It wasn't really close. Curlin (Smart Strike) may not have prevailed on Breeders' Cup Day, but he had enough great days in 2008 to beat out the amazing mare Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) for Horse of the Year. Curlin got 153 of the first-place votes, with 69 for Zenyatta and 13 for Big Brown. It was the sixth time in history that a horse had been honored twice as the Eclipse-winning Horse of the Year, following in the footsteps of the likes of Secretariat, Affirmed, John Henry, Forego and Cigar.
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