Zenyatta

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Zenyatta News

Santa Anita Shower!

Jamie Corum with John, Dottie, and Mike. Photo by Benoit Photography.

Hi All,

We had quite a busy weekend! The baby shower at Santa Anita went well despite the weather, which may have kept some of you away. We met so many kind people and definitely felt the Zenyatta love in the air. Thank you for all of your support and interest! Here are some photos for those of you who couldn’t make it.

Life size Mike with life size Z. Photo by Benoit Photography.


Poster signing. Photo courtesy of Jerry Moss.

We understand there is a lot of interest in the “It’s a Boy!” poster from this event. It’s now available for purchase, here, at Zenyatta Shop.

We’ve also been hard at work putting the final touches on the new Forum, so check back soon for updates and some more additions to the store!

-Team Z

Reader Interactions

310 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Speaking of being mean, did anyone hear the guys on HRTV talking about Rags To Riches and how “vicious” she is to the point that her foals have to be removed from her and given to a nurse maid mare because she is so protective of them she won’t allow any humans around them in order for them to be humanly “socialized” as necessary?

    Apparently she was not the easiest horse to be around when she was actively racing and has just carried that on into the breeding shed. They compared it Zennie and how she loved people from the start and how easy she is to still be around now.

    I don’t know anything about Tasty’s disposition but I would assume, too, it’s because of hormones and being uncomfortable at this stage.

    • / Reply

      Judy,

      It is well known that Rags to Riches first foal, a filly had to go on a nurse mare because regretfully RtR did not produce enough milk to sustain the foal.

      But there are pictures of Rags on her Facebook with her colt at her side and she looks relaxed enough at the end of the lead shank.

      I am a little skeptical that any farm would take a foal away from a healthy mare who is not a danger to the foal and is sustaining the foal herself. Nurse mares are not used just because a mare can be difficult to handle, that is why the farms employ experienced broodmare handlers.

      • / Reply

        Zenyen,
        I also heard Jeff Siegel talking about Rags and her
        First goal. She was given to a nurse mate because
        No human could get near the foal, there was probably
        Also a nursing issue, but no farm would allow a mare’s
        Foal to not interact with humans. Human imprinting
        To a foal is a must otherwise they willbe wild or
        Ferel and untameable or trainable by humans.

        Rages fierceness was demonstrated on the track
        When she beat Curlin. Also, Jeff Seigle who has been
        An owner said a mares personality on the track carries
        Over to her broodmare days.

        Inside Information was a perfect example, she always
        Kept herself separate from the rest of the mares
        On the track.

        Your information is incorrect.

    • / Reply

      We always loved Rags, so beautiful and talented. I had not heard that her foals are taken from her due to her lack of tolerance for human caretakers, but while she was racing there was a barn rule that no one was allowed to enter her stall alone. Let’s just say she was nobody’s pet!

      • / Reply

        LOL!

        Does not surprise me in the least. A filly who can lock eyeball to eyeball with a big colt like Curlin and tell him to step off after a 1 1/2 mile dual is not a lady to be messed with!!

        • hadn’t thought about it like that, but you make an excellent point : ) eye-ball-to-eyeball !!!!

        • I love Rags!! That Belmont was awesome!! The way she eye balled Curlin and said: Not Today Mister! I did not realize that she was a meany! I have seen photos of her with her first filly running in the paddock. That filly looked like a carbon copy of Rags. Wonder where she is and what her name is?
          Usually, Nurse mares are used for these reasons.. 1) The mare rejects the foal, 2) The mare didn’t produce enough milk, 3) if the mare dies during foaling and 4) if the mare will not allow any human contact with her foal.
          I know first hand how some mares can be. I used to work for Ms. Jackson at VictoryRose in Calif for years. Helped with many foalings/breedings etc..

          Here’s an example of a nasty mare… Don’t remember her name but, after she foaled, she literally would go after the new born! We had to blind fold, twitch and hobble her just so the foal could nurse. Always watched 24/7. After a couple of days, we had to take the foal from her for the foals safety and put that said foal with another mare that had just had her own foal. That said mare would raise both babies, if she had enough milk.

      • / Reply

        The Kennedys. I do love Z for her regal and gracious demeanour, but I also love the horses with attitude like my favorite, Dynaformer. He is also no one’s pet. He does not like anyone to intrude on his territory, such as his paddock.

        • Max,

          Yes! Big D is a character and a half. Reminds me of the stories of … damn I can’t remember if it was Fair Play or Discovery.

          One you did not mess with ever but the other, his groom each morning would walk by his stall and ask him how his morning was and if he flattened his ears and kicked out, the grooms knew not to bother him. Some mornings though, the groom would walk by and ask how his morning was and if the stallion came up to the door with his ears up, you could do anything with him. Just depended upon what side of the stall he woke up on and he let you know!

          I want to say it was Fair Play but the ole memory is not what it used to be.

        • zenyen. It could well be Fair Play. He inherited his daddy’s disposition. No one messed with Hastings ever.

        • No, unless you had a death wish you did not mess with Hastings!

          I remember that Display [By Fairplay, grandson to Hastings] had his grandfather’s attitude as well but that Fairplay could be more temperate so it probably was Fairplay.

          For those keeping score, Hastings, sired Fairplay who sired Display who sired Discovery.

        • HI ALL
          another…not to be messed with was Ribot…he was not a happy camper…also, i understand Kennedy Road was a real handful

        • …and Fairplay also sired a li’l ol’ fella called Man O’War…

          Patricia

  2. / Reply

    @Karen Vogue…please explain…have they lost Omaha..checked his Wickipedia biography and the Bloodhorse one….both have changed since I last read them …
    maybe the “university” burial thing was sn urban legend

    • / Reply

      No not lost – just can’t locate Omaha’s ‘true’ burial spot and the remains exactly. It is known, somewhat, where he was last interred, but it is not known whether he is under university bleachers or …? Jeanie E. might be able to explain … Jeanie?

  3. / Reply

    I don’t know Zenyen………that is what Jeff Seigel and that other guy (never can remember his name) said. I seem to remember seeing photos of Rags and her FIRST filly out in the pasture looking fine — maybe it happened with the subsequent pregnancies and foals.

    • / Reply

      Judy I have to respectfully disagree. Look on her Facebook page, you’ll see pictures of a chestnut foal with a white blaze, that is RtR’s first foal, a filly by Giant’s Causeway. You never see RtR in pictures with her.

      Then you see a picture of RtR with a small bay colt at her side. That is her second foal by Henrythenavigator, who she was able to nurse properly.

      • / Reply

        Seems to me I recall that a couple of years back ? there was a half or full brother to Curlin who was being raised by a nursemare because his dam “could not raise him” — no reason mentioned. Wonder where he is now?

        Patricia

        • Rags to Riches first foal was raised by a nurse mare
          Because she was viciously protective and no one
          Could get near the foal.

          Horse people speak “horse language” and not
          A fairy tale. Horses speak all the time mainly non
          Verbally, which includes biting, kicking, rearing,
          Pinning their ears and all of these are messages,
          Some not kind, but they do have kind behaviors.

          I was walking by a very mean gelding at the barn,
          Turned my back toward him and he bit my back
          Leaving a large bruise. Zenny I am surehas her moments,
          They are few and far between, but are their.

        • I can remember being bitten on the shoulder when walking past the fence of a young stallion whose owner doted on him— he was a ridgling and was noted for his nastiness. A few years later (I think on being reminded of his liability) the owner had him gelded— and he became a wonderful kids’ horse. I knew this horse most of his life, and 15 years after his surgery he was still part of that family, with daughter’s kids.

          Any time one is around a horse there are all sorts of body language messages. Rags might have physically been a good mom to that first foal, but the foal had to have training in interaction with humans, and this was intolerable behavior. It isn’t really cruel to separate dam and foal in this sort of instance as it is for the safety of all concerned. Sometimes a mare will be so protective of the foal the baby can be injured in the fray.

          In that slide show of Rags I could not help but notice that the groom was leading Rags by a doubled lead rope through the bottom halter ring— (also the mare that was with her) — I wonder if, once she got away from the high-energy surroundings of racing, she didn’t relax a bit and become more amenable to handling? If I had a nasty horse of ANY gender, that looped lead rope would not be my first choice for control, even for leading to and from paddock.

          Any mare can be easy to handle and yet tough and protective of her foal (especially first foals). I wonder if Rags had settled into broodmare-ship and just wasn’t prepared to share that baby?

          I have seen mares that were so protective of their foals they would not let them go “all the way back there” to nurse. One (first foal, of course) mare had to be held by two people, and the foal held and guided by a third to let it find the bag— baby was trying to suckle on EVERYTHING. Once it hit the jackpot, Mom just plain relaxed, let the milk down, and when Junior figured out how to get that mom-juice he could not get enough. She turned out a great mom.

          Patricia

    • / Reply

      No Judy you are correct, there are early pictures
      Of her first goal alone but not with her. How about
      A link to solve this issue.

    • / Reply

      If I’m not mistaken – Rags To Riches ♥ first foal was born on John Henry’s birthday – March 9th :-)

  4. / Reply

    The “mean as ever” comment is not to be disparaging. Horse folks just have a different way of expressing their love, respect and appreciation for their horses. I’m just saddened that she didn’t foal with Z. They made such a cute pair. Maybe next time around.

  6. / Reply

    Wish there were more people in this world like Dottie and John
    Sherrifs. Thank you for all you have done and still DO for Zenyatta
    and her fans. Also thanks so much to Mike Smith.
    Love you Zenyatta and your little dumpling.

  7. / Reply

    Hi Everybody,
    I am under the weather today and was taking a NAP! Okay, I was asleep at the wheel! Before I fell asleep, I did hear some very good news:

    MARLENE WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE FUNDS TO RESCUE ALL 7 FROM THE NEVADA FEED LOT! She told me earlier today she received a several donations from ALL OF YOU this morning plus a MAJOR DONOR and all that together that made the difference. THEY ARE SAFE. We can all take a sigh of relief. I want to thank all of you FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for your HEART and for your PATIENCE.

    I also want to respond to Karen’s post. Some of us are still working on finding Omaha. Historical accounts say he was buried near the entrance of Aksarban race course in Omaha, Nebraska. After an expansion project there many years ago, his graveside ended up under the front lobby. Later, after the structure was demolished to make way for development, attempts to find his remains were unsuccessful. He is no longer buried beneath the monument that bears his bronze likeness that is still in the city of Omaha. Those of us working on this project are still trying to sort out exactly what happened. The story on Wikipedia that culinary students at the University of Nebraska threw mistake dishes on his grave are false. There never was a culinary program at UNO. However, UNO is partially located on some of the former Aksarben property.

    Again, my heartfelt thanks to all my Z’isters who helped with the rescue of the Nevada 7.

    Jeanie

  8. / Reply

    Hi Zen-sters, Big Girl & Little Schnooks, TT + baby, Team Z:

    Just a quick post as I have a busy night ahead.
    RE: Comment about OUR TASTY: I’m sure that it wasn’t meant literally and, if it was, gee….Tasty’s overdue, feeling the bulges, has just lost her BFF & is dealing with people poking her every 5 minutes…..yup! That sure would make ME feel MEAN!!!!!
    RE: Posts above on Man O’ War & family. I’m sure I posted this many moons ago in Zenny’s Diary, but for those who never saw them — old photos from my personal collection of Man O’ War, Rock Sand, Dan Patch & other American greats that I posted on my FB page. Here’s the link:
    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1128876556897.16805.1676718692&type=3

    Shari: Glad to hear that Mistletoe & Zenny helped you and your children cope with this tragedy. Sending you love & warmest thoughts.

    Love & hugs to all

    • / Reply

      Abigail. I tried to look at the Facebook link, but it says that it is not available. Am I going something wrong with this?

      As for Tasty, she has our attention. Good for her!

  9. / Reply

    Thanks for the photos of the baby shower. At least they let us folks who can’t travel to California share in the fun! It’s no wonder the posters sold out–they’re adorable.

    I so miss writing to Zenyatta directly. Since I talk to my own horses all the time, it felt very natural to talk to her, too. Hopefully someone will continue to tell her of all the loving messages she still receives.

    Sending best wishes to her and baby Z. And hopefully Tasty will soon have her foal by her side.

    Stel

    • / Reply

      Sign. These are lovely pictures of Rags. She is a beautiful mare. Her filly is gorgeous too. Does anyone know her name and if she has raced?

        • Judy. Thank you. Now I remember that she went on the injury list. At that time, Coolmore said that she would probably race as a 3 year old. Let us hope that she does because she is a real beauty like her mother and she has a very fine pedigree. I also like her name.

        • Max and Judy,
          Rags first filly is being trained by Todd Pletcher’s
          Son. She was injured training at 2 yo. Have not hears
          When she will be back, will post the link of her injury.
          She is a dead ringer for her mom. So beautiful,
          But Giants Causeway is also a gorgeous chestnut.

    • / Reply

      I did remember that RtR’s filly looked so very like her — her blaze is almost identical.

  12. / Reply

    Zenyen

    Arguing a point on this site without a link is NOT acceptable etiquette.
    Your insistence of making a point has shades of ENSIGN, which has
    been pointed out in the past as your identity.

    Look at the above slide show on Rags and her First filly, which refutes
    what you are saying.

    Please provide links without banter !!!!!!

    • / Reply

      I did provide a link to the Facebook photos that showed where the filly was on her own and the colt was at RtR’s side.

  13. / Reply

    Dear Max, Zenyan, Patricia and Sign:

    Loved your posts about Dynaformer, R&R, Fair Play, Hastings and all the others. Love to know about that individuality and dispositions. Guess they can be a handful sometimes. Love the personality of Z and also like others, like It’s Tricky, with feisty attitudes. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      My pleasure Judy!

      The feisty individuals never let you forget them and they’re always interesting to recall. :)

      • / Reply

        Zenyen, could not agree more. War Emblem (2002 KY Derby winner) was and remains one fiesty dude. He missed his first race when he dumped his rider in the paddock and ran back to the barn. No one entered his stall alone. And, as a stallion, he allowed himself to be bred to only mares of his choosing and savaged those he rejected. Still love the guy and his antics.

    • / Reply

      Horse behavior and personalities are the best.
      Judy B you have also posteda lot of great links
      On these subjects as well, thanks to you.

      The thing we humans have to be careful not
      To get physically hurt by those equines with
      Strong personsonalities.

      Remember Secretariat’s groom always mention
      How he would try to pin him against the back of
      His stall, a stallion dominance move. The groom just
      Got firm with him and he backed off and was a real
      Sweet lover boy with his groom. I think Abigail
      Put that information in her groom articles.

      Horses are the best !!!! Even when they are cranky
      Very heavy in foal !!!!

  14. / Reply

    You know….just MAYBWE they’ll put Zen and her little colt in the same paddock with SWEET CATOMINE who delivered a Bernardini on March 4th! I LOVED Sweet Catomine (a FULL sister to Life is Sweet and Calimonco). Since Z was a stablemate to Life Is Sweet I can imagine she would get along famously with her sister Sweet catomine too!! And the foals are half siblings (well having the same Daddy anyway).

    • / Reply

      Great Idea, putting her with the Curlin and/or Street
      cry goals and their dams may start competition early
      For those colts, who I am sure are all going to be
      Special.

    • / Reply

      Patricia… Is there anyway that we could meet up after? That’s a bit early for us for a Sunday. We have a party to attend Saturday Night and need Sunday for re-cooping. LOL
      I gave you my phone # didn’t I? If not, I’ll email it to you so, you can call when you’re ready to meet up and where. :)

      • / Reply

        We’ll be showing until about 11:30, then as soon as (weather permitting) we can find a gathering spot we will have our club meeting and then when that’s done we head up the highway. So if you can come by ?11 or so?

        Hey, I’ll be getting up at 5 AM to feed horses before driving to my friend’s house to meet up. No pity from me about a late Saturday night!!!

        Email me your phone # and we’ll figure something out. Even if we don’t make it this time, we do hit most of the shows held in Vallejo and we could try for the next time. My friend cares for her mom who just turned 94, so we don’t travel more than about 3-4 hours away at most. Her daughter fills in, but we don’t want to press our luck.

        Would love to see an example of your artwork too.

        Patricia

  16. / Reply

    PACE….PACE…PACE….
    I know….T will give us 12T when she is good and ready…LOVE a woman with a mind of her own…but pacing is good exercise for an old lady…
    …
    I hope they find Omaha soon…I also read the ….now known to be wrong…story about the food class…
    …
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Robyn, Lava Man, and Mistletoe…
    ….
    did a little digging about RtR filly by GC….born 2009…last article I could find stated she was un-named and going into training…also, when did Rags go to Ireland…she must have gone soon after filly birth to be bred to HenrytNav…going to check some more dates..
    …
    Breeders Cup Nominations site has 09Rags……no name…
    …..
    PACE…PACE…PACE…
    IF Z can get with Sweet Catomine, maybe T can hook up with Life is Sweet …LiS not on list yet either …
    …
    oh well…back to PACING..
    Congrats to the marvelous Marlene…another 7 saved

  19. / Reply

    I know Kari has many friends here and it bothers me that I have to report that the book Horse Racing Divas–in Kindle format identifies her as Kari Russell.

    When I wrote my views on the book I made mention of this and asked that it be fixed ASAP.

    I don’t know about book format. I do know that Kindle software glitches like this quite frequently so it may only show up in this format.

    Hopefully TPTB will fix this HUGE oversight quickly!

    • / Reply

      Dear Margaret,
      Did you enjoy the book. It really looks great,
      Glad you found the typo re Kari’s name.

    • / Reply

      @Margaret….my kindle has “mind of its own”…this is a theme today…changes spelling and capitalizes at will…..how do you spell frustration?…wait….maybe the kindle knows

  23. / Reply

    @ Carol in Utah–It’s funny you mentioned Ribot today. My last TB,Faded Rosebud (I just called her Rosie) was his great-grand-daughter. She certainly inherited his personality!! She wanted everything HER way–all the time!! When she didn’t want to do something she would stamp her foot in irritation just like a little wilfull 4 yr. old girl,in black patent shoes. You could almost hear her saying “you’re not the boss of me”!!! You couldn’t get behind her at all as she could kick four times in the time other horses could kick once!!

    My friend Laura,who is an experienced trainer,dressage rider and all always said,if I’d shown her that her show name shold have been Flaming B—- (witch with a B)! She was really sweet with me most of the time-mostly because,when her breeder and original trainer told me she didn’t want to DO anything,just be a horse,I said “OK,that’s fine with me!! From then on,she just got to do what she wanted all the time and she loved it that way!! She was SO beautiful and fast,I just loved watching her do “her thing”–she would come to me when I gave my special call,knowing I’d always have something for her that she would like. She was a lovely bay,with two white feet and a white snip. Like Ribot.she was small–she was only 14-3 1/8. Her grandpa was Bold Ruler. It was as though she knew she had “royal blood” and all she had to be was pretty—and she was!!I loved her madly!!!

    • / Reply

      Dear Max:

      Thank you. So true, never gets old. Even the 2010 BCC is wonderful. She has such heart and courage. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Thanks for doing this Karen. Your videos are always so clear, and this really made me feel like I was “there.” I’m sure I saw JAG and Deborah Richmond (you guys didn’t look all that wet to me!!). A really fun look at the event.
      Sandy

      • / Reply

        @ Sandy
        That was me that walked right into the camera grinning from ear to ear LOL

    • / Reply

      Dear Karen G.:

      Thank you so much for the wonderful video of Z’s Baby Shower. Made me feel like I was there. Loved the rainbow and the star burst at the beginning, and the little girl (was that Madison) and the puppy in the end. Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        No, I believe that was Jockey Julie Krone’s daughter LOLO. (Gosh, I hope I am right about that, and her name!) It has been awhile since I’ve seen the two of them at the track!

        • Dear Karen G.:

          Now that you say it’s Julie Krone’s little daughter, Lorelei, I do recognize those curls. She’s a cutie. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Great video, Karen! You are becoming a highly skilled videographer among your many other talents.

  26. / Reply

    Enjoyed the discussion today of equine behavior — always fascinating. We suspect even the kindest of horses have enjoyed an occasional bite. Perhaps someday we will disclose the only known recipient of the gentle Z’s nip.

  27. / Reply

    Another birthday today!

    A Birthday Poem for Lise in Maine
    (March 20, 2012)

    On March 8
    You did to Zenyatta confess
    Your preference
    For her foal’s birth date.
    You did her address
    In French
    With “Bonjour”
    And relate
    That today,
    Your
    Own birthday,
    Would likely be for her
    Too late.
    It’s a pity
    But true
    That since you
    Rarely post
    On Zenyatta dot com,
    The most
    I know about you
    Is your name,
    You’re a mom
    Who lives in Maine,
    Isis is your dog,
    And you have a penchant
    For French.
    All the same,
    I composed this ditty
    In your honor
    And I hope you’ll see it
    On today’s blog.
    Joyeux anniversaire, Lise,
    Et plus encore!
    Happy birthday, Lise, and many more!

  30. / Reply

    Dear Max and Sign:

    Yes, R&R’s GC filly is just gorgeous and looks so much like her. Hope she recovers fully from her injury and races this year. Hugs, JB

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