Zenyatta pregnancy doing well

An ultrasound examination taken Wednesday shows Zenyatta appears to be holding her first pregnancy, owner Jerry Moss said.

Moss confirmed that the planned ultrasound exam, the second one since the 7-year-old Horse of the Year’s Feb. 23 mating to Bernardini, took place Wednesday. Moss called the scan “a successful procedure” and confirmed the mare still is in foal. The routine ultrasound was carried out 28 days post-breeding and followed an initial ultrasound on March 10 that first confirmed Zenyatta’s pregnancy.

“I feel great about it,” Moss said. “We’re really pleased with everything.”

Zenyatta, the only mare to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, retired in 2010. She won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 12 other Grade 1 races. Her only loss in 20 starts came in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic, when Blame beat her by a head.

Zenyatta is one of two female Horses of the Year to be bred for the first time this year. The other, 2009 Horse of the year Rachel Alexandra, was mated to Curlin in February, just days before Zenyatta’s covering by Bernardini. She also is in foal.

Zenyatta’s next major ultrasound examination is likely to take place 40 to 42 days after her mating, around April 4-6.