Dreaming of Julia named Broodmare of the Year

Dreaming of Julia, the dam of champion Malathaat, has been named Kentucky's Broodmare of the Year.

The award, considered the highest honor for a North American broodmare, was bestowed upon the Stonestreet Farm resident at the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders annual awards dinner April 5 in Lexington. The associations also presented other divisional honors to Kentucky-breds for their 2022 accomplishments, led by unbeaten Flightline as Kentucky-bred horse of the year and champion older dirt male, repeating awards he picked up at the Eclipse Awards.

Dreaming of Julia, by A.P. Indy and out of Grade 1 winner and multiple graded stakes producer Dream Rush, was bred and raced by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Farm. She captured half of her eight career starts, highlighted by the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes as a juvenile, and the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks in runaway fashion the following year.

As a broodmare, Dreaming of Julia is the dam of two winners from two starters to date, led by six-time Grade 1 winner Malathaat. The Curlin filly was the mare's third foal; she delivered a Ghostzapper colt, who does not have a registered name and was unraced, in 2016, and her 2017 filly, the Medaglia d'Oro filly Golden Julia, died as a 2-year-old.

A seven-figure purchase as a yearing by Shadwell Stable, Malathaat's 2021 campaign was highlighted by a win in the Kentucky Oaks, and she went on to a divisional Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly. Last year, Malathaat captured the Breeders' Cup Distaff to lock down additional Eclipse honors as champion older dirt female. She was also honored Wednesday night as the champion Kentucky-bred older dirt female.

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Dreaming of Julia experienced more bad luck when her 2019 Medaglia d'Oro colt died as a yearling, but the following year, she produced Julia Shining, a full sister to Malathaat. Racing in the Stonestreet colors, the filly won both her starts last year, including the Grade 2 Demoiselle. Third in the Suncoast Stakes in her 3-year-old debut, the filly runs in Friday's Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

Dreaming of Julia is the dam of an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Medaglia d'Oro, and a yearling Curlin filly who is a full sister to her two graded stakes winners. She was bred to Into Mischief for 2023.

In addition to Flightline's honors as horse of the year and champion older dirt male, and Malathaat's award, other Kentucky-bred honorees at Wednesday's event were Forte (2-year-old male), Wonder Wheel (2-year-old female), Epicenter (3-year-old male), Nest (3-year-old female), Casa Creed (male turf horse), War Like Goddess (female turf horse), Jackie's Warrior (male sprinter), Goodnight Olive (female sprinter), Snap Decision (steeplechase horse), and Country Grammer (racing abroad).

Godolphin was presented with the P.A.B. Widener Trophy as breeder of the year, while John Williams was honored with the Hardboot Breeders' Award. The Charles W. Engelhard Award for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred industry was presented to radio host Steve Byk, while the William T. Young Humanitarian Award went to H. Greg Goodman.

Also honored Wednesday night were the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund leaders. Into Mischief was honored as sire of the year, Kitodan as top earner, Godolphin as owner and breeder of the year, and Brad Cox as leading trainer.

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