Midnight Bisou, 4-for-4 in 2019, uncorks Ogden Phipps victory

Midnight Bisou punched her ticket Saturday to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff with a powerful move off the turn to win Belmont Park’s Grade 1, $700,000 Ogden Phipps.

By November, however, the Distaff may have little impact on the division race for top older female. Midnight Bisou's well on her way to locking it up early.

The 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute — now 4-for-4 this season — completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.69, just a tick off the track record.

"I believe she's added to how great she is with consistency," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "She's expecting to win, and I think the results speak for themselves."

Local stakes winner Come Dancing looked to have every advantage over a speed-biased track when sprinting to the lead from the rail position, and she ran well in hand leading the turn after opening fractions of 23.39 and 45.96 seconds.

But Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith then hooked Midnight Bisou off the rail, and she showed a powerful turn of foot to score as the race’s 8-5 second choice.

"I was a little concerned with the way the track was playing and stuff," said Jeff Bloom, whose Bloom Racing campaigns Midnight Bisou with Madaket Stables and Allen Racing. "But I'll say it again -- there's nobody like Mike Smith out there. He rides with such confidence. He knows this filly so well."

Come Dancing hit the wire second, Mopotism was third and the Manitoba-bred Escape Clause ran fourth after having to steady when Midnight Bisou made her move.

"The filly had come into the race so good," Bloom added.

This year's campaign also including wins in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) before back-to-back scores at Oaklawn Park in the Azeri (G2) and Apple Blossom (G1).

"She will go back to Churchill immediately after this," Asmussen said. "The amount of time we've had her there, she'll most likely have a breeze or two at Churchill before deciding on her next race."