Zenyatta runner-up for second year in a row in Associated Press vote

Horse of the Year contender and Breeders’ Cup runner-up Zenyatta has come up second in another major race this year, finishing behind skier Lindsey Vonn in balloting for 2010 Female Athlete of the Year as voted on by members of The Associated Press. The 6-year-old mare received 32 votes to the Olympic star’s 77 out of a total of 175. University of Connecticut basketball player Maya Moore finished third with 29 votes, followed by tennis star Serena Williams with 14.

It marked the second consecutive year that Zenyatta has finished as runner-up in the AP balloting. She finished behind Williams in 2009.

Zenyatta, a 6-year-old mare, was retired after her lone career defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to Blame on Nov. 6. A two-time Eclipse Award winner as a champion older female, she finished with a record of 19-1-0 in 20 starts, for earnings of $7304,580.

PHOTOS: Zenyatta plays in the snow in her Lane's End paddock