Beyond the Waves Named Broodmare of the Year

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' annual awards luncheon, slated for April 8 at Keeneland, has been postponed because of concern and caution regarding the spread of COVID-19. Though disappointed, the KTOB went ahead and announced the 2019 Kentucky-bred champions. The awards luncheon will be held during Keeneland's fall meet.

The most coveted award, Broodmare of the Year, went to George Strawbridge Jr.'s Beyond the Waves, the dam of 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar. Bricks and Mortar (by Giant's Causeway) was also named Kentucky's horse of the year and champion older turf male of 2019 based on a perfect six-start season that earned $6,723,650. Major wins came in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T) and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) for Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence and trainer Chad Brown.

Broodmare of the Year honors are rarely based on one runner. Beyond the Waves is also the dam of grade 3 winner Emerald Beech (by Maria's Mon), stakes winner Beyond Smart (by Smart Strike), grade 3-placed Sir Ector (by Dynaformer), and stakes-placed Water View (by Petionville).

The other champions and their breeders are:

2-Year-Old Male: Storm the Court (Stepping Stone Farm)

2-Year-Old Filly: British Idiom (Hargus Sexton, Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm)

3-Year-Old Male: Maximum Security (Gary & Mary West Stables)

3-Year-Old Filly, Female Sprinter: Covfefe (Alexander - Groves Thoroughbreds)

Older Dirt Male: Vino Rosso  (John D. Gunther)

Older Dirt Female: Midnight Bisou (Woodford Thoroughbreds)

Female Turf: Got Stormy (Mt. Joy Stables, Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr.)

Male Sprinter: Mitole  (Edward A. Cox Jr.)

Racing Abroad: Siskin (Juddmonte Farms)

Four merit awards will be presented to individuals for their contributions to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Industry:

P.A.B. Widener Trophy for KTOB Breeder of the Year: Calumet Farm

Hardboot Breeders' Award, which pays tribute to distinctive but unsung breeders who help make up the backbone of the industry: Alfred H. Nuckols Jr.

Charles W. Engelhard Award, which acknowledges a member of the media for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred industry: Natalie Voss

William T. Young Humanitarian Award, which distinguishes a person or organization in the Thoroughbred industry "who recognizes and promotes the human endeavor": Edward P. Evans Foundation

Also to receive awards are the top Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund money-earners in 2019 in five separate categories.

2019 KTDF Leaders:

KTDF Sire of the Year: Into Mischief  (Spendthrift Farm)

KTDF Earner of the Year: Zulu Alpha (Michael Hui)

KTDF Owner of the Year: G. Watts Humphrey Jr.

 KTDF Trainer of the Year: Steve Asmussen

KTDF Breeder of the Year: Calumet Farm

Recipients of the 2019 KTOB Kentucky-bred champion awards were voted on by the full membership of KTA/KTOB, and the KTDF category leaders were tabulated using purse money won at Kentucky racetracks in 2019. KTOB merit award recipients were voted on by the KTA/KTOB board of directors.