Mere days after Rachel Alexandra’s owners announced that she was pregnant, Zenyatta was also confirmed to be ‘in foal’. The 7 year old Zenyatta was bred to 2006 Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini two weeks ago and the pregnancy was discovered on Thursday morning after a routine ultrasound.
Zenyatta’s website regularly features comments “from” the legendary mare that are in actuality written by Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, wife of trainer John Shirreffs and the racing manager for owners Ann and Jerry Moss. Here’s how ‘she’ made the big announcement:
I guess my guys at the farm could not wait a moment longer…and they scanned me this morning. I just had to share the news with you!
I AM IN FOAL!
This is my 15 day scan! From what I am told, everything looks fabulous and solid. The embryo looks to be a good size. So, at this time, everything is WONDERFUL!
I will be rescanned at about 28 days and if that is all A-OK, my next scan will be at the 40-42 day time period from the date I was bred. As Dottie explained to you earlier, the latter scan is really very important. If all is perfect at that time, then I am pretty well on my way in my pregnancy. This is all so exciting and so new to me! I JUST LOVE IT!
As Zenyatta/Ingordo Shirreffs notes, she’ll receive another ultrasound in a couple of weeks followed by another scan around 42 days. These timeframes are typical for broodmares since miscarriages and false pregnancies aren’t uncommon. If these scans are both positive, there’s a much better chance that she’ll be able to carry the pregnancy to term. Or, as ‘Zenyatta’ put it:
HOOVES CROSSED for the news on my next scan to be just at POSITIVE!
Zenyatta now stands at Lane’s End Farm near Versaille, Kentucky. Sire Bernardini is owned by Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum and stands at Darley Stud at Jonabell Farm in Lexington. Rachel Alexandra is owned by Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke, and was mated to Preakness and Breeder’s Cup Classic winner Curlin who they also own.