Catching up with Silverbulletday and Vertigineux

Bret Walker — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:43:00 GMT

Several Blood-Horse projects have kept me on the go recently, including photo shoots with mares Silverbulletday and Vertigineux and a handicapping webinar called How to Bet: A Beginner’s Guide for Thoroughbred Racing. If you are new to betting or just need a refresher check this out.

Busy times as we approach the Triple Crown. Similar to their male counterparts and the Kentucky Derby, the 3-year-old fillies are prepping for the Kentucky Oaks on May 6, 2011, at Churchill Downs.

I went to visit Kentucky Oaks winner and champion Silverbulletday, now in retirement at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm near Lexington, Ky., where she arrived in September 2000. During her career, the champion race filly had 15 wins from 23 starts, all stakes except for her maiden triumph.

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Looking radiant with a dappled coat, Silverbulletday shares a field with Teeming as she waits to foal. “She hardly gets wound up,” said Joe Ramsey, farm manager. “She’s an alpha-type but not aggressive, just very smart.”

In foal to Midnight Lute, Silverbulletday is due to foal a filly on May 12.
Her current field mate, Teeming, is in foal to Smart Strike and is due to foal a filly on April 20.

Read more on Silverbulletday in the April 23, 2011 issue of The Blood-Horse. A great Triple Crown offer for the magazine is available.

Vertigineux was named the 2011MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year. She now resides at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. I photographed the great mare nearly three years ago at Winter Quarter Farm. She then was sold and moved to Ashford Stud, where broodmare manager Bob Davis oversees her daily care.

“She’s an easy mare to work with,” said Davis, who noted that even as a 16-year-old she is fit and strong. Vertigineux’s 2011 foal is a Henrythenavigator filly born on April 2. The mare produced a full sister, now a yearling, in 2010.

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With her majestic look, holding her head high and posing, you can see the resemblance in her offspring. Included in the slideshow below are images of some of Vertigineux’s daughters. Among her eight foals is current 2-year-old Eblouissante, by Bernardini, who now is in training with John Shirreffs.

Enjoy the slideshow! I’ll be back soon with more photos of wonderful mares.

Click here to view the full slideshow.

Happy Birthday Queen Z!

Bret Walker — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:08:00 GMT

Guest blogger/photographer Mathea Kelley is back to share her latest update on our good friend Zenyatta. Thanks Mathea! Hope you guys enjoy!

In the world of the Thoroughbred industry a birth at Winter Quarter Farm in Lexington, Kentucky on April Fools Day 2004 would prove to be anything but a joke. That is the day that the sensational mare Zenyatta was born. Little did the crew that watched the wobbly legged dark bay foal take her first steps know that they were witnessing the arrival of one of the greatest racehorses in the world. The hopes and dreams of owners, trainers, caretakers, fans and so many other people involved in Zenyatta's world would be rewarded untold times as they all watched her grow.

Last week I had the honor of being invited to Zenyatta's seventh birthday party. Zenyatta spent the morning of her birthday relaxing in the paddock with her gal pals. She came in for a late lunch and had a bath and shine in preparation for the festivities later that afternoon. Zenyatta had received baskets of fruits, peppermints and countless cards from her adoring fans nationwide. A kindergarten class made a life-size card of Zenyatta complete with cotton balls to represent her white markings and black yarn for her mane and tail. The entire class signed the card. A special group of fifth graders from Ohio sent Zenyatta a basket filled with some of her favorite things. The outpouring of love for Zenyatta is amazing to witness. After "she" made some thank you calls, it was time to party. Owner Ann Moss and the crew from Barn 55 flew in from California to celebrate with Zenyatta. On the lawn in front of her barn, Zenyatta enjoyed kisses & cuddles and many fresh carrots presented to her by the party goers. The staff at Lane's End also received some treats, cupcakes decorated with crowns and buttercream icing in the Moss' racing colors. After her party Zenyatta went back to her stall for an afternoon nap.

While Zenyatta rested, the crew from Barn 55 went to say hello to another Lane's End resident, Life is Sweet and see her new foal. Life is Sweet was more than happy to show off her new foal for the guests and allow pictures to be taken of her foal's antics.

The remainder of the day was spent reminiscing and relaxing with Zenyatta. The California connections returned home later that evening with their many memories and pictures from a fun filled day. Enjoy the pictures below from a wonderful day on the farm.

Zenyatta before getting cleaned up for her big party.

Heading to the barn for bath time.

Ready for company.

Zenyatta's card from her kindergarten friends.

Who's here?

Zenyatta gets a treat from one of her party guest, owner Ann Moss.

Everyone eats lots of treats on their birthday.

She enjoyed every one too.

Picture time. Say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Where's everybody going? I'm still eating.

Life Is Sweet's new foal at Lane's End Farm.

Keep visiting www.ThroughTheLensBlog.com for updates on Zenyatta and other great mares.

Through the Lens : Winter Quarter

Catching up with Silverbulletday and Vertigineux

Happy Birthday Queen Z!