As expected, the 5-year-old mare Azeri was named Horse of the Year last night at the annual Eclipse Awards dinner in Beverly Hills – just the fifth time in history a filly received thoroughbred racing’s highest honor.

Twilight Tear (1944), Busher (’45), All Along (’83) and Lady’s Secret (’86) preceded the daughter of Jade Hunter, with one big difference: They all beat the boys in their Horse of the Year campaigns, while Azeri never raced outside her division.

But in a year when most of the top male horses disappointed almost as often as they delivered, Azeri was a model of consistency. Based in southern California and trained by Laura De Seroux, she won eight of her nine starts, concluding her campaign with a front-running romp in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Azeri, who also was the unanimous choice of the three voting bodies (National Turf Writers, Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form) for champion older female, was one of five Eclipse winners to clinch a championship with a Breeders’ Cup victory.

The other Eclipse Award honorees:

2-year-old colt: Vindication

2-year-old filly: Storm Flag Flying

3-year-old colt: War Emblem

3-year-old filly: Farda Amiga

Older male: Left Bank

Turf male: High Chaparral

Turf female: Golden Apples

Sprinter: Orientate

Steeplechaser: Flat Top

Trainer: Bobby Frankel

Jockey: Jerry Bailey

Apprentice: Ryan Fogelsonger

Owner: Richard Englander

Breeder: Juddmonte Farms