Dreaming of Julia Named 2022 Broodmare of the Year

Stonestreet's Barbara Banke once called Dreaming of Julia  a birthday present to herself when she opted to keep the daughter of A.P. Indy—Dream Rush , by Wild Rush to race rather than sell her a yearling.

The now 13-year-old broodmare is the gift that keeps on giving.

At the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders awards dinner April 5 in Lexington, Dreaming of Julia was honored as broodmare of the year. John Moynihan, bloodstock adviser for Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, accepted the award for the mare who has produced two-time Eclipse Award winner Malathaat  as well as grade 2 winner Julia Shining  from her first two starters.

"To me as a breeder, this is one of the most coveted awards, right up there with an Eclipse Award or any award you can get in our industry," Moynihan said. "This is an award that an operation like ours strives for because we try to produce great horses for the people that buy our horses and for ourselves when we race these horses. 

"The team at Stonestreet deserves all of the credit. The way we raise them, the resources that Barbara gives us to raise these horses the right way; it's a real blessing."

Bred and raced by Stonestreet, Dreaming of Julia as a juvenile won the 2012 Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and at 3 captured the Gulfstream Oaks (G2). She also placed in two other grade 1 races.

As a broodmare she has only built on that success. Racing for Shadwell Stable Malathaat earned champion 3-year-old filly honors behind three grade 1 wins in 2021 and she closed 2022 with three straight grade 1 wins, including the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland, to nail down champion older dirt female honors. 

At 2, Malathaat, by Curlin  , won the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct and when her full sister Julia Shining  captured that race in 2022 it marked the first time in more than 100 years that siblings had captured that race.

"When you go look at her foals, she's a blessing. With every one of her foals, on a scale of 1-10 they're 12s," Moynihan said. "These kind of broodmares come along once in a lifetime."

Stonestreet enjoyed a big night at the awards dinner at The Apiary in Lexington honoring top Kentucky-breds as the breeder of Malathaat, who was named champion older dirt female, and champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive  (Ghostzapper  —Salty Strike, by Smart Strike).

Flightline (Tapit  —Feathered , by Indian Charlie), bred by Summer Wind Equine, was honored as the Kentucky-bred Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male. Summer Wind Equine's Jane Lyon accepted both awards.

"I think he was a gift to all of us in the racing world. I don't take credit for him," Lyon said. "Once in a while a horse like Flightline comes along. Miracles do happen and it can happen to any of us."

The night's other award winners included:

2-year-old male: Forte  (Violence  —Queen Caroline, by Blame  ), breeder South Gate Farm.

2-year-old filly: Wonder Wheel  (Into Mischief  —Wonder Gal, by Tiz Wonderful ) breeder Three Chimneys Farm and Clearsky Farms.

3-year-old male: Epicenter   (Not This Time  —Silent Candy, by Candy Ride  ), breeder Westwind Farms.

3-year-old filly: Nest  (Curlin—Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy), breeder Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables.

Male turf horse: Casa Creed  (Jimmy Creed  —Achalaya, by Bellamy Road ), breeder Silver Springs Stud.

Female turf horse: War Like Goddess  (English Channel —Misty North, by North Light), breeder Calumet Farm.

Male sprinter: Jackie's Warrior   (Maclean's Music  —Unicorn Girl, by A.P. Five Hundred) breeder J & J Stables.

Steeplechase horse: Snap Decision  (Hard Spun  —Salute, by Unbridled), breeder Phipps Stable.

Racing abroad: Country Grammer  (Tonalist  —Arabian Song, by Forestry), breeder Scott and Debbie Pierce.

P.A.B. Widener Trophy as breeder of the year: Godolphin.

Charles W. Engelhard Award (media member for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred industry): Steve Byk.

Hardboot Breeders' Award: John Williams.

William T. Young Humanitarian Award: 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 earner of the year, Godolphin as owner and breeder of the year, and Brad Cox as trainer of the year.