Zenyatta loses newborn colt to meconium aspiration syndrome

A War Front colt foaled Sunday night by the legendary race mare Zenyatta died at approximately 9 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday morning due to complications from meconium aspiration syndrome.

The news was announced by Team Zenyatta and Lane's End Farm on Zenyatta.com.

A statement from the website on Monday said that both Zenyatta and her foal were sent to a local clinic as a precaution on the recommendation of attending veterinarians. Both were taken for close observation and treatment after the foal was born meconium stained.

"We express our deep gratitude to Dr. Peter Morresey and the professionals at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital who worked tirelessly to support the mare and foal," the connections said in the statement. "Zenyatta is in good health and back home at Lane's End Farm."

Zenyatta's previous foal, a filly by War Front, also lived a tragically short life, dying as a weanling in October 2014 following a paddock accident.

A winner of 19 races in 20 starts, Zenyatta was a three-time champion older mare and was voted 2010 Horse of the Year. Her two oldest foals, Cozmic One, a four-year-old by Bernardini, and Ziconic, a three-year-old by Tapit, have both raced twice without winning.

(Photo courtesy of Kyle Acebo/Team Zenyatta)