Zenyatta is no longer racing but will never be forgotten

Fans of Zenyatta are forever loyal. She was the queen of racing, winning 19 of 20 starts. There were two women fans excited to watch Zenyatta’s 5-year-old son, Ziconic, in the first race on Friday at Santa Anita, a mile race for maidens on the turf.

Even though Ziconic was winless in 11 starts, the fans refused to be deterred.

“We’re going to see your mommy,” one fan said while Ziconic was being saddled in the paddock by trainer John Shirreffs.

Ziconic sure tried to run like his mother, breaking last and falling behind by as many as 19 lengths in the field of seven. He made a brief rally but ended up fourth.

Zenyatta’s success as a broodmare has not yet panned out. Her first son, Cozmic One by Bernardini, was 0 for 5. He’s since been gelded and will become an event horse.

Ziconic by Tapit is still trying to break his maiden. A foal by by War Front died in a paddock accident. Another foal by War Front was lost in a miscarriage.

But there’s always hope with Zenyatta. The 2010 horse of the year delivered a filly by Madaglia d’Oro last May. She’s unnamed but fans will be watching her every move, because Zenyatta remains beloved.

“We miss her,” said Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, racing manager for Zenyatta’s owners, Jerry and Ann Moss.