Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) gave birth to her first foal, a colt by Horse of the Year Curlin, Hill 'n' Dale Farms and owners Allen Racing and Andrew Yaffe announced Monday evening.
“This colt was born to be a champion,” said Jeff Bloom, founder of Bloom Racing, who purchased Midnight Bisou for $80,000 at the 2017 OBS April sale. “He is the personification of the age-old adage 'breed the best to the best and hope for the best.' This exciting colt ushers in the next chapter in our amazing champion's story.”
Never out of the money in any of her 22 career starts for co-owners Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC., the well-traveled mare raced at 10 tracks and was awarded an Eclipse Award in 2019 as champion older dirt female. Her Grade I victories came in the Santa Anita Oaks, Cotillion S., Apple Blossom H., Ogden Phipps S., and the Personal Ensign S.
Chuck Allen bought out the partners on the mare when acquiring her for $5 million at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute–Diva Delite, by Repent), the reigning Eclipse Award-winning older female and five-time Grade I winner, has been retired from racing, according to Jeffrey Bloom, co-owner and managing partner or Bloom Racing Stable.
“I cannot begin to tell you what this mare has meant to me, my family, and my partners,” said Bloom. “The places she has taken us and the thrills she has given us are immeasurable. And just to be in her presence is to feel what greatness is all about. Her calm, inquisitive demeanor, her fierce determination in a race is unlike any other horse. She is all class. I’m just so grateful I got to be a part of her incredible journey, and I’m extremely excited to watch the next phase of her life, watch her become a mother, and for her babies to hit the track with all of her class and elegance, and continue the Midnight Bisou legacy.”
Bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Midnight Bisou was bought back on a bid of $19,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September sale, but improved over the next seven months and was hammered down to Bloom as agent for $80,000 at the OBS April Sale the following spring (under-tack video). Turned over to Bill Spawr in California, Midnight Bisou was sent off at debut odds of 21-1 for Bloom and Allen Racing LLC and was beaten a nose by future Grade I winner Dream Tree (Uncle Mo), to whom she was also beaten a nose in the Desi Arnaz S. in her next start.
She became the queen of the hill in Southern California in 2018, winning the GII Santa Ynez S., the GIII Santa Ysabel S. and the GI Santa Anita Oaks (video) in convincing fashion before heading to Churchill Downs for her next appearance.
The Monomoy Girl Meetings…
On the strength of that form, Midnight Bisou was made the 23-10 favorite for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, but she endured a nightmarish trip from a wide draw and did well to be third, beaten just over four lengths by Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). With better and richer options for his filly in the eastern half of the U.S., Bloom elected to transfer Midnight Bisou to trainer Steve Asmussen, who saddled the filly to a towering six-length success in the GII Mother Goose S., with Madaket Stables now part of the ownership group. Clearly second to Monomoy Girl in the GI CCA Oaks, the dark bay was third in the 10-furlong GI Alabama S., then crossed the line a neck second to Monomoy Girl in the GI Cotillion S. (video) before being elevated to the victory. She closed the season with a rallying third to her arch-rival in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The Making of a Champion…
While Monomoy Girl spent the entirety of 2019 on the shelf, Midnight Bisou dominated the division, with seven wins from eight starts. Ultra-game in taking the GI Apple Blossom H. by a nose in April, she was imperious in adding the GI Ogden Phipps S. and GIII Molly Pitcher S. before throwing down with Elate (Medaglia d’Oro) in one of the year’s most thrilling stretch battles in the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga (see below). A nose best that day, she romped in the GII Beldame S. before suffering her first defeat of the season in the Distaff. She was nevertheless the runaway winner of the Eclipse, besting her Distaff conqueror Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) by a wide margin.
WATCH: Midnight Bisou outduels Elate in the 2019 GI Personal Ensign S.
Training On at Five…
The morning of the Distaff, Bloom announced that Midnight Bisou would be withdrawn from the Fasig-Tipton November sale and would instead focus on a 5-year-old campaign. Connections selected the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup for their mare’s seasonal debut, and despite racing far back early, she made eye-catching progress up the rail in the final furlong to finish a close second to Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) (video). In the meantime, Monomoy Girl had made a successful return to action and a much-anticipated rematch loomed in the GII Fleur de Lis S. June 27. But the Brad Cox runner was re-routed for the GII Ruffian S. at Belmont two weeks later and Midnight Bisou took full advantage, rolling home by 8 1/4 lengths. Beaten a neck into second by Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway) in this year’s Personal Ensign Aug. 1, Midnight Bisou was being pointed for this weekend’s GI Juddmonte Spinster S., but she was off following a work at Saratoga this past Monday and was sent to Rood and Riddle in Lexington to be examined by Dr. Larry Bramlage. The renowned vet confirmed Wednesday that Midnight Bisou had sustained a sesamoid fracture in her right front fetlock. Surgery is not indicated and the injury will not impact her future as a broodmare.
Midnight Bisou will be consigned by Elite Sales to this year’s Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars Nov. 8.
“I want to thank trainer Steve Asmussen, assistant trainer’s Scott Blasi, Darren Fleming, her main exercise rider Angel Garica, groom Gerardo Morales (Chocolate), and the entire Asmussen team for the devotion and care they provided each and every single day,” Bloom added. “I would also like to thank her regular rider, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who shared a very special bond with her, and was aboard for all five Grade I wins, as well as the other jockeys who were fortunate enough to climb aboard. Finally, a sincere thank you to all of Midnight Bisou’s legion of fans who have been extremely loyal with their support and love for our Champion throughout her career.”
Midnight Bisou was never out of the top three in her 22 career starts at 10 different racetracks, compiling a record of 13-6-3 and bankrolling $7,471,520. She has been sent to WinStar Farm where she will be turned out in the interim.
Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) was back to her best form Saturday at Churchill Downs, winning the GII Fleur de Lis H. with ease in her first start back on U.S. soil since finishing an ultra-game second in the Saudi Cup in February. GI Kentucky Oaks victress Serengeti Empress (Alternation) jetted straight to the lead, while favored Midnight Bisou bided her time back in mid-pack through a brisk :23.18 first quarter. Inched closer by Mike Smith, Midnight Bisou moved up into third, while still several lengths off the pacesetter, as the half went in :46.15. Charging up on the leader’s outside entering the far turn, the Eclipse winner rocketed past Serengeti Empress at the top of the lane and effortlessly cruised clear under a motionless Smith to win for fun. Motion Emotion (Take Charge Indy) held second with Another Broad (Include) in third and Serengeti Empress faded to fourth. With her victory in the Fleur de Lis, Midnight Bisou secured a spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November.
“She’s a really special mare,” said Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. “To come back, in that sort of style, is just tremendous. She has such an amazing talent and such a great relationship with Mike. She beat a wonderful-looking group of mares. We have nothing but respect towards them.”
Smith expressed similar sentiments, saying, “She’s just an amazing mare. I actually had took the lead a little before I wanted to. We were planning on laying a little bit closer but the way Serengeti Empress was winging it on the front end we were a little further back. She’s just incredibly special.”
Midnight Bisou captured six of her seven starts last term, including the GI Apple Blossom H., GI Ogden Phipps S. and GI Personal Ensign S. She prepped for the Breeders’ Cup with a facile score in Belmont’s GII Beldame Invitational S. in September and finished 1 1/2 lengths shy of Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) when second in the Distaff at Santa Anita Nov. 2. Scratched from the Fasig-Tipton November sale to stay in training another season, Midnight Bisou was a never-in-doubt winner of the Eclipse Award for top older dirt female. Making her seasonal bow in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup Feb. 29, the dark bay rallied up the rail to finish a valiant second to fellow champion Maximum Security (New Year’s Day).
Pedigree Notes:
Midnight Bisou is the only Eclipse winner by Midnight Lute and is one of four Grade I winners, 13 graded winners and 33 black-type winners for that Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion. Her Grade III-winning dam Diva Delite summoned $1.2 million from David Redvers at last term’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale, carrying a foal by Justify. The 13-year-old mare also has an unraced 3-year-old colt named Warrior in Charge (Warrior’s Reward); a juvenile filly by Wicked Strong; and a yearling colt by Pioneerof the Nile.
Saturday, Churchill Downs FLEUR DE LIS S.-GII, $200,000, Churchill Downs, 6-27, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:48.99, ft. 1–MIDNIGHT BISOU, 124, m, 5, by Midnight Lute 1st Dam: Diva Delite (GSW, $300,067), by Repent 2nd Dam: Tour Hostess, by Tour d’Or 3rd Dam: Counsel’s Gal, by High Counsel ($19,000 RNA Ylg ’16 KEESEP; $80,000 2yo ’17 OBSAPR).
O-Bloom Racing Stable, LLC (Jeffrey Bloom), Madaket Stables
LLC & Allen Racing LLC.; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Mike E. Smith. $121,520. Lifetime
Record: Ch. Older Dirt Female & MGISW, 21-13-5-3,
$7,371,520. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Motion Emotion, 120, f, 4, Take Charge Indy–Golden Motion,
by Smart Strike. ($55,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Abbondanza
Racing, LLC, Mark DeDomenico LLC & Medallion Racing;
B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $39,200. 3–Another Broad, 120, m, 5, Include–Dynamic Deputy, by
Deputy Minister. ($340,000 4yo ’19 KEENOV). O-Farfellow
Farm, Ltd.; B-Fitzhugh, LLC (MD); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $19,600.
Margins: 8 1/4, 1HF, HF. Odds: 0.50, 34.00, 25.90.
Also Ran: Serengeti Empress, Red Dane (Ity), Go Google Yourself, Chocolate Kisses. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
