Midnight Bisou to prep for Saratoga's Personal Ensign
Relocated to Saratoga for the summer, Midnight Bisou returned to the work tab Sunday toward a choice of two upcoming stakes that will lead the top older filly into the Aug. 24 Personal Ensign (G1).
Jeff Bloom, who co-owns Midnight Bisou with Madaket Stables and Allen Racing, said options include the July 20 Molly Pitcher (G3) going 1 1/16 miles at Monmouth Park or the July 21 Shuvee (G3) a day later over nine furlongs at Saratoga.
“It’ll come down to just monitoring the weather,” Bloom said. “If there’s any weather, we’ll probably opt for the race at Saratoga.”
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou got started back from a June 8 victory in Belmont Park’s Ogden Phipps (G1) by breezing a half mile in 51.68 seconds over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track.
The daughter of Midnight Lute improved her record to 4-for-4 — all in graded stakes — to open this season, also taking a commanding lead in the division’s Eclipse Award race.
“We marvel at her,” Bloom said. “She’s such a gift in terms of her class, her presence, her maturity. I’m not surprised, but I’m certainly appreciative of the fact that she continues to get stronger and almost like more competitive and engaged.
“What she’s shown us this year, in particular her most recent start, she seems to thrive with each confidence-building performance. It’s been quite a ride.”
Midnight Bisou blew past Come Dancing with a massive turn of foot to win the Ogden Phipps by 3 1/2 lengths. The victory pushed her past $2.7 million in earnings for career that started in California under care of trainer Bill Spawr.
Both the Ogden Phipps and Personal Ensign are “Win and You’re In” races toward the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park.
“It’s a value add that she’s shown us she likes the track,” Bloom said. “What’s great about her — and there’s many things — is she’s just such a good traveler and quick to adapt to an environment and track conditions.”
Bloom said plans beyond Midnight Bisou’s 4-year-old season haven’t been determined, though “it’s an obvious question that will be discussed. Right now we’re just enjoying the ride of the races in front of us.”