Zenyatta won one more time. After starting her career with 19 consecutive wins before coming up a head short to Blame in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic, she turned the tables on Blame in the voting for 2010 Horse of the Year.
Zenyatta received 128 votes, followed by 102 for Blame and 5 for Goldikova.
Owned by Jerome and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Street Cry was retired with a record of 19 wins from 20 starts.
As a 6-year-old, Zenyatta became the oldest winner of the Horse of the Year award since Cigar won it in 1996. She is also the first female horse to win since Azeri in 2002. She retired as the leading all-time female money earner.
Owner Jerome Moss thanked the connections of Blame and Goldikova who finished behind Zenyatta in the voting. Moss when on to thank several people connected with Zenyatta, including trainer John Shirreffs and jockeys Mike Smith and David Flores.
"To arrive at Horse of the Year is really something," Moss said.
Then someone shouted from the back "bring her back!". "Oh, I think she's pretty happy at Lane's End right now."
"I just wanted to acknowledge the presence of Jeanie Mayberry, April Mayberry, they have a farm in Florida. That's where Zenyatta went after we purchased her at the yearling sale. At Mr. Plumbley's Farm," Moss said.
"They are the ones that said that, I think they called David, and said, 'David, we've got this filly here, and you better get a good name for her.' And he said "Why?". 'You've either got one really fast horse or a lot of slow ones, because she makes up two strides for every one she takes. So let's get a good name for her.' We did get a good name for her," said Moss. "We reached into our music connection book."
Trainer John Shirreffs praised the vote and his mare. "I can't tell you how excited I am and how happy I am about it. Zenyatta's meant so much," said Shirreffs. "Zenyatta is a miracle."
Owner Ann Moss was in tears at the announcement. "She's such a gift," she said. "She does lift spirits and lifts hearts with joy and love."
Jockey Mike Smith expressed a big relief with the vote. "It just makes it all okay. You know after getting the last time, this makes everything okay. Just like her, she never had no quit in her, she never stopped trying. Neither do we, and we finally got it, man. She did it for us. It makes everything okay now. I'm fine."
"She's one in a million, we're just so thrilled for her," Jerry Moss said. "We can't wait to tell her."
Trainer Al Stall Jr. expressed disappointment with the vote but praised Zenyatta. "There's no disgrace finishing second in the voting to Zenyatta," said Stall.
Eclipse Award coverage from TVG