Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Arguably The Best Horse In The World’: Midnight Bisou Ready For Next Saturday’s Fleur De Lis

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 2019 Eclipse Award-winner Midnight Bisou completed her most serious preparation for next Saturday's $200,000 Fleur de Lis presented by Coca-Cola (Grade II) with a swift six-furlong move in 1:12 Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou has been well-traveled throughout her career with five Grade I victories and runner-up efforts in last year's $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) and February's $20 million Saudi Cup.

“Her training before we went to Saudi was just mindboggling,” Asmussen said. “It's just like it is now. We still wonder how she's able to do it so easily and so consistently. Her works at Churchill have been beautiful. I was very tempted to run her in the (June 13) Ogden Phipps (GI) and leaving She's a Julie for the Fleur de Lis. I feel like with what she's done – traveling to Saudi, taking on older boys and everyone knows the trip she got and knows the circumstances… how do you have an adjective what she is and what she means to racing? Coming back, the next race isn't the goal for this year. The Breeders' Cup is. She is arguably the best horse in the world.”

Midnight Bisou's 20-race career has been nothing short of spectacular. The now 5-year-old mare began her career on the 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks with victories in the $200,000 Santa Ynez (GII), $100,000 Santa Ysabel (GIII) and $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (GI) with previous trainer Bill Spawr. Midnight Bisou finished third behind Monomoy Girl in the 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Under the care of Asmussen, Bisou reeled off victories in the $250,000 Mother Goose (GII), $1 million Cotillion (GI), $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (GIII), $350,000 Azeri (GII), $750,000 Apple Blossom (GI), $700,000 Ogden Phipps (GI), $150,000 Molly Pitcher (GIII), $700,000 Personal Ensign (GI) and $300,000 Beldame (GII).

Midnight Bisou is slated to take on 2019 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Serengeti Empress in the Fleur de Lis, which is part of a quartet of stakes next Saturday at Churchill Downs along with the $400,000 Stephen Foster presented by Coca-Cola (GII), $100,000 Regret presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII) and $100,000 Bashford Manor presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII).

The Fleur de Lis is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In Distaff Division” race while the Stephen Foster is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In Classic Division” event. This year's Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland.

Nominations for all four races are available online at www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/nominations.

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Monmouth Offering $1 Million Bonus For Sweep Of Haskell, Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup Classic

With the TVG.Com Haskell Stakes already offering a $1 million purse, points for the Kentucky Derby and “Win and You're In” status for the Breeders' Cup Classic, Monmouth Park is sweetening the pot even more for its showcase race.

The track announced Thursday that it will offer a $1 million bonus this year to any horse that sweeps the Haskell Stakes, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Haskell will be contested for the 53rd time on July 18 when it headlines a stakes-filled program. The $3 million Kentucky Derby has been re-scheduled to Saturday, Sept. 5, from its traditional first Saturday in May slot due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Keeneland.

In 2015 American Pharoah swept the three races en route to his Horse of the Year title.

For the first time in Haskell history, the top four finishers will earn points (100-40-20-10) for the Kentucky Derby.

Monmouth Park's 75th season gets underway on Friday, July 3.

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Ward-Trained Golden Pal Aims For Breeders’ Cup Berth In Friday’s Norfolk At Royal Ascot

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Eye of Heaven (GB), Qatar Racing Ltd.'s The Lir Jet (IRE), and the Wesley Ward- trained Golden Pal lead 14 entered for Friday's (June 19) 5-furlong, US$62,000 Norfolk Stakes for 2-year-olds (G2) at Royal Ascot. A victory in the Norfolk will give the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course, in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov 6-7.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Norfolk to start in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, an open race for 2-year-olds, which will be run at 5 ½ furlongs over the Keeneland turf course on Nov. 6 as a part of the “Future Stars Friday” program. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program or it must be nominated by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 26 to receive the rewards.

The Norfolk Stakes is the third of four Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races to be conducted during the Royal Ascot meeting. The race will be televised live on NBCSN and TVG on Friday at approximately 9:25 a.m. ET in the U.S.

Eye of Heaven, a bay son of Exceed and Excel (AUS), has attracted early wagering interest among the contenders. Trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Eye of Heaven broke his maiden in the EBF Betway Stallions Novice Stakes at 5-furlongs on June 4 at Newmarket as the even-money favorite. He passed Get It (GB) with one furlong remaining and went on to register victory by three-quarters of a length.

The Lir Jet (IRE), trained by Michael Bell, made an even bigger splash in his debut, breaking the all-aged 5-furlong track record at Yarmouth in his June 3 debut. The colt, from the first crop of 2016 Norfolk Stakes winner Prince Of Lir (IRE), was subsequently bought privately by Qatar Racing.

“The track record was a surprise but it wasn't a surprise that he won because he had been showing up well at home,” Bell said last week. “The conditions were very favorable that day, quickish ground and the wind was helping.

“To break an all-aged track record on debut, carrying 9st 2lb (128 pounds), is not easily done. It was an eye-catching performance which caught the attention of Sheikh Fahad [al Thani of Qatar Racing] and hopefully he will be rewarded.”

Ward describes the Royal Ascot meeting as “The Breeders' Cup in June.” A 10-time Royal Ascot-winning trainer, Ward could be formidable in the Norfolk with Ranlo Investments LLC's Golden Pal. Bred in Florida by Randall E. Lowe, Golden Pal is a bay son of 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Uncle Mo, out of Lady Shipman by 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman. Golden Pal is the first foal from Lady Shipman, an 11-time stakes winner.

In his lone start, Golden Pal finished second in a 4 ½-furlong maiden race on dirt at Gulfstream Park on April 17. After being bumped out of the gate, Golden Pal rushed to the lead and gave way grudgingly to finish three-quarters of a length behind Gatsby. Golden Pal will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni.

Ward has won the Norfolk Stakes twice, with No Nay Never in 2013 — who still holds the 2-year-old track record — and the filly Shang Shang Shang in 2018.

Aidan O'Brien, who has trained three Norfolk Stakes winners with Johannesburg (IRE), who also captured the 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Waterloo Bridge (IRE) and Sioux Nation, sends out Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's Lipizzaner. Bred in Kentucky by Irish Lights Syndicate, Lipizzaner, a bay son of Uncle Mo out of Irish Lights (AUS) by Fastnet Rock (AUS), has finished second as the favorite in both his starts at Naas. He was defeated by a half-length to Poetic Flare (IRE) in an EBF Maiden on March 23 at Naas, and was headed at the wire by Lucky Vega (IRE) in a 6-furlong maiden on June 8. Ryan Moore has the mount.

Also of interest is M A R Blencowe's Imperial Force (IRE), trained by Andrew Balding. A bay son of Camacho (GB), Imperial Force was beaten by 1 1/4 lengths in his debut in a 6-furlong EFB maiden at Newmarket on June 4.

The Norfolk Stakes is the third of four Breeders' Cup Challenge races to be run during the Royal Meeting. On Tuesday, Circus Maximus (IRE), earned a “Win and You're In” berth into the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) by winning the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) On Wednesday, Lord North (IRE) won the for an automatic starting position into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) by taking the Prince of Wales's Stakes. On Saturday, an automatic berth in to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint will be on the line in the 6-furlong Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1).

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Coolmore’s Japan Headlines ‘Win And You’re In’ Prince Of Wales’s Stakes At Royal Ascot

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Masaaki Matsushima's multiple Group 1-stakes winning 4-year-old Japan (GB) headlines Wednesday's (June 17) US$317,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, with the winner earning an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races, whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course, in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov 6-7.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Prince of Wales's to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 ½ miles over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a minimum travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program or it must be nominated by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 26 to receive the rewards.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles, is the second of four Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races to be conducted during the Royal Ascot meeting. The Prince of Wales's will be televised by NBCSN and TVG on Wednesday at approximately 10 a.m. ET in the U.S.

Japan, a bay son of Galileo (IRE), trained by Aidan O'Brien, will be making his first start of the year after becoming one of Europe's top 3-year-olds of 2019. Following a third-place finish in the Investec Derby (G1) at Epsom, Japan began a three-race win streak with a dominant 4 ½-length victory in the 1 ½-mile King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. It was on to France next for the 1½-mile Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1), the traditional Bastille Day (July 14) feature at ParisLongchamp. Japan took the lead inside 1 ½ furlongs and fought off Slalom (FR) to win by a half-length.

Back in Britain in September, Japan faced older horses for the first time in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York, where he engaged Crystal Ocean (GB) in a dramatic stretch drive and wore down his rival in the final 50 yards to prevail by a head under Ryan Moore. Japan returned to ParisLongchamp for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Troimphe (G1) in October. He was in contention closing inside the furlong marker but was passed by Waldgeist (GB) on the outside, and wound up fourth. Moore has the mount again on Wednesday.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 6-year-old Addeybb (IRE), another returning Royal Ascot winner, scored Group 1 triumphs in Australia this year while racing was suspended in Britain due to the coronavirus outbreak. Addeybb, a gelded bay son of Pivotal (GB) out of the Kingmambo mare Bush Cat, and trained by William Haggas, captured the 1 ¼-mile Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on March 21 and 1 ¼-mile Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick in Sydney on April 11.

Sporting a solid record of nine wins in 17 starts, Addeybb won the listed 1 ¼-mile Wolferton Stakes by 2 ½ lengths over Magic Wand (IRE) last June at the Royal Meeting. He started next as the 11-8 favorite in the 1 3/8-mile Sky Bet Stakes (G2) at York on July 27, finishing second to Elarqam (GB), but rebounded on Aug. 10 at Haydock, winning the 1 3/8-mile Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (GB) by 2 ¼ lengths. He closed out the year chasing Magical (IRE) down the stretch in the 1 ¼-mile QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot, but finished second by three-quarters of a lengths. Tom Marquand has the mount on Addeybb.

Godolphin's 6-year-old gelding Barney Roy (GB), trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, is out for a bit of redemption this year after finishing eighth as the 5-1 favorite in the 2019 Queen Anne, which was his last race of the season. Like Addeybb, Barney Roy has been winning races outside of Britain this year. A bay son of Excelebration (IRE), Barney Roy was in Meydan this winter, taking the Al Rashidiya Stakes (G2) on Jan. 30 and Jebel Hatta Stakes (G1) on March 7, both at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

As a 3-year-old, Barney Roy won the 2017 St. James's Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot, and was retired after that season. However, he proved to be subfertile at stud and was returned to racing in 2019 as a gelding.

Prince Khalid Abdullah's 4-year-old Headman (GB), making his Ascot debut, won three consecutive races last year trainer Roger Charlton. A bay son Kingman (GB), Headman took the ungraded London Gold Cup Handicap last May at Newberry, setting up a bigger score in June at Saint-Cloud in France, where he captured the 1 ¼-mile Prix Eugene Adam (G2) by three lengths. He was in the winner's circle again in France in August, finishing a head in front of Roman Candle (GB) as the 3-5 favorite in the 1 ¼-mile Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain (G2) at Deauville. Headman stepped into Group 1 company for the first time on Sept. 14 in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. After rearing at the start and trailing the field, he made a bid in mid-stretch but could not sustain the drive and finished fifth. Jason Watson will ride Headman.

Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's 4-year-old gelding Lord North (IRE), trained by John Gosden and ridden by James Doyle, comes into the race off a win in the 1 ¼-mile Betway Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Haydock on June 7. A bay son of Dubawi (IRE), Lord North had two second-place finishes at Ascot last year in Class 2, 1-mile races. Following a runner-up placing in the Balmoral Handicap on Oct. 19, Lord North closed out the season with a victory in the listed 1 ¼-mile James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket on Nov. 2.

Frankie Dettori has the mount on the Gosden-trained 4-year-old filly Mehdaayih (GB). Owned by Emirates Park Pty Ltd., Mehdaayih has won four races in 10 starts, including the Group 2 Prix de Malleret last June at Saint-Cloud. She was second to Deirdre (JPN) in the Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood in August. Continuing in Group 1 company, she finished 10th in the Prix de l'Opera Longines at ParisLongchamp in October and in fifth in the Champion Stakes later that month at Ascot.

King Power Racing has entered the 4-year-old Bangkok (IRE), who finished second to Japan in the last year's King Edward VII. Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, the bay son of Australia (GB) raced twice in Derby trial stakes on the all-weather surface at Lingfield in February, winning the listed event on Feb. 1 and coming in third in the Group 3 Derby Trial on Feb. 22.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes joins Tuesday's Queen Anne (G1) (TVG Mile), Friday's Norfolk Stakes (G2) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Saturday's Diamond Jubilee (G1) (Turf Sprint) as the four Breeders' Cup Challenge races to be run at the 2020 Royal Meeting.

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