Zenyatta

Popularity

Zenyatta was selected three years in a row (2008–2010) for NTRA's Moment of the Year Award, for her 2008 Ladies' Classic victory, historic 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic victory, and narrow defeat in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic. She finished second in the voting for AP Female Athlete of the Year in both 2009 and 2010. She was featured in O and W Magazine and in a profile on 60 Minutes in 2010 prior to her historic attempt at 20 consecutive victories in the 2010 Breeders Cup Classic. In a public opinion poll by the Daily Racing Form, 87% of people voted for her to be the 2010 Eclipse Horse of the Year. Thousands appeared for her retirement ceremonies at Hollywood Park and Keeneland Race Track despite frigid 18-degree temperatures at Keeneland.

Racing overview

Zenyatta won 17 Graded stakes races including 13 Grade I events and defeated four champions of eight different awards: Gio Ponti (2009 American Champion Older Male Horse and 2009, 2010 American Champion Male Turf Horse), Sealy Hill (Canadian Horse of the Year, Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and Canadian Champion Female Turf Horse) Summer Bird (2009 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse) and Ginger Punch (2007 American Champion Older Female Horse).

In Zenyatta's 20:19–1–0 racing record, she defeated multiple Grade I winners including: Colonel John; Richard's Kid; Einstein; Ginger Punch; Tough Tiz's Sis; Cocoa Beach; Music Note, Life Is Sweet, Switch, and Summer Bird. She also defeated European Multiple Group I winners Rip Van Winkle and Twice Over, and Grade 1 winners Awesome Gem (2010 Hollywood Gold Cup); Girolamo (2010 Vosburgh Stakes); Mine That Bird (2009 Kentucky Derby); Hystericalady (2007 Humana Distaff Handicap), Romance Is Diane (2006 Hollywood Starlet Stakes), Double Trouble (2008 Santa Maria Handicap), Santa Teresita (2009 Santa Maria Handicap), and Carriage Trail (2008 Spinster Stakes).

2007 season

On November 22, 2007, Zenyatta won her first start and defeated 11 opponents. She broke her maiden in a Maiden Special Weight going 6½ furlongs at Hollywood Park and stopped the tele-timer in 1:15.22. She was ridden by David Flores, carried 122 lbs and won by three lengths. She earned $25,200 of the $42,000 purse.

On December 15, 2007, Zenyatta won a 1-1/16-mile allowance race by 3½ lengths at Hollywood Park.

2008 season

On January 13, 2008, Zenyatta stopped the tele-timer in 1:40.61 and broke the stakes record in the 1-1/16-mi Grade 2 El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita. She was ridden by David Flores and won by 3/4 of a length carrying 116 lb.

Zenyatta traveled to Oaklawn Park on April 5, 2008, for her first start on dirt and her first Grade 1 attempt. There she defeated the 2007 Older Female champion, Ginger Punch, and won the Apple Blossom Handicap for her first Grade 1 victory. She won by 4½ lengths and completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.64. She was ridden by Mike Smith for the first time, a partnership that continued for the last 17 races of her career. She paid $5.60 to win, $3.60 to place, and $2.20 to show. Zenyatta went on to win the Grade 2 Milady Handicap and the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park. She then set a track record of 1:41.48 for 1 1/16 miles and won the Grade 2 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar.

On September 27, 2008, Zenyatta won the Grade 1 Lady's Secret Stakes at Santa Anita Park. She clocked negative splits throughout the race, running each quarter faster than the one before it. Her splits were :24 4/5, :23 4/5, :23 1/5, :22 3/5, and a final sixteenth in :06 flat. She finished the 1 1/16 miles in a stakes-record 1:40.30 and established herself as the heavy favorite for the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in October.

On October 24, 2008, Zenyatta was sent off as the 1–2 favorite for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park. She circled the field at the top of the stretch and won, capping an undefeated season and making a case for herself as Horse of the Year. Her Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic was the second-fastest in Breeders' Cup history at 1:46.85 for 1⅛ miles. She posted a 1½-length victory over Cocoa Beach.

2009 season

Zenyatta won the Eclipse Award for top Older Female of the 2008 season. She was voted runner-up to 2008 American Horse of the Year Curlin.

On May 23, 2009, Zenyatta won the Grade 2 Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park. She carried 126 lbs and defeated stablemate and Grade I winner Life Is Sweet, finishing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.30 and winning by 1¾ lengths.

On June 27, 2009, Zenyatta won the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park for the second straight year. She carried 129 lbs, spotting her rivals from 13 to 18 pounds, and became the first horse to win under such a weight assignment since 1977. She won by 2½ lengths with a final time of 1:48.15 at the 1⅛ mile distance. In 2008, she won the Vanity under 126 pounds.

On August 9, 2009, Zenyatta overcame a strong aversion to the Del Mar track surface, which she had been reluctant to even train over, and won the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar. With a furlong left to run, she had four lengths to make up and closed to win by a head over Anabaa's Creation. She finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.24.

On October 10, 2009, Zenyatta won the Lady's Secret at Oak Tree at Santa Anita with ease, and on October 28, 2009, it was announced that she would compete in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.

On November 7, 2009, Zenyatta became the first female to win the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. She carried 124 lbs and won by 1 length over Gio Ponti. She earned $2,700,000 of the $5,000,000 purse. She became the first horse to win two different Breeders' Cup races, improving her winning record to 14 of 14. The field of 12 horses over which she triumphed included 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, 2009 Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Summer Bird, European Group 1 winners Twice Over and Rip Van Winkle, and Pacific Classic winner Richard's Kid. The runner-up, Gio Ponti, was the winner of four Grade 1 Stakes in 2009, including the Arlington Million, and was named Champion Older Male and Champion Male Grass horse. Zenyatta finished the 1¼ miles in 2:00.62 and surpassed the 2002 "Horse of the Year" Azeri in North American female earnings. Azeri, retired in 2004, had career earnings of $4,079,820.

On December 22, 2009, Zenyatta was runner-up to tennis player Serena Williams for 2009 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.

On December 26, 2009, opening day of the 75th year of the Santa Anita meet, Zenyatta bid farewell to her admirers with a jog around the grandstand in what appeared to be the final parade of her career.

2010 season

On January 16, 2010, it was announced that Zenyatta would not be retired and would race during the 2010 season. On January 18, she won the Eclipse Award for top Older Female of the 2009 season. She was voted runner-up to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.

On March 13, 2010, Zenyatta captured her 15th straight victory in the Grade 1 $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita Park. She was assigned 127 lbs and spotted her seven rivals 11 to 16 pounds. She wove through traffic mid-stretch to get clear and won under a hand ride, eased before the wire. She completed the 1⅛ miles in 1:48.20 and won by 1¼ lengths.

Early in 2010, it was announced that Zenyatta would meet Rachel Alexandra, that had not raced since winning the Woodward on September 2009, on the track in the Apple Blossom Invitational on April 9 at Oaklawn Park. The Apple Blossom Handicap was changed to an invitational for the renewal of the race. There was also talk of a series of three races over the 2010 racing season in which Zenyatta and Rachel would meet. However, following Rachel Alexandra's loss in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on March 13, it was announced that she would not run in the Apple Blossom Invitational.

On April 9, 2010, Zenyatta romped in the Grade I $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park and increased her undefeated record to 16–0. With the win, Zenyatta tied Cigar, Citation, Ormonde, and Ribot for consecutive victories without a loss. She completed the 1⅛ miles in 1:50.71.

On June 13, 2010, Zenyatta won her 17th straight race in the Grade I $250,000 Vanity Invitation Handicap at Hollywood Park by 1/2 length under 129 pounds. She nabbed St. Trinians, to which she conceded 9 pounds, at the wire to surpass the records of Citation and Cigar for consecutive victories in unrestricted races. With the victory, Zenyatta tied the world record set by Rock of Gibraltar for consecutive Grade/Group I victories. She earned $150,000 of the $250,000 purse and paid $3.00 to win, $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering.

On August 7, 2010, Zenyatta broke the world record set by Rock of Gibraltar for consecutive Grade/Group I victories. She won her eighth consecutive Grade I victory and increased her undefeated record to 18–0. Zenyatta carried 123 lb and won her third Clement L. Hirsch Handicap. She was ridden by Mike Smith and finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.03, winning by a neck. Zenyatta's 18th win tied Eclipse for consecutive victories without a defeat. With the win, Zenyatta captured her 12th Grade I race and tied the All-time North American record (set by two-time champion Bayakoa) for Grade I victories by a filly/mare.

On October 2, 2010, Zenyatta broke the North American record for Grade I victories by a filly/mare with her 13th Grade I win, which came at Oak Tree at Hollywood Park. She won her 9th consecutive Grade I victory and ran her unbeaten streak to 19–0 . In addition, she broke the all-time North American female earnings record (formerly held by Ouija Board, which retired in 2006 with earnings in excess of $6,312,552). Zenyatta (carrying 123 lb) won her third Lady's Secret Stakes by a half-length over Grade I winner Switch. She finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.97 and increased her career earnings to $6,404,580.

On November 6, 2010 Zenyatta attempted to become the first North American horse to retire undefeated with 20 wins and the second horse to repeat in the Grade 1 1¼ mile Breeders' Cup Classic after Tiznow. She fell behind the leader by at least 18 lengths in the early going at Churchill Downs, but rallied in the stretch to close in on Stephen Foster Handicap and Whitney Handicap winner Blame. Zenyatta fell inches short and lost by a short head. Other horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic included Preakness and Haskell Invitational winner Lookin at Lucky; Quality Road, dominant winner of the Florida Derby, Metropolitan Handicap, Donn Handicap, and Woodward Stakes; Japanese shipper Espoir City, winner of the 2009 Japan Cup Dirt; and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Haynesfield. With her second-place earnings of $900,000, Zenyatta surpassed Tiznow, John Henry, and Alysheba in all-time North American earnings (male or female) with earnings in excess of $7,304,580. She also broke the all-time Breeders Cup earnings record (previously held by American Horse of the Year and two-time Breeders Cup Classic champion Tiznow). The top-five Breeders Cup earners are: Zenyatta: $4,680,000, Tiznow: $4,560,400, Goldikova (IRE): $3,508,200, Conduit (IRE): $3,240,000, and Curlin: $2,955,000.

On December 18, 2010, Zenyatta was runner-up to skier Lindsey Vonn for 2010 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.

On January 17, 2011, Zenyatta won the Eclipse Award for top Older Female and Horse Of The Year of the 2010 season. The voting for Horse of the Year was 128 for Zenyatta to 102 for Blame, with five votes for Goldikova. It was Zenyatta's third nomination for Horse of the Year and her first win.

On January 20, 2011, Penny Chenery announced that Zenyatta was named the 2010 recipient of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award.

On March 23, 2011, Zenyatta became the first horse to win the William H. May Award. The award honors an individual or group that has provided "meritorious service" to the industry. Past recipients include racing industry greats such as John R. Gaines (Breeders' Cup founder), Joe Hirsch (founder of the National Turf Writers Association), Bob and Beverly Lewis, Stanley Bergstein, and Richard Duchossois.

Retirement

On November 17, 2010, Zenyatta was slated to be retired. She arrived at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, on December 6, 2010. On February 23, 2011, Zenyatta traveled by van to Darley Stud, where she was bred to Bernardini. On March 29, after coming up negative on a 45-day pregnancy checkup, Zenyatta was bred again to Bernardini. She was announced to be in foal 60 days later. She gave birth to a dark bay colt, later named Cozmic One, on March 8, 2012. Cozmic One had two starts in 2015 and performed poorly at the track.

On May 8, 2012, she was confirmed in foal to Tapit. She delivered a chestnut colt, later named Ziconic on April 1, 2013, on her 9th birthday. Ziconic started racing in 2016 and though as of April 2016 had yet to win a race, he showed a similar last-to-first running style to his dam and more potential ability than Cozmic One.

On June 14, 2013, she was confirmed in foal to Claiborne Farm stallion War Front. She delivered a dark bay filly on Easter, April 20, 2014, at 12:03 am. The filly was euthanized as a weanling on October 28, 2014 at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, after an accident in the paddock. On May 27, 2015, Zenyata was confirmed to be in foal, again bred to War Front, after receiving a full year off of breeding. She gave birth to a dark bay colt with a blaze, on April 10, 2016, but the colt died 2 days later due to complications from meconium aspiration syndrome. Zenyatta was bred to Medaglia d'Oro on May 2, 2016, later confirmed to be in foal.

Races