Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon), winner of last year's GIII Lecomte S. and runner-up in the GI Preakness S. and GI Runhappy Travers S., died suddenly Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the $525,000 KEESEP yearling purchase died from an “acute gastrointestinal situation,” Asmussen said. The news was first reported by Daily Racing Form.
A close third in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 26 and fifth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the G1 Dubai World Cup last time Mar. 26, the remarkably consistent Midnight Bourbon breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 (15/26) at Churchill Downs Sunday, and became ill shortly thereafter.
“Just a horrible loss to the barn,” Asmussen told TDN. “A lot of people loved this horse, and rightfully so.”
Midnight Bourbon's stacked resume also includes: second-place finishes in the GI Pennsylvania Derby and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and third-place finishes in the GI Champagne S., GI Clark S. and GII Risen Star S. He came within a neck of defeating champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in a memorable renewal of the Travers. He posted a record of 16-2-6-5 with earnings of $3,557,970.
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, Midnight Bourbon is a half-brother to GISW Girvin (Tale of Ekati) and GSWs Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John) and Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby). Midnight Bourbon's unraced dam Catch the Moon was purchased by Stonestreet for $240,000 in foal to Shanghai Bobby at the 2015 KEENOV sale.
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