Zenyatta wins Horse of the Year

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 received 128 votes and Blame 102. Goldikova, the other nominee, received five votes.

''Thank you Zenyatta!'' owner Jerry Moss told the crowd at the awards ceremony.

''This makes it all OK after getting beat last time,'' said Mike Smith, Zenyatta's jockey.

Zenyatta's three-year body of work and charismatic personality swayed voters her way. When video highlights of the three finalists were shown before the award was announced, the ballroom crowd reserved its cheers for Zenyatta.

She has been the sport's leading lady and boosted its popularity, while Blame wasn't widely known outside of racing circles.

Zenyatta cost Moss and his wife Ann 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.

Blame won the Stephen Foster Handicap and the Whitney at Saratoga, but the 4-year-old colt finished second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which may have lost him some votes. Al Stall Jr., Blame's trainer, said his camp wasn't disappointed that Zenyatta won.

''It just fell that way,'' he said. ''Nobody is surprised. She was the overwhelming favorite. She had transcendent powers we didn't have.''

Zenyatta was runner-up for Horse of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

''We always hoped,'' Ann Moss said. ''We hoped last year, and the year before that. We're just so happy. She's such a gift.''

Zenyatta's now at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky awaiting her first breeding date, with the stallion to be decided in the next couple of weeks before she's bred in late February, Jerry Moss said.

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 earned the trainer honor for the fifth time by finishing 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