Southern California coach John Shirreffs, who skilled champion Zenyatta and Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, died in his sleep Thursday. He was 80 years outdated.
(Born June 1, 1945, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Mr. Shirreffs served within the Marines in the course of the Vietnam Warfare earlier than incomes his coach’s license in 1978. He settled in Santa Anita, the place he amassed 596 wins in 3,589 profession begins and constructed a repute for a affected person, horse-first method.
Shirreff’s despatched Giacomo to win the 2005 Kentucky Derby with a 50-1 document. This was some of the unlikely leads to horse racing historical past. He then conditioned Zenyatta, who received the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Girls Traditional and the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Traditional, the latter turning into the primary feminine to defeat a male in the identical race. Zenyatta was the Previous Filth Filly Champion three years in a row (2008-10) and received Horse of the 12 months in 2010.
On the identical 2009 Breeders’ Cup card, Shirreffs additionally rode Life is Candy within the Girls Traditional, successful each races on the identical afternoon.
Shirreffs remained aggressive properly into his 80s. Baeza completed third within the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and Westwood received the San Pascal Stakes (G2) on Jan. 31 – Shirreffs’ final begin and winner.
