ZENYATTA: HORSE OF THE YEAR

In the twilight of her racing career, Zenyatta lost her first and only race, just failing to catch Blame by a heart-breaking head at the wire of the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic. It would be her final start on the racetrack; the conclusion to a career during which she won nineteen consecutive victories, a historic streak which may stand for well over a hundred years; perhaps forever.

But Zenyatta had one last race to win.

Immediately following the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic, every horse racing fan began to ask themselves who the 2010 Horse of the Year would be. Would the voters reward Blame for his solid campaign that ended with him becoming the only horse to defeat Zenyatta? Or would the great mare's loss be forgiven, allowing her to finally receive the award that had eluded her for so long?

In 2008, Zenyatta finished second in the Horse of the Year voting to Curlin.

In 2009, Zenyatta finished second in the Horse of the Year voting to Rachel Alexandra.

And then, at long last, Zenyatta earned herself the highest honor given to a horse in American racing: the coveted Horse of the Year award.

In 2010, Zenyatta finished first in the Horse of the Year voting, earning herself the one award which was missing from her stellar resume.

She began her 2010 season with a brilliant victory in the Santa Margarita Handicap (gr. I) despite being in a box with nowhere to run in the stretch. She then shipped to Oaklawn Park and won the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) by over four lengths. A thrilling late run in the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) enabled her to catch the tough mare St. Trinians despite spotting her nine pounds; a task that looked nearly impossible. But as usual, Zenyatta overcame the impossible and won her third grade I race on the year.

Sent to Del Mar for the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I), Zenyatta rallied a bit early than usual, caught Rinterval early in the stretch, and played with her rival for the remainder of the drive.

Her prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic came in the Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I), where she once again rallied from an impossible position in the stretch to catch Switch on the wire.

Entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic against males with a chance to retire undefeated; a perfect 20-for-20, Zenyatta dropped back to last as usual. But what was unusual was just how far back she was. She was nearly twenty lengths behind the leaders in the early stages of the race, seemingly without a chance.

But Zenyatta, like a true champion, rallied through the middle of the pack, undoubtedly getting a face full of dirt in the process. It was an experience that she had never felt before. But despite the unfamiliar circumstance she valiantly burst to the outside and set her sights on Blame, far ahead.

Down the stretch the brilliant mare charged, her giant strides drawing her ever nearer to Blame. But just as she was about to catch him, with a chance at unimaginable glory just strides away, they passed the finish line. Blame had denied Zenyatta the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic.

But deny her Horse of the Year he could not. Zenyatta prevailed in the final race of her career, the race for Horse of the Year.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss, John Shirreffs, Mike Smith, and most of all, Zenyatta.