Zenyatta Welcomes Her Third Colt

Update 4/13/16: Zenyatta’s 2016 colt has died due to complications from meconium aspiration syndrome. Read more here >>

Mom and baby were taken to a veterinary clinic as the foal was born meconium stained. Zenyatta.com explains the condition:

Meconium staining is an occasional event at foaling in which aspiration can occur, irritating the lungs. As a precaution and on the recommendation of the attending veterinarians, both mare and foal were taken to the clinic for close observation and treatment.

Despite the precautionary measures, Zenyatta is said to be in excellent health and spirits and her foal is standing and moving around the stall. They will remain under observation for 48 hours and if all goes well, they will return to Lane’s End Farm soon.

Zenyatta, now 12 years old, had a year off from her role as a broodmare and did not have a foal in 2015. Her 2014 foal, her first filly, died due to injuries sustained in a pasture accident when she was around six months old. Zenyatta’s first colt Cozmic One (by Bernardini, foaled in 2012) and her second, Ziconic (by Tapit, foaled 2013), have both launched their racing careers.

Zenyatta started her racing career relatively late for a Thoroughbred, debuting in the fall of her three-year-old year. She raced through her six-year-old year, winning 19 of her 20 starts. In 2010, she was named Horse of the Year.