Owner: Ann and Jerry Moss
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Breeder: Maverick Productions, Limited
Career record: 20-19-1-0
Earnings: $7,304,580
Zenyatta – by Street Cry out of the Kris S. mare Vertigineux – was retired at age 6 at the end of the 2010 season and is beginning a new career as a broodmare. But for more than three years, she captivated racing. Her popularity, like her win streak, reached new heights in 2010. As the wins mounted – 15 in a row, 16, 17, 18, 19 – her appeal reached well beyond the cozy confines of racing. She attracted the attention of “60 Minutes” and Oprah Winfrey. Everywhere she went, crowds of adoring fans followed.
Her popularity was born of a combination of a win streak that lasted nearly three years and a personality that had her playing to swooning crowds.
“The great thing about Zenyatta is that she has a personality you can share with other people,” said her trainer, John Shirreffs. “You need to see her, need to visit her. She has this aura about her.”
In her final start, Zenyatta tried for a second straight victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Facing 11 males, she passed all of them but Blame, who was named 2010's Eclipse Award champion older male and lost a close vote to Zenyatta for Horse of the Year.
Zenyatta, who was bred by Maverick Productions, Limited, ended her magnificent career 19 for 20. But does anyone think any less of her because of the loss? Hardly. Her courageous rally in her final start was roundly hailed as one of her best performances and won over her few intractable skeptics, those flat-Earth believers who failed to appreciate what a remarkable feat it was to remain unbeaten, and in top form, for nearly three years.
After winning two Eclipse Awards in 2010, and four in her career, there is no doubt that Zenyatta will go down as one of the greatest racemares of all time, if not the greatest.
Text by Jay Privman. Photo by Barbara D. Livingston.
PAST PERFORMANCES: Download Zenyatta's lifetime Daily Racing Form PPs »
2010 season race recaps and video replays
Date
Race
Video
Track
Surface
Age
Dist.
Beyer
Finish
Margin
Nov. 6
G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic
CD
Dirt
3&up
1 1/4
111
2nd
hd
Oct. 2
G1 Lady's Secret Stakes
OTH
Cushion Track
3&up
1 1/16
101
1st
½
Aug. 7
G1 Clement Hirsch Stakes
DMR
Polytrack
F-M 3&up
1 1/16
95
1st
neck
June 13
G1 Vanity Handicap
Hol
Cushion Track
F-M 3&up
1 1/8
103
1st
½
April 9
G1 Apple Blossom
OP
Dirt
F-M 4&up
1 1/8
95
1st
4 ¼
March 13
G1 Santa Margarita Handicap
SA
Pro-Ride
F-M 4&up
1 1/8
102
1st
1 ¼
More on DRF.com
* Zenyatta side by side with Big Red
* Seeing shades of Zenyatta in her half-sister
* 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta: A photographic tribute
* Zenyatta takes Horse of the Year over Blame
* DRF Weekend: A legend takes her final bow
* Barbara Livingston photos: Zenyatta a reminder to celebrate life