Snowy paddocks greet Zenyatta

Zenyatta was turned out in her paddock on Monday morning for her first time since arriving in Kentucky.

Zenyatta was allowed to roam without a lead and without a handler.  The snowy paddock was carefully manicured to ensure safe footing and workers were strategically deployed around the paddock grounds.

Among those on hand were six people who flew in from California: Jerry and Ann Moss, the horse’s owners; John Shirreffs, her trainer; Dottie Ingordo, the Mosses’ racing manager; Mario Espinoza, the horse’s racing groom; and Carmen Zamona, her hotwalker. The Street Cry mare enjoyed her romp in the snow and at one point made a beeline for Espinoza, who rubbed the mare’s shoulder and got an appreciative nudge in return from Zenyatta.

In another development, Zenyatta, who is a Horse of the Year contender after narrowly losing the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finished second to the American skier Lindsey Vonn in balloting for 2010 Female Athlete of the Year as voted by members of The Associated Press.