It’s not hard to see why Zenyatta, now a broodmare with three foals to her name, was considered the Queen of racing from 2007-2010, winning her first 18 of 19 starts in her track career. Her accolades are simply stunning!
Her Records
- Her Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic was the second-fastest in Breeders Cup history at 1:46.85 for 1⅛ miles.
- On November 7, 2009, Zenyatta became the first female to win the Grade I Breeders Cup Classic and the first horse ever to win two different Breeder’s Cup Races.
- The 2010 Apple Blossom Handicap marked her 16th win in a row, tying the record held by Citation and Cigar for consecutive victories in unrestricted races.
- With her win of the 2010 Vanity International Handicap she broke the all-time North American record for consecutive wins in unrestricted races (17 wins in 17 starts).
- On August 7, 2010, at the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, Zenyatta broke the world record (set by Rock of Gibraltar) for consecutive (8) Grade/Group I victories and tied the legendary Eclipse with 18 consecutive victories without defeat.
- Winning the 2010 Lady’s Secret Stakes, Zenyatta broke the all-time North American record for Grade/Group I victories by a filly/mare. She tied the all-time North American record for consecutive victories without defeat, and broke the all-time North American female earnings record. She is also the first mare to win this race 3 consecutive years.
- Zenyatta set speed records in the 2008 El Encino Stakes(1:40:61) and the 2008 Lady’s Secret Stakes (1:40:30).
- She is the first mare to win Vanity International Handicap, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, and the Lady’s Secret Stakes for 3 consecutive years.
- Zenyatta holds both the speed record and record for most wins in the Lady’s Secret Stakes. Her connections Ann & Jerry Moss, John Shirreffs, and Mike Smith hold records for most wins (four) by an owner, trainer, and jockey respectively.
Her Awards
- 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.
- On January 18, 2010, Zenyatta won The Eclipse Award for Top Older Female of the 2009 Season.
- She was named by Oprah Winfrey to the 2010 “O Power List”in O Magazine.
- On January 17, 2011 Zenyatta won the Eclipse Award for Top Older Female and Horse Of The Year of the 2010 season. 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.
- On May 10, 2011, Zenyatta’s story kicked off the “Inspire” segment of the 2011 Professional Business Women of California (PBWC) Conference. This organization was founded by California Congresswoman Jackie Speier. Ann Moss, Dr. Dawn Hunkin, and Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs and several thousand people attended as Zenyatta was presented with a PBWC Honorary Membership.
- Zenyatta was the first horse to receive an Honorary Membership to the San Pedro Assistance League. Her photo proudly hangs in their official conference room.
Fun Facts
#1 Zenyatta was born April 1, 2004, on April Fools Day, in Kentucky. She was bred by Maverick Productions.
#2 Zenyatta was purchased as a yearling at the low price of $60,000 because she suffered from a form of ringworm.
#3 She did not begin racing until she was three years old, making a winning debut in November of 2007 at Hollywood Park.
#4 Zenyatta stands at 17.2 hands high, as tall as many draft horses, and taller than other notably large thoroughbreds like Man ‘O War (16.2 hands), Forego (17 hands), and Secretariat (16.2 hands).
#5 Zenyattta was named after Zenyatta Mondatta, the third album by The Police, who were signed to A&M Rcords by her owner Jerry Moss.
#6 Zenyatta was sired by Street Cry, who also sired in the same season 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. She is also half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Balance.
#7 Her favorite treats are sweet potatoes, pears, peppermints and GUINNESS. She prefers stout, and knows the difference!
#8 Zenyatta’s same connections, owner Jerry Moss, trainer John Sherrifs, and jockey Mike Smith won the Kentucky Derby with Giacomo in 2005, tying Mine That Bird as the second biggest long-shot to win the Derby.
#9 Zenyatta surpassed Tiznow, John Henry and Alysheba in all-time North American earnings (male or female) with earnings in excess of $7,304,580.
#10 Zenyatta’s length of stride was very impressive. ESPN came out to BARN 55 to study it. After spending a week at the barn with her, they concluded that her length of stride was approximately 26 feet…and that it was equal to or greater than Secretariat’s.
#11 At Del Mar, they use the Trakkus system for clocking how fast a horse is running during a race. When Z won the Clement Hirsch in 2009, they clocked her “closing down the stretch” at 40+ mph.
#12 She was featured in O and Wmagazines, and profiled on 60 Minutes in 2010 prior to her historic attempt at 20 consecutive victories in the 2010 Breeders Cup Classic.
#13 She finished second in the voting for AP Female Athlete of the Year in both 2009 and 2010. She was runner-up to Serena Williams (2009) and skier Lindsey Vonn (2010).
#14 Zenyatta loved her fans and enjoyed visiting with them all of the time. There was not a day during the last few years she was in training and at BARN 55 that she did not have visitors. One Saturday morning November 2010, she had over 175 fans come to visit and she politely and elegantly posed for photos with each one of them.
#15 She was chosen to promote The Dodgers in 2010 and had her very own billboard in Los Angeles.
Immortalized by Breyer
