Breeders' Cup Cocktails

Like many of us food bloggers out there, we have full-time jobs and somehow manage to squeeze in the cooking, baking, cocktail making, writing, research and photography on the side.  My friends aren't quite sure how I find the time to do everything and I often wonder that myself.  It all comes down to impeccable planning, but sometimes, I honestly don't have time to make enough food and drinks for two postings a week.  This coming weekend, I'll be working the Breeders' Cup — two full days of thoroughbred horse racing at Santa Anita Park and the culmination of the season.  It's full of high fashion, high stakes and plenty of cocktails flowing.  If you can't make it out to the track this weekend, you can watch the races on Sunday at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET on NBC.  For those viewing at home or throwing a party, there are plenty of official GREY GOOSE cocktails to stir up.  Here are a couple libations that I hope to try this weekend (after I'm off the clock, of course!).

Down the Stretch
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz GREY GOOSE Original Vodka
• 1/2 oz Blue Curaçao
• 1/2 oz Grenadine
• 2 oz lemon-lime soda
• 1 squeeze lemon wedge
• 1 lemon slice & blackberry, garnish

- Add all the ingredients in a Collins glass filled with ice.
- Stir vigorously.
- Put the lemon slice and blackberry on a toothpick and place along top of glass for garnish.

Zenyatta, the legendary and recently retired thoroughbred racehorse won 19 out of 20 races during her career, so of course she gets a drink named after her (jealous).

Zenyatta
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz GREY GOOSE Le Citron (their recipe called for a 1/4 oz less vodka)
• 2 1/2 oz pink lemonade (yes, pink - this needs to be a girly color)
• 1 mint sprig, garnish

- Fill a glass with ice and add the vodka and lemonade.
- Stir and garnish with mint sprig.