Zenyatta’s Foals Fun Facts: Learn More About Her Growing Legacy

Excitement builds among Zenyatta fans as the due date for her third foal nears.  

Zenyatta, 2010 Horse of the Year and a true champion and fan favorite, is in foal to Claiborne Farm stallion, War Front. Based on reports, the two horses were bred early May 2013 … so a third foal is expected sometime in early April.

Here are some fun facts and photographs of Zenyatta and her first two foals:

Zenyatta

• Birthday:  April Fool’s Day 2004 (4/1/04)
• Dark bay mare with a distinctive white blaze and stockings.
• Purchased as a yearly by Ann and Jerry Moss at the Keeneland Sales at a bargain price of $60K.
• Named after The Police album, Zenyatta Mondatta, a band discovered by Jerry Moss who was also a founder of A & M Records.
• Began her racing career as a 3-year old at recently closed, Hollywood Park under the training of John Shireffs.
• During her racing days, she stood 17.2 hands tall and weighed 1,217 pounds.
• Took first place in 19 of her 20 starts.
• First mare to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2009 against an all-male field.
• First mare to win two different Breeders’ Cup races, taking first place honors at the BC Lady’s Cup Classic in 2008.
• She is racing’s all-time North American leading female earner.
• 2010 Eclipse Horse of the Year; three time Eclipse Champion Older Mare winner
• Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith, piloted Zenyatta 17 of her 20 starts.
• She is known for her come-from-behind racing style.
• She likes peppermint candies, drinks beer and likes to prance and dance for an audience!
• Zenyatta was retired from racing November 2010 and currently resides at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.
• Her best friend is Breeders’ Cup champion, Life is Sweet.  They are good pals.
• Will I ever get a chance to meet the great Zenyatta?  I was ecstatic to meet her owners (Ann & Jerry Moss), jockey (Mike Smith) and trainer, John Shireffs  at the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Zenyatta Celebration. I hope to get the opportunity to meet this wonderful, majestic horse someday too!

Cozmic One (formerly Z12)

• Cozmic One will be two years old on March 8, 2014.
• Sire is Bernardini, 2006 Preakness winner.
• Coz is a dark bay colt and looks a lot like Zenyatta with similar coloring and size; his forehead blaze resembles a “star”.
• Weaned in August 2012, Coz started racehorse “school” in early Oct 2013 at Mayberry Farm in Ocala, FL.
• Will he race this year?  My guess is not yet – that the owners and trainer will wait another year or so.

Z13 (Yet to be named)

photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lanes End

• Happy birthday, Mom! Z13 was born on Zenyatta’s ninth birthday, April Fool’s Day, 2013!
• Sired by Tapit, Z13 is a coppery colored chestnut colt and weighed 145 pounds at birth.
• Bo Derek “imprinted” on Z13 so that “he will remember me in the winner’s circle” during a visit to Lane’s End Farm.
• Weaned in September 2013 but still resides at Lane’s End Farm with mom.
• What will this fine colt be named?  We are all waiting anxiously to find out….