Eblouissante has big shoes to fill

Earlier this week, reigning Horse of the Year Zenyatta was confirmed to be in foal to champion Bernardini. The resulting offspring — the first for the champion mare — won’t even be running until 2014 at the very earliest; perhaps later if, like many Thoroughbreds, he or she isn’t ready to compete as a juvenile.

Butwhile racing fans will be settling in for a very long wait, they still could get a sneak peek at that foal’s potential in the next few seasons thanks to one very interesting relative.

The 2-year-old filly Eblouissante arrived at trainer John Shirreffs’ Hollywood Park barn — which Zenyatta called home for nearly four years — in the second week of May. By Bernardini and out of the Kris S mare Vertigineux, Eblouissante is a half-sister to Zenyatta and will be a three-quarter sibling to her first foal.