Pillow Talk - Zenyatta and Rachel in the news again!

In my four years of publishing this blog, I have never (and likely never to again) had an opportunity to comment on a breeding session. But with back to back Horse of the Year mares going to the mattresses in such a highly publicized week, I must jump on this opportunity...

Zenyatta, the electrifying 2010 Horse of the Year, was bred on Wednesday to Darley stallion Bernardini, son of master sire A.P. Indy. She was the second top racemare to be mated in the Bluegrass state this week. The full-figured mare owned by Jerry and Ann Moss was picked up by a horse van (where she was served champagne and chocolate covered peppermints) from William S. Farish's Lane’s End Farm at about 7:30 a.m. (EST) for the 10-minute trip to Darley Farm near Lexington. The feisty Zenyatta requested that Ke$ha’s “Animal” be played during the breeding session. Unfortunately for her, the mating lasted much shorter than the van ride, as Bernardini had four other “dates” planned for later that day. At $75,000 a pop, he is thought to be the highest paid male escort since Kato Kaelin. According to the Zenyatta website, "It went very well. In horse terms, it was ‘one jump...and a very good cover’... meaning that everything went perfectly in our first meeting," said the website post, written as if told by Zenyatta. Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/61524/horse-of-the-year-zenyatta-bred-to-bernardini#ixzz1EzU94wnP

Elsewhere in Kentucky, two horses previously crowned Horse of the Year were bred on Feb. 21st when the 2009 superstar Rachel Alexandra was mated with stallion Curlin. The mating took place at 9 a.m. (EST) at William S. Farish's Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky. Onlookers in the breeding shed reported that Curlin requested the soothing tones of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” as Rachel entered the room, fitted with a pink negligee blanket and ribbons in her mane. Rachel then closed the curtain and much nickering ensued over the following 15 minutes, at which point the cigarette smoke indicated the session was over. “It was just a very routine visit,” said Farish. “She accepted him and he her. We are very excited to have her and, of course, Zenyatta, who could be bred within the next week.”

So now the competition turns to who can drop a healthy foal the fastest -- stay tuned!