summer trip 2010 - Del Mar (again)

Well, this morning we completely changed our schedule....for a chance to see Zenyatta run at Del Mar.
She is my favorite horse currently training and probably my favorite horse of all time. I would rather watch her run live than to see any other sporting event, including the SuperBowl or the BCS title game. Zenyatta has a perfect race record 18 starts, 18 wins - 16 of those were Graded Stakes races. She has a closing running style which means that she races far off the pace, usually last until she starts her move about mid-way through the final turn. Here's a great Youtube clip showing her last 17 stretch runs:







Surprisingly the girls were ok with our change of plans (this was supposed to be day 2 at Disney). I extended at our Homewood Suite stay one more day and moved the Springdale, UT (Zion NP) reservation forward one day. I was able to get four reserved seats in the second level of the grandstand. Del Mar was also giving away Zenyatta glass tumblers. The track was packed, as in about 32,500 people packed; easily double their normal attendance....all because Zenyatta was running. We all had a great time....I got see Zenyatta in the paddock and on the track.


Here's an HD video I created on my iPhone 4 using iMovie - everything was captured and edited solely on my iPhone.







After the race we attempted to eat at Fidel's in Solana Beach but the wait was over an hour. We decided to head back toward  LA. Pizza at Oggi's next to our hotel was where we ate.