Zenyatta's stall at Hollywood now a makeshift shrine

Life goes on in Barn 55 South at Hollywood Park but it will never be quite

the same since the retirement of Zenyatta last December. The superstar mare, who

won 19 of 20 starts and was named Horse of the Year before joining the broodmare

ranks in Kentucky, spent more than four years here with trainer John Shirreffs.

In honor of Zenyatta, Stall 85 where she resided, has been converted into a

shrine.

Assistant trainer Michelle Jensen walked to the entrance Thursday and said,

"This stall is her sanctuary."

A bed of straw remained, flanked by three walls covered with photos,

paintings and other memorabilia of the mare. One entire wall is draped by a

drawing from a grade-school class that served as a birthday card April 1 with

the words "Happy Birthday, Zenyatta."

"Seven women from here flew out for her birthday," said Jensen of the distaff

septet that included her, co-owner Ann Moss, racing manager Dottie Ingordo

Shirreffs, veterinarian Dawn Hunkin and exercise rider Isabelle Bourez.

A stream of daily visitors that flocked to see the obliging mare last year as

though on a mission to the Holy Grail has stopped, although fan interest remains

high.

"We had a lot of messages on her birthday," Jensen said.

Still, everybody at the barn misses the imposing mare and her supersized

personality.

"It's like when you have a family member leave," Jensen said. "There's that

hole like somebody's missing.

"We keep tabs on her, but it's not like we say 'good morning' to her, which

we did. I got to touch and hug her. She's definitely missed."

Mario Espinoza, Zenyatta's groom, echoed Jensen's sentiments.

"Oh, yes," he said with a grimace when asked if he missed the mare.

Espinoza is kept busy with four other Shirreffs trainees: Grade 1 stakes

winner Harmonious, Makoma, Violet Rose and Gelila.

Carmen Zamora, Zenyatta's hot walker and Espinoza's wife, continues to help

her husband. Steve Willard, Zenyatta's regular exercise rider, plays a new role

as assistant and pony rider, assuming some of the duties of retired pony rider

Freddy Wilson.