Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ziconic

Ziconic: Race Day in Pictures

In the stable area, on the way to the receiving barn. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
In the stable area, on the way to the receiving barn. Photo by Cynthia Holt.

Ziconic made his third career start at Santa Anita Park last Saturday, May 14. He finished third in a field of eleven. These photos by Cynthia Holt tell the story.

Approaching the receiving barn. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
Approaching the receiving barn. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


At horseshoe identification stop. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
At horseshoe identification stop. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


En route to the saddling barn. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
En route to the saddling barn. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


In the saddling barn. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
In the saddling barn. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


In the paddock. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
In the paddock. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


In the paddock. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
In the paddock. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


In the paddock. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
In the paddock. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


In the paddock. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
In the paddock. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


Post parade. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
Post parade. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


A good break from the gate. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
A good break from the gate. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


A fast-closing third. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
A fast-closing third. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


Plenty of energy left. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
Plenty of energy left. Photo by Cynthia Holt.


Feedback from Victor. Photo by Cynthia Holt.
Feedback from Victor. Photo by Cynthia Holt.

Reader Interactions

293 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Dear Z Fans
    Good luck today !!!!
    My picks are Nyquist and Exaggerator, my long shot Uncle Lino !!!!
    Hugs to all Ingrid.

    • / Reply

      Dear Ingrid:

      Good picks. My long shot choice, Stradivari, is now 3-2. Don’t understand that. So I would choose instead Uncle Lino and Lani with Exaggerator and Nyquist. Good luck. Love and Hugs, JB

  2. / Reply

    What a Handsome Boy! Many thanks to Cynthia Holt and Team Z for sharing these gorgeous photos with all of us. The one at the horseshoe identification stop is priceless…

  3. / Reply

    Thank you so much for sharing these photos. They are so good. What a wonderful boy. I love watching him come from behind. He is fast. Love you, Ziconic!

  4. / Reply

    Dear Shirlee:

    Stradi is back up to 7-1, Exaggerator 3-1 and Nyquist 3-5. Love and Hugs, JB

  5. / Reply

    The wet track is risky today, hope all return safe. Exaggerator just may do on the mud. Looking forward to a good race.

  6. / Reply

    Yes he did it! Had a good feeling he would. Kent kept him on the rail this then swung out, excellent race Exaggerator!

  7. / Reply

    Dear Shirlee and Z Fans:

    Shirlee, congrats to your Exaggerator. Perfect run and ride by Kent. Have to hand it to Cherry Wine and Dale Romans on a great close for second. Nyquist, is a brave, talented boy. Has to be proud of his 8 for 8 and he tried hard today too. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Great win by Exaggerator. Nyquist did not seem to want to go into the gate today. He tried but the racing gods had other ideas. Happy for Kent and Keith, and Curlin.

    • / Reply

      So happy for Exaggerator and Curlin. Think part of his success was being on the inside and not getting 17 lengths behind. Nuquist ran a great race considering how those other two had him boxed in and he just refused to be rated.

      • / Reply

        Dear Shirlee,
        I definitely agree with your race analysis. Congratulations to your boy, Exaggerator and connections.
        Nyquist, don’t feel too bad — tomorrow is another day. Love you, win or lose.

        Congratulations to Cherry Wine on his second place score!

        Hugs and Love

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      I am glad that all horses in the Preakness Stakes are safe and well, also. Bummed that there isn’t a chance for a second back-to-back TC win, though. Oh well, life goes on.
      Have a lovely Sunday!

      Hugs and Love

  9. / Reply

    Dear Judy.Hopefuly it was a good race haven’t seen the re-play yet.Betsy has had her re-constructive surgery and she is eating and drinking well.Mr Rutland the famous osprey has died aged 19yrs.He leaves 57 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.I think he was Nora’s grandfather.His legacy lives on.Goodnight God bless youLM PC HT Cap Hercules Frank Bentley and all the sweeties.Love and hugs SheenaX

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena:

      Yes, everyone appeared to come back safely. RIP Mr. R; he leaves quite a legacy. Goodnight. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT, Cap, Herc, Frank, Bentley and all the Sweeties

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,
      Sorry to hear of Mr. Rutland’s passing. He certainly has left a beautiful legacy. RIP Mr. Rutland, you were such a trooper. Fly high and free.

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,
      Thanks for the update on Betsy! Hope she continues on a smooth path to recovery.
      RIP Mr. Rutland.

      Hugs and Love

  11. / Reply

    Dear Z, COZ, ZI and DC:

    Goodnight. Happy Dreams and comfy cozy. Love all of you so much. Hugs, JB

    Z Princess, Dubai, Baby Z, will always love you.

  12. / Reply

    Congrats to Exaggerator on his win.
    Interesting stats: Street Sense and Nyquist won BCC Juveniles, then the Derby
    Curlin second in the derby to Street Sense wins the Preakness. His son Exaggerator second in the derby wins the Preakness.

    I am not sure, and my opinion only is that the 2 year old crop is not as strong as last year.

    I think Mario could not rein Nyquist back from that start and the battle early left him out of gas. Looked like he handled the mud fine. I was happy to see Cherry Wine get up for second.

    • / Reply

      Judy,
      Thanks for article on Chromie. He is such a beauty and is perhaps the best horse in the world right now. So glad he had his vacation in Kentucky after the trip to Dubai.

    • / Reply

      Judy B. Thank you for Chromie’s article! I have said to Barbara Wood, “CC is my male Zenyatta”!
      love n hugs, Sally B

    • / Reply

      Dear Judy B.,
      Thanks for the Clydesdales video link and for the CC article link.
      Love those Clydesdales and of course, love The Chrome, too!

      Hugs and Love

  16. / Reply

    May 22 Cherokee Devotional

    Many people do good works, have good hearts, and find satisfaction in being busy, but it does not mean they never have problems or questions with few answers. Can anyone be so perfect that they live in ideal circumstances? No one lives who has not had their senses baffled and their faith challenged. But those who overcome these challenges have learned to step over, look past, and ignore all the reasons they should give up on life. Instead they embrace life and keep on living.

    The Indians were religious from the first moments of life.
    -Ohiyesa, Dakota

  17. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,

    No Triple Crown this year. And the tragic loss of two horses earlier in the day. So very sad. Hope you have a lovely day. The FB furbabies I’ve visited are doing well. Love and hugs from me, kisses from Angel Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy XOXO

  18. / Reply

    Dear Kathy.Wonderful devotional.No one is perfect and we have all had our faith challenged at times.No,no TC for you this year but a good winner yesterday.Now I am getting to visit the furbabies loved Wimbley’s joke about grabity.Showery here today the chick hatching competition has opened at the Dyfi.I made a mistake last night Mr Rutland was Nora’s father,Glesni’s maternal grandfather and Blue’s paternal grandfather.His grandson has now taken over his nest at site B no partner yet but Mr R lives on.Hope you had a great time last night.A blessed Sabbath to you Love and hugs to you,kisses for Angel Holly.Nikko and Sugar.SheenaXOXO

  19. / Reply

    Shock defeat for Minding in the Irish 1000 guineas.The £ 12000 bargain buy Jet Setting won by a head.She loved the rain softened ground.Aidan was foolish to run Minding no point having a hard race before the Oaks.Sheena

  20. / Reply

    I had mixed feelings about Nyquist running in the wet sloppy track as he had never ran in it before. Exaggerator had. I said a prayer that they would all be safe just before the gates opened. I am thrilled they all were safe! Sad that two other horses died during or after their races with a jockey injured. Another year for a TC. I missed any conversation after the race was over as I had to get out to do my own chores out at the horse sanctuary.
    Any one hear what they thought of Nyquist’s run?
    hugs to all, Sally B
    p.s. When I watch a race I think of Zenyatta and how worried for her I always had been because I love her so.

  23. / Reply

    Such a beautiful boy!! Thank you so much, Cynthia Holt and Team Z. for posting these. It was wonderful to see him coming on strong at the end, just like Mama. Just back from Lexington. Wish I could have seen her.

  24. / Reply

    OMG!! Shades of Barbaro! Think about it! In the very first race, the dies shortly after leaving the “Winner’s Circle”. Where is he taken? Rood and Riddle of course, it’s the closest and the best. That’s also where Barbaro was taken. Race 4: A filly breaks the barrier a bit early, runs again and ends up down on the track same as Barbaro. It seems her connections are sure enough the Jackson’s owners of Barbaro. Finally, after Barbaro came Nicanor – notice his name starts with an “N” same as Nyquist. Nicanor’s favorite running style although it was usually thwarted was to run flat-out, full-blower from gate to wire. I just watched Nyquist’s replay and it appears and sounds like he was being asked to run that same way. Either that or when he got the lead he wasn’t about to give it up. By the way, Nicanor’s children are two now and we may be seeing them late this year or early next.

    • / Reply

      Rood and Riddle is in Lexington, with branches in Saratoga and Florida. Barbaro was treated at New Bolton.

  25. / Reply

    Poor Cherry Wine. Hit his head on the gate and ended up with stitches. He doesn’t have a shiner but sure has a big knot over his eye. See Bloodhorse.com

    • / Reply

      Excellent stitch work by his vet. He’s a handsome fellow. He’s got Kris S and Roberto on his sire line.

  26. / Reply

    Hi Zsters?
    Stopping in to say hi and thx team Z for the updates☺
    Love the pics Cynthia?
    Shame no TC this yr. I was hoping Nyquist would win but i had a feeling Exaggerator would win. Nyquist ran well tho. He didnt want to let the speed dualists to get ahead of him. Lol.
    HugZ❤ prayerZ. I hope everyone is healthy. Luv u all❤
    Vamp

  27. / Reply

    Dear Judy.Dyfi chicks due this week and Glesni had a dry day!Mrs Rutland didn’t return either so they are both flying free together.His grandson has taken over site B nest but no “wife” yet.I hope Minding will recover in time for the Oaks.Not one of Aidan’s best days.Goodnight God bless you LM PC HT Cap Hercules Frank Bentley and all the sweeties.Love and hugs SheenaX

  28. / Reply

    Goodnight Zenyatta
    Love you with kisses and to all your sons
    Memories & Love of Z princess and dear Sir
    Auntie Sally B

  29. / Reply

    Has anyone heard what Zi’s team thinks about his performance? What their analysis of the race might be? I’m wondering if they think he needs a longer race.
    Cheryl

  30. / Reply

    Royal Ascot televised live in US from next year
    By Bill Barber Racing Post 23 MAY 2016
    ROYAL ASCOT is set to be televised live in the US from next year as part of a multi-year agreement signed with American media company NBCUniversal.
    NBC’s Sports Network will show the meeting daily with at least 15 hours of coverage across the five days.
    http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/royal-ascot-to-be-televised-live-in-us-from-2017/2087525/top/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews

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