Julia Shining, Full Sister to Malathaat, Crushes Debut

Upon seeing Julia Shining  in the paddock Oct. 16 at Keeneland, it was difficult to ignore the likeness to her champion full sister, Malathaat . Minutes later, after the 2-year-old filly crushed 11 opponents with a last-to-first move to break her maiden first time out—it was impossible.

Racing in the yellow and burgundy silks of her breeder, Stonestreet Stables, the filly was dead last after a slow start. She moved into ninth after a half-mile in :46.88 while Theroanrunner  and Roman Goddess  showed the way.

As the stretch approached, streaks of the signature silks flashed as the filly advanced under encouragement from Luis Saez, rocketing five wide to make up every inch of ground lost and move into the lead after 6 furlongs in 1:13.03. At the wire, the Todd Pletcher trainee was 2 3/4 lengths in front after seven furlongs in 1:29.43 on a fast track. She paid $6.74 as the favorite.

Stonestreet owner Barbara Banke, whose Malathaat won the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) only a week prior, said she was looking forward to a smashing debut from the filly.

"She's a fabulous Curlin filly, a full to Malathaat. She is out of the great race mare Dreaming of Julia, named for my daughter," Banke said. "She's pretty spectacular. ... We were hoping (for this result).

"She needs distance, she's not a sprinter. I think she takes some time to get going, but once she gets going, she gets going."