Odds-on favorite Midnight Bisou to face six in Houston Ladies Classic
Millionaire Midnight Bisou will begin her 4-year-old campaign as the 3-5 morning line favorite in Sunday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic, the richest race of the Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meet. First post time is 1:15 p.m. CT for the Houston Racing Festival, which also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup and four additional undercard stakes.
Midnight Bisou, owned by Bloom Racing Stable, LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing, LLC, has been training at Fair Grounds under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, who has won 10 leading training titles in Houston in addition to his numerous national racing accomplishments.
The daughter of Midnight Lute ran third last out in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
“She’s a very pleasant filly, and we are looking forward to running her in the Houston Ladies Classic,” said Jeff Bloom, who serves as racing managing director for the ownership group. “After the Breeder’s Cup, we let her take it easy. Steve had targeted this race as her springboard to kick off her 4-year-old campaign.”
Midnight Bisou broke her maiden in her third career start, the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes, prior to winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last April. Next came the Kentucky Oaks, in which she rallied to finish third behind likely champion Monomoy Girl. Midnight Bisou faced Monomoy Girl once again in the Grade 1 Cotillion, finishing a neck behind but declared the winner by stewards.
Bloom manages all the acquisitions for Bloom Racing Stable and shared his evaluation of Midnight Bisou, who he purchased for $80,000 at the 2017 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
“Buying horses in a combination of many factors,” stated Bloom. “You are looking at athleticism, pedigree, personality and demeanor. Although it was not a “wow” breeze, she was incredibly professional and her gallop out was impressive. She had command of herself and all the makings of a quality racehorse.”
Midnight Bisou brings a career record of five wins from 11 starts and earnings of $1,565,000. She is a finalist for Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old filly, along with Monomoy Girl and Rushing Fall. The winners in 17 categories will be announced Thursday.
Asmussen reports that Midnight Bisou will van to Houston mid-week and that Mike Smith will retain the mount and make his first trip to Sam Houston Race Park. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003, Smith is the all-time leading Breeder’s Cup winning jockey and pilot of the legendary Zenyatta and 2018 Triple Crown winner, Justify.
“Mike is arguably one of the best riders in our sport,” added Bloom. “He fits her like a glove and told us that the first time he rode our filly, he knew she was in a different league!”
Remedy, a 4-year-old Creative Cause owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC and trained by Brad Cox, has been installed as the Houston Ladies Classic's second choice at 3-1. The $200,000 Keeneland sale purchase made her debut at the Keeneland September sale before breaking her maiden at Fair Grounds. Cox shipped her to Remington Park where she ran second in the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks. The Kentucky-bred filly overcame a troubled start to finish second in the Grade 3 Comely Stakes on November 23.
“Brad and I thought she was a grass horse and might have run her a few too many times on the turf,” said Steve Davison, owner of Twin Creeks Racing Stables. “She really stepped it up a notch at Aqueduct and even though we will be facing tough competition, we feel she is ready.”
Davison had very good fortune a few years ago at Sam Houston Race Park when his homebred Red Rifle won the 2014 Maxxam Gold Cup. The chestnut gelding went on to win five additional stakes. He earned $1,022,350 in 37 career starts and is now retired at Twin Creeks Farm.
“Sam Houston Race Park has been pretty good for us,” added Davison.
Cox, who won the 2018 Houston Ladies Classic with Tiger Moth, has given the mount to Joe Bravo.
Prado’s Sweet Ride, owned by Darrell and Sadie Brommer, will van in from her Fair Grounds base for trainer Gary Scherer. The 7-year-old mare, sired by Fort Prado, is a multiple stakes winner who has earned $550,414 in 31 starts. Jockey Florent Geroux, who won last year’s Houston Ladies Classic, has the call.
The Houston Ladies Classic field, in post position order, with riders and morning line odds is: Song From Above, Sasha Risenhoover, 50-1; Remedy, Joe Bravo, 3-1; Viva Forever, DeShawn Parker, 12-1; Moonlit Garden, Jose Ortiz, 8-1; Heavenhasmynikki, Jose Bracho, 15-1; Prado’s Sweet Ride, Florent Geroux. 6-1 and Midnight Bisou, Mike Smith, 3-5.
Inaugurated in 2013, the Houston Ladies Classic was formed to serve as the marquee race for Sam Houston’s Thoroughbred meet. Now in its seventh running, the mile and one-sixteenth Houston Ladies Classic anchors The Houston Racing Festival, which also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, the $75,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint, the $50,000 Houston Turf Stakes, the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes and the $50,000 Stonerside Sprint.