Monomoy Girl DQ'd, Midnight Bisou declared Cotillion winner
Parx Racing stewards determined jockey Mike Smith's claim of foul against likely champion Monomoy Girl a valid one and disqualified the filly -- who entered Saturday unbeaten in 2018 -- from a victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion Stakes.
That gave the win to Midnight Bisou, who rallied on the outside, appeared to be cut off in the stretch and was then pushed out into the center of the track.
Jockey Florent Geroux, who rode Monomoy Girl, said the moves were not intentional.
"She wandered around when she made the lead," he said. "Right call?” I don’t know. I am not the steward. It is disappointing. This was a million dollar race, a Grade 1. I thought our filly was the best today.”
Geroux used a right-handed whip as Monomoy Girl moved out toward Midnight Bisou.
The margin at the wire was about a neck between the rivals, who had met twice before. This was their closest encounter.
It was well back to Wonder Gadot in third.
"We ran a winning race today. We're very proud of her."
Midnight Bisou sat mid-pack as the early leaders, a close dueling Jump Ruler and Separationofpowers, battled through fractions of 24.0 and 48.3 over what Blasi called a "very tiring track." Monomoy Girl slipped through on the rail entering the turn and looked to be off to another easy win.
But Midnight Bisou, a daughter of Midnight Lute, excels going 8.5 furlongs. She rallied outside of Separationofpowers, then back in before Monomoy Girl veered over to block momentum. From there it was a controversial stretch run that will be talked about for some time.
Monomoy Girl got the better of Midnight Bisou in both the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Alabama Stakes (G1). After the Oaks, Midnight Bisou, who's campaigned by Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing, was transferred from West Coast trainer Bill Spawr to Asmussen.
In 10 career races, Midnight Bisou is 5-3-2, never off the board.