Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) will attempt to successfully defend her title in Saturday’s GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga. Winner of seven of eight starts last year, including three Grade Is, the bay followed her win in this event with a facile score in the GI Beldame S. at Belmont in September. She suffered her sole loss last season in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 2, but had still done more than enough to secure the Eclipse Award as top older mare. Running last most of the way in the $20-million Saudi Cup Feb. 29, the dark bay made a bold late run up the fence to finish a valiant second behind champion Maximum Security (New Year’s Day). Midnight Bisou returned to winning ways last out in the GII Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill Downs June 27.
Grade II winner Point of Honor (Curlin) finished second in both the GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama S. at the Spa last summer. Kicking off this term with a second at Tampa Mar. 7, the chestnut was third in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 18 and rallied to be second by a nose behind She’s a Julie (Elusive Quality) in Belmont’s GI Ogden Phipps S. June 13.
GIII Dowager S. victress Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway) seeks her first victory since taking the 2018 renewal of that test. Off the board in an Apr. 30 allowance at Oaklawn, the bay was third in a June 6 test at Churchill and was best of the rest when second to champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in Belmont’s GII Ruffian S. July 11.
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