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Zenyatta Delivers War Front Colt

Photo by Kyle Acebo
Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta

VERSAILLES, KY — (April 11, 2016) Zenyatta delivered her fourth foal last night, April 10. She broke water at approximately 9:00 pm and foaled at 9:24 pm, delivering a handsome bay colt by War Front. We are just enamored with him, and so is Zenyatta.

For the most part Zenyatta’s foaling was uneventful and by the book, however the foal was born meconium stained. 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.

Zenyatta is bright and alert and is in excellent health following the foaling. She and her foal are in good spirits and developing a strong bond. As always, she is a great mother. Currently the foal can stand and move around the stall with minimal assistance. The pair will stay at the clinic where they will get the best possible care and attention. The foal will be watched closely for 48 hours for any changes. If he continues to do well, both Zenyatta and her foal will be able to return to the farm shortly.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Lane’s End staff, veterinarians and everyone who provided such excellent care for Zenyatta and her new colt.

Team Z

Photo: Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta
Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta


Photo: Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta
Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta


Photo: Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta
Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta


Photo: Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta
Kyle Acebo for Team Zenyatta

Reader Interactions

414 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Thank you for sharing all these pictures and Zenyatta and her new baby. I hope she knows how much joy she gives all of us including all the 5th graders I have. I will share these tomorrow in school. I can’t get FB in the classroom but Zenyatta’s site will come up. God Bless Zenyatta and that beautiful new boy. Love, Shari XXXOOO

    • / Reply

      Dear Suz:

      It happens in human births too. It’s the first BM the baby has and sometimes in the womb or through birthing the baby ingests some of it into his/her lungs and makes breathing difficult. With necessary treatment, usually resolved without a problem and everything is OK. Love and Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Thank you Judy for explaining what exactly the problem is. I can rest a little easier now although still will be worried.

        • Dear Pam:

          Yes, will feel better when they are home and running around the paddock. Love and Hugs, JB

  3. / Reply

    I hope that the treatment was not a fluoroquinolone aka Marbofloxacin.
    In people, and other species it is implicated with joint damage, tendon ruptures, permanent neuropathy and retinal detachment. (In canines it is called Baytril, and for people the drugs are Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox or the generics, ciprofloxacin, levafloxacin, moxafloxacin.) We do not need any more premature breakdowns on the track.

  5. / Reply

    Congratulations to Mama Zenyatta, Ann and Jerry Moss, and all of Zenyatta’s people on the birth of her new War Front colt! What a beautiful boy he is!!!

    Sending loving wishes for good health and a happy life for the new little guy! ❤️

  8. / Reply

    So happy for Zenyatta and the Moss family who have welcomed another colt to the family. His first appearance is breathtaking to see! I cannot wait to see more photos. Very happy that Zenyatta is healthy and caring for her newborn. God bless and good fortune for this handsome foal.

  9. / Reply

    He is so cute, he looks like Zenny.
    So glad you are here with all of us.
    I love you dear mammy and I love you dear Z16 !!!!

  10. / Reply

    Team Z was quick to respond as this condition which usually improves but can have complications. Googled it and learned may be caused by stress to the baby during extended pregnancy or release of fecal matter prematurely. Mom and baby are in the best of care.

  12. / Reply

    Dear Judy.I was sorry to hear the cat didn’t turn out to be Peggy’s.I continue to pray for them.Is’nt the new colt a bonny lad the image of his mum.It will be lovely to see them back home safe though.Some great races due at the Punchestown festival later this month especially their gold cup.Goodnight God bless you LM PC HT Cap Hercules Frank Bentley and all the sweeties.Love and hugs SheenaX

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena:

      Yes, it was uncanny how much he resembled Jordan, but it was not him.

      Prince 3 is just adorable and he does look a lot like Z. Know you will enjoy the Punchestown Festival. Godspeed all; safe and sound. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT, Cap, Herc, Frank, Bentley and all the Sweeties

  13. / Reply

    What a cutie! Looks like he got his mom’s ears. Thanks for keeping us informed. So glad the wait is over.

  18. / Reply

    Big congrats to all concerned!
    I hope he grows up a champ and in a few years race at Oaklawn in Hot Springs Arkansas where I can take pictures and perhaps paint him!!

  20. / Reply

    It was pointed out that our Z16 was born on National Siblings Day (April 10). When I looked into the significance of the #10, here’s what I got:

    Is always an old soul and is one who has had many lives on both the higher and lower degree and one who has learned how transitory are things of the earth alone. For the Mayans, it represents the end of a cycle and the beginning of another. According to H.- P. Blavatsky (no idea who he is but the Ancient Greeks believed this too), the 1 followed by 0 indicates the column and the circle, meaning the principle of the female and male, and this symbol would refer to the Androgyne nature and also to Jehovah (God), being at the same time male and female.

    Numbers have ancient meanings attached to them. But I so want to believe that our little boy’s sister watches over him!

    • / Reply

      Abigail,

      I too noticed that Z16 was born on National Sibling’s Day. I want to believe that he was born that specific day to honor his full sister. I also want to believe that with Zenny’s knack for foaling dates (Ziconic – her birthday and Z Princess – Easter) that Zenny wanted to honor her too. I’m sure Z Princess is looking over him and always will.

  22. / Reply

    Congratulations, and prayers for a great recovery from the issues stated above. I am sad they had medical issues. The colt is adorable, and wonderful photos of him and his mom.
    Prayers for Zenyatta and her baby boy!! Oh, can hardly wait to hear he is doing better.

  29. / Reply

    He’s beautiful!! Spitting image of his mother!
    Thank you very much for the update and photos – we’ve all been holding our breathe waiting.

  30. / Reply

    Will the foal stay with his mom or go to a nurse mare? I hope he gets to stay with his mom throughout his babyhood.

    • / Reply

      Almost all thoroughbred mares raise their foals. Zenyatta has raised all three of her previous foals and is a very devoted mother. There is no reason for him to be put on a nurse mare. His mother is alive and in good health, and clearly she hasn’t rejected him. he will be with her until he is weaned at around 6 months of age. Unlike with some humans, lactation in mares does not decrease fertility. A nursing mare can be bred, become pregnant, and maintain a healthy pregnancy while nursing the foal at her side. Nurse mares are used in cases where the mare dies, suffers complications that preclude her nursing (such as with Rachel Alexandra’s second foal), or rejects the foal and can’t be made to tolerate it. Even then, the farm will use a mare who has lost her foal if one is available and she can be made to accept the foal as her own. Commercial nurse mares are a last resort. They cost money, take up a stall, and have to be fed and cared for. In most cases it doesn’t make economic sense to use a nurse mare.

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