Zenyatta gives birth to a 2016 War Front colt
On the track, Zenyatta always left things to the last possible second, causing her adoring fans to sweat bullets as she made up ground in the stretch. Just when you thought all was lost, the popular mare would kick it into another gear just in time to grab the win. Now in her second career as a broodmare, Queen Z has not lost her flair for the dramatic.
Already a proud mom to Cozmic One and Ziconic, Zenyatta also produced a War Front filly in 2014. Unfortunately, the filly, affectionately known as “Z Princess,” was euthanized as a weanling in October of the same year due to injuries sustained in a paddock accident.
Jerry and Ann Moss decided to give Zenyatta the 2014 breeding season off due to their champion mare having gained a bit more weight than they would have liked. They then bred her back to War Front in 2015.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta
After being on Foal Watch for nearly 20 days, we were all beginning to wonder if Zenyatta was waiting until Kentucky Derby day to deliver her latest foal. Well folks, the wait is officially over! Zenyatta gave birth to her War Front baby this morning, a striking bay colt with a large white blaze.
According to an update by Team Z on Zenyatta.com, the foaling was mostly uneventful with Zenyatta delivering her colt within half an hour of her water breaking. The colt was meconium stained at birth, however, something that occasionally occurs and can cause lung-irritating aspiration. Both mother and foal were taken to the clinic for observation and treatment as a precaution recommended by the attending veterinarians. Zenyatta and her newborn colt will remain at the clinic under observation for 48 hours. They will then be allowed to return to the farm if all goes well.
Team Z reports that both are in good spirits. The colt can stand and move around with minimal assistance, and Queen Z is a good mother, as we already knew she was and would be.
Congratulations to the Mosses, Lane's End Farm and all involved in the successful delivery of racing royalty!