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| Beauty. Majesty. Perfection. Zenyatta. |
I am swamped – completely in-over-my-head, what-am-I-going to do?! swamped. And yet after getting up at 5am and putting in five solid hours of work this morning, I somehow, and quite without my permission, ended up in the car driving to Churchill Downs. What can I say, the devil made me do it! And yes, there will be hell to pay as I pull another all-nighter.
Was it worth it? Well, I was there for this, Zenyatta walking off the van after a police (and news helicopter) escort from the airport:
Before her arrival, I was squished in behind the barricade elbowing for room with the other members of the press when I heard my name and looked up to see Marcelino, Evening Jewel’s caretaker who I had met when they were stabled near Harmonious at Keeneland. “Come inside the barn,” Marcelino said, “you’ll see better.” So thanks to him, I had a lovely, roomy, unobstructed view of the big girl from the shedrow of the barn housing Evening Jewel, The Usual Q.T., Blink Luck, Dakota Phone, etc. – though facing into the sun (the location behind the barrier was not much better, light-wise).
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| Pardon my finger...I was recording with my camera phone while taking this picture. |
After two spins on the gravel, Zenyatta’s groom Mario took her through the barn to the other side to stretch her legs for a few minutes on the grass (what little there is of it!):
Another treat was getting to pet this girl’s nose, after the commotion surrounding Zenyatta had awakened her from her nap:
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| Breeders' Cup "Distaff" favorite Blind Luck watching the Zenyatta parade. |
…and I saw a couple of other Breeders’ Cup horses from California arrive on the grounds who I haven’t even tried to identify yet. (I missed Lookin At Lucky, that much I know.):
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| Frizette winner and BC Juvenile Fillies morning line pick A Z Warrior. |
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| Two of the Baffert horses. Last season's Acorn S.-G1 winner Gabby's Golden Gal leads. I don't know who is behind -- it's not a BC horse. |
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| Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint contenter Tropic Storm. |
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| Breeders' Cup Marathon morning line favorite, 7-year-old Awesome Gem. |
So, was it? Worth it? When it involves seeing Zenyatta, the answer is always going to be an emphatic, “Yes! Yes, it was worth it!”
I could, however, have done without the accidental detour to Indiana on my way home.
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| Its precious cargo of 16 horses including Zenyatta unloaded, the Tex Sutton charter leaves Standiford Field. |
