Midnight Bisou surges late to win Houston Ladies Classic
Midnight Bisou had to rally from last, but she rushed late to capture Sunday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic by three-quarters of a length after facing traffic trouble. It was the 4-year-old debut for the daughter of Midnight Lute, who was last seen finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 3.
Trained by Steve Asmussen for Bloom Racing Stables LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC, Midnight Bisou picked up her sixth win in 12 career starts. The multiple Grade 1 winner has never finished off the board.
"She’s a very special filly and I have just a tremendous amount of confidence in this surface here and felt it was the perfect spot to get her year started," said Asmussen, who grew up in Texas. "I think it speaks a lot of Jeff (Bloom) to keep a quality mare as accomplished as she is in training, and we expect her to have a great year."
Regular rider Mike Smith, based in Southern California, made the trip to Sam Houston Race Park.
Midnight Bisou was bet down to 1-5 in the field of six. She broke widest of all and found herself four-wide into the first turn of the 1 1/16-miles event. Heavenhasmynikki shot to the front and led opening fractions of 24.68, 49.29 and 1:13.38. Smith dropped Midnight Bisou to the rear early to prevent her from racing wide throughout. She was behind 7-2 second choice Remedy the first half of the race.
Midnight Bisou and Remedy moved together in the second turn, but only Midnight Bisou found running room. Even then, it appeared there was too much work to do. Moonlit Garden came from off the pace and challenged Heavenhasmynikki down the stretch. Midnight Bisou still had open lengths to make up and with a final surge, she lengthened her stride and made it to the wire first.
The final time was 1:44.52.
"Well, I certainly didn’t mean to cut it quite that close. First race back, I was really getting forced out in the first turn and was going to have to be six, seven, eight wide the whole time and I was spotting everybody so much weight," Smith said. "I thought, you know, let’s make it a little bit easier on her, and I dropped in behind.
"By the time I did that, of course, they slowed the pace down. And the two fillies in front of her that ran today, they ran a huge, huge race. But once she got going, her best stride was probably two strides past the wire. She really hit another gear then."
Asmussen indicated the multiple Grade 1 winner could have one more race before heading to the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 14 at Oaklawn Park.
She picked up her first Grade 1 victory last spring in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1), but might be better remembered for her Cotillion Stakes (G1) win in September at Parx.
Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl crossed the wire a neck in front, but the stewards elevated Midnight Bisou to first for interference in the stretch. Monomoy Girl came back to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs.
Jeff Bloom, Managing Director of Bloom Racing Stable, purchased Midnight Bisou for $80,000 as a 2-year-old at the 2017 April Ocala Breeders' Sale. The filly has amassed more than $1.7 million in her career.
"It was a little closer, like Mike said, than you would’ve liked, but she got the job done," Bloom said. "This was a great spot that Steve had picked out for her to ease her back into her campaign for this year. When I saw her this morning and watched her in the paddock and during the post parade, Steve has her just looking spectacular, and what a great way to start her 4-year-old campaign."