Zenyatta wins Horse of Year
January 17, 2011MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) - This time, Zenyatta beat Blame.
Zenyatta won Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards on Monday night, besting the only horse ever to beat her on the track.
The award caps a remarkable career for the popular Zenyatta, one of the sport's greatest mares. She was 19-0 before losing her final race to Blame in the Breeders' Cup Classic last November.
Zenyatta's three-year body of work and charismatic personality swayed voters her way. She cost owners Jerry and Ann Moss only $60,000 when they purchased her as a yearling in 2005, and she went on to win 13 Grade 1 stakes, including five last year.
Zenyatta was runner-up for Horse of the Year in 2008 and 2009. She's now at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky awaiting her first breeding date, with the stallion to be announced soon.
The Eclipse Awards are voted on by the National Thorougbhred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters.
Other winners included Todd Pletcher as outstanding trainer, Ramon Dominguez as outstanding jockey, WinStar Farm as outstanding owner and Adena Springs as outstanding breeder.
Pletcher finished far ahead of the runner-up, Zenyatta trainer John Shirreffs, 168 votes to 28. Dominguez finished ahead of runner-up Garrett Gomez, 124-60. WinStar Farm edged Jerry and Ann Moss 100-81.
Blame was chosen top older male and Zenyatta top older female. Other winners:
2-Year-Old Male: Uncle Mo
2-Year-Old Filly: Awesome Feather
3-Year-Old Male: Lookin At Lucky
3-Year-Old Filly: Blind Luck
Female Sprinter: Dubai Majesty
Male Sprinter: Big Drama
Male Turf Horse: Gio Ponti
Female Turf Horse: Goldikova
Steeplechase Horse: Slip Away
Apprentice Jockey: Omar Moreno