It wasn't an April fools joke! On April 1, 2013, 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta welcomed her new foal into the world just before midnight. While January 1 is considered the birthday on paper for all Thoroughbreds registered with The Jockey Club, Zenyatta and her new colt share their actual birthday. Zenyatta was also born on April 1 in 2004.
Winning Thoroughbred Zenyatta
On April 1, 2013, Horse of the Year, Zenyatta, welcomed her new foal into the world just before midnight, a 145 lb colt by Tapit.
The chestnut colt by Tapit weighed approximately 145 lbs. and sports a distinctive wide blaze. Both Zenyatta and her baby are said to be doing very well. The colt will be known as 13Z for his year of birth and mother's initial.
The new colt is Zenyatta's second baby. Her first foal, a dark bay colt by Bernardini, is currently enjoying his childhood at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, where Zenyatta is also spending her broodmare years.
Zenyatta is known for her astonishing 19 consecutive victories. In 2009, she was the first female horse to win the Breeder's Cup Classic, and was named Horse of the Year in 2010. She had a nearly perfect career, finishing first in every race she entered except her last: the 2010 Breeder's Cup Classic in which she finished second.
This exceptional mare brought new fans to the sport of racing to follow her career as she won races against bigger boys, giving Thoroughbred racing much needed positive publicity.