!!! I BET VERTIGINEAUX’S TUMMY WAS NICE AND WARM AND COMFY FOR YOU!!!! I LOVE HER!!!!!!!!
L
@dakota and Cynthia A Holt,
I imagine that by the time they realized what they had in Zenyatta, V had already been sold to Coolmore interests.
Also remember, commercial buyers like ‘precocious’ horses and Zenyatta was not precocious. Not many owners would have taken their time on her like the Moss’s were willing to do.
Debbie
Z, your sister is a cutie! Thanks for all the great info, I’m learning so much from you! Yes, let’s do brunch often!! xoxoxo love you Z!!!
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. What a beautiful picture of Eblouissante – her hind quarters do remind of you and mom. She is gorgeous. We will look forward to seeing her on the track. It was wonderful watching you eat your pears at yesterday’s brunch, looking forward to seeing more videos of you and BBFs enjoying the weather, each other and munching away. Please thank everyone for all these great pictures. We would love to see more baby pics of you. I am sure John must have quite a few. We know how much he has loved you from the very first moment he laid eyes of you. How could he not. To look at you is to love you. Stay toasty, eat well, enjoy your BBFs and love you always, Angel in Disguise.
Jan
THANKS L. :)
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi – this is in reponse to the questions of Mr. Commons and Makoma.
Mr. Commons won 8th race at Santa Anita on 2/26/11 and Makoma won 7th race at Santa Anita on 2/27/11. Hope that helps.
Peyton
Zenny, I am so excited about coming to see you!! You are so amazing & such a big inspiration to me!! My mom won the YMCA auction today & said she was happy to both donate to such a wonderful cause plus give me the birthday gift of a lifetime!! I love you & can’t wait for our visit!