Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

As a member of the National Turf Writers Association I have a vote for the year-end Eclipse Awards, which includes Horse of the Year.

The leading candidates for the top honor are Rachel Alexandra (3-year-old filly) and Zenyatta (5-year-old mare).

The tale of the tape:

 Both were unbeaten in 2009 and Zenyatta is unbeaten in 14 lifetime starts.

Rachel Alexandra won eight races at seven different tracks.

Zenyatta won five races at three different tracks, all in California and all the races were on a synthetic surface.

Rachel Alexandra won five Grade 1 races in a row, three of them over males.

Zenyatta won four Grade 1 races in a row, the last was the Breeders’ Cup Classic over males.

Rachel Alexandra’s eight wins received Beyers of more than 100.

Zenyatta also reached Beyers of 100 or more 8 times in her 14 wins.

Rachel Alexandra won the Fantasy, Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose by the biggest margin in the history of each race. She also ran the fastest time in the history of the Mother Goose. She was the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness and the first to win from post 13. She had the second largest margin of victory and the second fastest time in beating males in the Haskell. She was the first filly to beat males in the Woodward, and older males at that.

Zenyatta defeated at least three likely male champions in 2009 – Summer Bird (3-year-old male), Gio Ponti (champion male grass horse), and Rip Van Winkle (champion miler in England). That will be increased to four should Gio Ponti or Einstein be voted champion older male. She carried 129 pounds to victory in the Vanity Handicap, she carried, giving 15 pounds to the runner-up. Her win in the Classic will be considered on of the greatest in the history of horse racing.

So cast your vote by commenting on this story. I really would like to know what the horse racing public is thinking in general before I cast my vote.