Rachel Alexandra is top horse

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Rachel Alexandra won the first matchup between racing’s leading ladies, beating out undefeated mare Zenyatta for Horse of the Year.

Voters chose the fabulous filly for the year-end honor at the Eclipse Awards on Monday night at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Rachel Alexandra received 130 votes to 99 for Zenyatta in one of the tightest, most widely debated competitions in years.

Now the question is whether Zenyatta will get to avenge the defeat.

Owners Jerry and Ann Moss announced Saturday the mighty mare will run as a 6-year-old, perhaps setting up that long-awaited meeting with Rachel Alexandra. The two glamour girls never raced each other despite capturing the public’s imagination with rousing victories over the boys.

As expected, Zenyatta won the Eclipse Award as the top older female for the second straight year while Rachel Alexandra was voted top 3-year-old filly. Her trainer, Steve Asmussen, took home the award for top trainer after breaking his own record for victories in a year.

Rachel Alexandra had one of the most impressive campaigns in history for a 3-year-old, beating males three times and becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes. She also beat the boys in the Haskell Invitational and Woodward Stakes.

Her regal nature endeared her to countless fans as she traveled around the country, breaking records for largest margin of victory at the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose.