There is much talk about whether Curlin should retain his title as Horse of the Year, or whether Zenyatta can stake a claim despite not taking on the boys this year.

So here is the bottom line — Zenyatta should be Horse of the Year!

Zenyatta was perfect — and sensational — all year long, and won her division’s Classic over a stellar field. Did she have the advantage of racing over her home turf, and a synthetic surface she obviously loves? Yes. But she also beat a solid field in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn earlier in the year over traditional dirt.

The fact that the majority of Zenyatta’s wins came on synthetic can not be held against her if on the other hand you are going to excuse Curlin’s defeats on turf and Pro-Ride. And in the Filly & Mare Sprint Division, Ventura is the front-runner for champion here after soundly defeating Indian Blessing. To award Ventura a crown for her victory over the Pro-Ride over a much more accomplished Indian Blessing would be criminal if Curlin were then to be excused from his losses on other-than-dirt surfaces.

Synthetic surfaces are a part of the game right now, and we can’t pick and choose which horses are rewarded for their performance over them, which horses get excused from a lack of performance, and which horses are held accountable for not being as effective.

If you vote for Ventura, than you hold the loss by Indian Blessing in the BC over Pro-Ride against her… and thus have no right to vote for Curlin.

Regardless, Zenyatta deserves this title. Curlin lacked the invincibility after the Stephen Foster, and narrow victories over Past the point and Wandering Boy paired with a pair of losses doesn’t get it done.