Catching up with Zenyatta’s 2017 Medaglia d’Oro filly was one of the highlights of our December trip to Lane’s End Farm. It’s clear that she and her three paddock mates have a strong bond, and it’s a joy to see them out in the field together. As promised, here are lots of photos!
Part one of this post, with our photos of Zenyatta, can be found here.
All photos by Kyle Acebo for Zenyatta.com
Peggy (N) South Georgia
Dear Bisquits, I saw your beautiful picture a few minutes ago on Bloodhorse. Wow do you ever look beautiful. You sure must be using your beauty products. Wishing you God Speed, and hoping so hard that you win. Listen we have to tell them to put on the Hip Hop real loud. I’m gonna have to find a way to sneak away from work tomorrow and find your race. Love Ya so much.
Ann NC
That is a sweet, sweet photo. Made me melt.
Max said he was racing on 2/17/18, in the Gen. George. Until then, enjoy those morning walks listening to your fav music.
shirleeinindy
Ann NC,
Per Bloodhorse.com Biscuits is running today at Gulfstream.
Ann NC
Thanks. He is a go getter!
Max
Ann. His people decided that Gulfstream was the better option. They were concerned about travel and weather.
Ann NC
?? There are some sad barn babes in MD but happy he had a good run!
sheena.davies(wales)
Hovis is a tease but has a master plan!Our boy can actually see all around him now!Safe trips to all horses and jockeys this weekend.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/hovis-friday-diary-remain-focused-master-plan-643942
sheena.davies(wales)
Good luck tonight Ziconic!X
Marshall (NC Broad)
Thanks, Sheena! Hovis is wonderful indeed.
All Hail to the Destroyer! ?
Hugs and Love
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Marshall.Wishing you a very Happy birthday lovely lady and hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your special day.Plenty of cake!Lots of love and hugs SheenaX
Ann NC
Happy Birthday neighbor!!!
You have a beautiful sunny day…sent just for YOU!!!!
Enjoy. Sending Love and Hugs.
P.S. Thanks for the b-day alert, Sheena.
Come on ZI……..!
Terry Crow
Ann-Hello to my best redneck friend.
Ann NC
Back at ya!
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Sheena, Ann and Shirlee,
Thank you so much for the birthday greetings! I do hope it bodes well for our Redhead today. ❤️
Yes, I plan to have some cake later today, but first, a late, but genuine, breakfast! No diet allowed today. ?
Hugs and Love
Terry Crow
Happy Birthday Marshall to one of the best on this blog.,
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Terry, Sandy and Judy B.,
Thank you all for the kind birthday wishes! My friends on the Z blog are the very “best-est”! Love you all. ❤️
Hugs and Cheers
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Happy Birthday Marshall. Sorry this is so late, but the wishes are still good! Hope you enjoy your cake! Sending best wishes for a great year!
♫•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.¸♥¸.•*¨*•♫ ░H░A░P░P░Y░ ♫•*¨*•.¸♥¸.•*¨*•♫
(¯”•.¸*♥*¸.•”¯) ░B░I░R░T░H░D░A░Y░ (¯”•.¸*♥*¸.•”¯)
♫•**•.¸♥¸.•**•♫ ░T░O░░░Y░O░U░!░ ♫•**•.¸♥¸.•**•♫
judy berube
My Dear Marshall:
Wishing you the Happiest of Birthdays. Love and Hugs to you my friend, JB
Sheena, thanks for reminding us.
shirleeinindy
Marshall
Happy Birthday. Have a great time on this your special day!
Kalar Walters
Always love seeing pics of Z17. It’s fun to think about the fact that Secretariat also had 3 socks. ;) She also has a great eye.
Thank you!
Bluegrass Girl
Woodbine Race Office
Key 2018 Dates:
Back Stretch Opening
– Open: Monday, February 26th
– Ship-In: Tuesday, February 27th
– Training: Wednesday, February 28th
Thoroughbred Season
– Opening Day: Saturday, April 21st
– Closing Day: Sunday, December 16th
5:51 AM – 9 Feb 2018
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
Here’s Biscuits’ race replay. Beautiful boy ran a great race and finished 2nd. Congrats to winner, Conquest Windy City. Love and Hugs, JB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TpstsYsuTU
shirleeinindy
He lost by only a head. Not bad for first race back after a layoff. Kinda hope they will change their minds about Dubai.
judy berube
Dear Shirlee:
I thought he ran a great race from a layoff. Agree, would rather he stays in the States and goes in a Stakes here. Love and Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Shirlee and Judy,
I agree. Biscuits ran very well and almost got there first. He sure is a handsome boy and very talented. Bless him.
Hugs and Love
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
ZI finished 4th. Will post the replay once it’s up on Bloodhorse. Love and Hugs, JB
shirleeinindy
Considering the ones he ran against that might not be too bad.
Kathleen Gordon
So much ground for Ziconic to make up :( After all these races why can’t they get him out of the gate and into the race sooner? He is not Zenny ya know? He always closes well but such a task when he has to run full throttle the whole race. Was hoping he would shine running on turf again. Nothing against Victor but especially on Z’s turf races he needs a jockey who is a turf specialist!! Maybe a bit of a lower level race for a change; to give him the feeling of winning!
Marshall (NC Broad)
I agree with you, Kathleen. He cannot make up that ground from so far behind. He does a good job trying, but the deck is stacked against him with that late entry into the fight. He is his mother’s son, but he isn’t his mother. I think the lower level race scene makes a lot of sense. Poor guy needs some success to build confidence.
Hugs and Love
Martha
I agree with Kathleen. One definition of insanity is to do keep doing something the same way and expect to get a different outcome. Something different needs to be done so that Ziconic can WIN!
judy berube
Dear Shirlee, Kathleen, Martha and Z Fans:
I saw the race live and the replay on BloodHorse still isn’t up. It is unbelievable how much ground he had to make up to finish 4th. It’s frustrating and maddening that he can’t seem to break mid pack so that he can close at the finish. He is one of the most gorgeous Chestnut’s I’ve ever seen. Love and Hugs, JB
Kathleen Gordon
Exactly Martha, well said. Change is a good thing. Time to mix things up!!!
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Happy Birthday today to one of our original Dumplings, Brenda from Ft. Erie Canada! I know it’s not a nice day up there, but hope you have some fun and best wishes for a great year ahead.
♫•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.¸♥¸.•*¨*•♫ ░H░A░P░P░Y░ ♫•*¨*•.¸♥¸.•*¨*•♫
(¯”•.¸*♥*¸.•”¯) ░B░I░R░T░H░D░A░Y░ (¯”•.¸*♥*¸.•”¯)
♫•**•.¸♥¸.•**•♫ ░T░O░░░Y░O░U░!░ ♫•**•.¸♥¸.•**•♫
judy berube
Dear Brenda:
Wishing you a Very Happy Birthday. Hello to Vic. Love and Hugs, JB
Sandy, thanks for the reminder.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Sandy,
Thanks so much for the reminder about Brenda’s birthday! You are the best. ❤️
? ? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, BRENDA! ? ? Hope you have had a lovely day, with cake, of course! ?
Hugs and Love
Rosemary McCauley
Terry Crow, I remember that day as well. What fun all of us had that day. The statue was covered and the anticipation was unbearable until it was finally revealed. What a day it was.
Terry Crow
Whenever I am feeling low, I reach back into my mind and retrieve the memory of that day.
Rosemary McCauley
The same for me, Terry. It was a happy day and Happy memories are good medicine.
judy berube
Dear Sheena:
Hope you had a great day. Goodnight. Love and Hugs, JB, LM and all the Sweeties
judy berube
Dear Mama Z, COZ, ZI, BBG and DC:
Z, your Red Prince ran hard today; hoping next time. Goodnight and Happy Dreams all. Love You. Hugs, JB
Z Princess, Dubai, Baby Z, will always love you.
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Judy.I haven’t seen the race yet so cannot comment.It is frustrating Zi has’nt broken his maiden yet because he runs well at the end of his races.Everybody is dying to find out Hovis’s plans.Oscietra (Black Caviar’s filly)flipped in the stalls today.She is alright I think.Goodnight God bless you LM PC HT and all the sweeties.Love and hugs SheenaX
judy berube
Dear Sheena:
OMG, hate to hear that. Glad Oscietra is OK. I just posted ZI’s replay below. He tries so hard, but he’s always so far back at the start that it’s tough to make up ground at the end. Will wait to hear from Hovis. Love and Hugs, JB
Marilu Villanueva
Hello Zenyatta and Little princess! Hope you are both doing well.
Big brother Coz is loving and enjoying his new career. We are all so excited and happy for him. We wish him and Isabela the best. She is a mighty talented rider for her age and gorgeous too. The two of them look great together. Love and hugs, Marilu
shirleeinindy
The race is up on Bloodhorse.com at last! He closed well but as usual had a poor start and was way behind. Victor was really after him with the whip and he seem to try. I am certainly no expert but wonder what would happen if they shipped him to WinStar or Lanes End for a several months turn out to let him be just a horse. As far as we know, he has been there at Santa Anita with no break. Try giving our red head some R&R.
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
Here’s Zi’s replay from today at SA. Love and Hugs, JB
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/usa/sa/2018/2/9/1/race-1-msw-at-sa-on-2-9-18
Z13Rulz
That’s just painful to watch.
He’s screaming every step of the way that he no longer enjoys this, which is heart-breaking because in the beginning he had such a fire for it. But that fire has been snuffed out at this point.
From his reluctance to load, to how slow he was out of the gate to the top of the stretch. I know people want to say he was trying but the truth is he hit the top of the stretch and stopped. His entire body language was “I get here and they all run away from me and I get hit and hit and can’t beat them so why try.” and he goes flat.
Horses are not machines. They get beat long enough they lose interest. Using Ziconic as Gormley’s target was the worst thing for him and they just keep compounding that error by putting him in company he can’t win against. He’s a good racehorse but he’s not a $54K runner at a top tier track like Santa Anita. Golden Gate Fields maybe, or better yet retire him and let him pursue a career where he hasn’t been over-faced all his life.
Max
Totally agree. That episode with Gormley may have ended Ziconic’s chances to be a winning racehorse. Sad.
Ann NC
Time for Zi to get his Isabella and sweet barn pups.
Judy Berube
Dear Z13Rulz, Ann and Z Fans:
It is sad to watch and I think you’re right, ZI may have had enough. . I don’t like the whipping either. It’s a punishment with no hope of making up enough ground to catch the winner. Love and Hugs, JB
Neila Wood
Judy, you are right–I don’t like that Victor is overly using the whip on this colt–and has anyone else noticed how he is running with his head cocked to the right, plus it really made me mad that as Victor was pulling him up he was yanking and sawing on his mouth and the colt had his head up throwing it around–NOT GOOD! watch the race at the end past the finish line–I feel really bad for Ziconic–am really surprised that the Mosses don’t change things for him–and I don’t mean a Hunter/jumper either.
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Judy.Ziconic needs to be coaxed into winning not whipped!He never stood a chance with so much ground to make up.I feel so sad for him.Thanks for sharing the replay.Dina has managed to save another 5 horses.She is an angel.Love and hugs SheenaX
Judy Berube
Dear Sheena:
I feel sad for ZI. Dina is a Horse Hero for sure. Love and Hugs, JB
sheena.davies(wales)
Gary Stevens and his wife Angie have shipped the rescues to Hal’s for Dina.Angie messaged Dina asking if they could help.Thank you Gary and AngieX
Judy Berube
Dear Sheena:
Good for Gary S and his wife. Another caring, talented jockey who truly loves horses. Love and Hugs, JB
Peggy (N) South Georgia
Dear Marshall, Wishing you a wonderful Happy Birthday. Hope you had lots of cake.
Peggy (N) South Georgia
Dear Brenda, Wishing you a huge Happy Birthday.
Donna Z
Dear Marshall,
A belated happy birthday. I hope you had a wonderful day.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Peggy and Donna Z.,
Thanks for the birthday wishes! I appreciate them, and yes, I did have cake!!
It was a very nice day, and tomorrow evening will be dinner out with friends so the celebration continues. One of those birthdays ending in zero looms next year — how can it be? :-)
Hugs and Cheers
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Marshall.I am getting near one of those birthdays soon too and wonder where all the years have gone.Continue your celebrating as much as you can and hope you have a lovely evening with friends.Hugs and love
Roberta Gonzalez
It is so sad to see; this is just what I was afraid would happen. In the past, he has been keen to train and race; from the time he was on the farm, and through training; he liked it, but you can’t keep being beat up on, and not winning, before it’s not fun anymore, and you hate it. He is not built like his Mom, there is no way he can be that far back and win. Up until today, he still tried so hard, and came running at the end. Today was different, he didn’t want to get in the gate. It broke my heart to see them pulling on his ears, forcing him into the gate. He always has had so much spirit and presence, if this keeps on, he will lose even that. He is so beautiful, and I remember when he first got to the track, he even danced like his mother; he isn’t dancing anymore. Maybe he would be a good 3 day eventer. He deserves better then this, Just make him happy; it breaks my heart to see what’s happening to him now!
sheena.davies(wales)
Well done Native River as he easily wins the Denman Chase in heavy ground at Newbury.Gold cup next.
Reading some of the comments here about Ziconic I feel it is not my right to criticise his connections(I reserve the right to talk about my own Euro trainers)But Zi has obviously fallen out of love with racing.The dance is over and time to call it a day maybe.
sheena.davies(wales)
Altior is back with an easy win in the Game Spirit.He missed several engagements earlier in the season because of a wind op but remains favourite for the Champion Chase.In ground he probably hated he certainly showed his class.Roll on Cheltenham.Good to see Willie Mullins visiting these shores too.
LoriW (So.Cal)
I agree Ziconic seems to be losing interest and it’s heartbreaking :( Time for a change of jockeys (with all due respect for Victor, his riding style is not the right fit Ziconic, and that includes the whipping which clearly Zi doesn’t like). I have watched his races again and again, breaks slow, too far back, taken to the inside instead of outside where Zi would rather be, and the whipping begins on the turn. It seems to be the same thing lately with the same results. There’s something else, Zi’s tongue was hanging out too far, possible the tie was too tight as he shook his head showing discomfort heading to the gate (this isn’t the first time either, and finished off the board each of those races).
OMG will somebody get a clue, Zi needs a change of jockeys. Since Stevens isn’t here, Tiago Perriera comes to mind! I’ve been watching him since he started riding here, and LOVE his riding style. He has a special touch and his rides respond too him. Please note, he is climbing in the Jockey Standings! Very talented!!
Luv you always Z, your daughter is just beautiful like you, and Coz & Zi . Love all of you….hugs & kisses :)
LoriW (So.Cal)
Oops…it’s Tiago Pereira (he’s actually 8th in the Jockey Standings per Stable Notes 2/8/18, that puts him right behind Van Dyke!
Terry Crow
You might be a redneck if you know how to make squirrel casserole. You might be a redneck if you have ever made meat loaf using real ground chuck.. You might be a redneck if you think a goblet is young turkey. That felt good.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Oh my, Terry!
Thanks for that much needed laugh interval! Great way to start the weekend — especially when the weekend (plus most of the upcoming week) is going to be rainy.
So glad to have you back with regular postings!!
Hugs and Love
shirleeinindy
Oh my goodness Terry! I was sitting here reading and feeling so much sorrow for Ziconic and next up was your jokes. Thanks so much.
Rosemary McCauley
Love those redneck jokes. Gave me a good chuckle. Keep up the good work.
sheena.davies(wales)
Coz and Giant out naked!
http://www.facebook.com/desousastablesllc/
Ingrid Arnone
Dear Sheena.
Thank you for the up dates.
I think he is happy.
Big hug Ingrid.