Steve Asmussen | Horse Racing Free Tips

Uncle Mo’s Yaupon Stays Perfect in Chick Lang

L. William & Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Yaupon (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Modification, by Vindication), an impressive last out winner of Saratoga’s GII Amsterdam S. Aug. 29, made it a perfect four-for-four with a powerful, front-running victory while equaling the stakes record in Thursday’s GIII Chick Lang S. at Pimlico.

The 3-5 favorite blasted out to the front from his outside draw, and was ridden along by John Velazquez to hold a narrow advantage. He began to shake free as they straightened for home and wasn’t for catching in the stretch, rolling to a four-length victory.

Double Crown (Bourbon Courage) was second; Relentless Dancer (Midshipman) was third.

“Put him on the lead and keep him on the lead, and he keeps running,” Velazquez said. “You’ve got to ride him the first part. For the first three-sixteenths of a mile, I had to ride him just to keep his head on the business. Even at the three-eighths pole I am reminding him, ‘Hey, keep your mind on your business.’ Then when he switched down the lane, he knew. It was ‘OK, time to go.'”

The winning time of 1:09.10 for six furlongs matched Lantana Mob from 2008 for the fastest in stakes history.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen also trained Lantana Mob, as well as 2018 Chick Lang winner and 2019 champion sprinter Mitole for these same connections.

Yaupon, a narrow debut winner at Churchill Downs June 20, took his game to the next level in his next two starts at Saratoga this summer, adding an allowance over older horses July 18 and the Amsterdam, with Beyer Speed Figures of 101 and 100, respectively.

Pedigree Notes:

The dual-graded winner Yaupon is one of 38 such winners for Uncle Mo, whose 67 black-type winners from six crops to race have him positioned in third among North American sires for 2020. Yaupon, a $255,000 OBS June acquisition (:10), is out of a Vindication mare in Modification, and Uncle Mo has crossed well with the Seattle Slew sire line previously. The Indian Charlie stallion also has the listed Canadian black-type winner Absolutely Stylish out of a Vindication mare, and has three stakes winners out of another Seattle Slew son in Bernardini: Mo Town (GI), Mopotism (GII), and Modernist (GII). Yaupon is also the second graded runner out of Modification, whose Sawyer’s Hill (Spring At Last) was second in both the 2014 GII Del Mar Derby and GII Twilight Derby. Her yearling filly by American Pharoah brought $1.2 million from Mike G. Rutherford at the recent Keeneland September sale. The mare, who is a half-sister to GSW Sky Alliance (Sky Classic), delivered a colt by Good Magic this year. She was bred back to Uncle Mo for 2021.

Thursday, Pimlico
CHICK LANG S.-GIII, $200,000, Pimlico, 10-1, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.10, ft.
1–YAUPON, 124, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Modification (GISP, $166,116), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Swift Alliance, by Afleet
3rd Dam: Stately Bride, by Tom Rolfe
($350,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $485,000 RNA 2yo ’19 FTFMAR;
$255,000 2yo ’19 OBSOPN). O-L. William & Corinne
Heiligbrodt; B-Betz, Lamantia, CoCo Equine, Magers, Burns
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-John R. Velazquez. $120,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $288,264. *1/2 to Sawyer’s Hill
(Spring At Last), MGSP, $366,705. Werk Nick Rating: A+++
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Double Crown, 124, g, 3, Bourbon Courage–Two Columbus,
by Two Punch. O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B-Dr. & Mrs.
Thomas Bowman & Rebecca Davis (MD); T-Katherine Ritvo.
$40,000.
3–Relentless Dancer, 124, c, 3, Midshipman–Passion for Words,
by Benchmark. ($80,000 Ylg ’18 ESLYRL; $85,000 2yo ’19
OBSAPR). O-Jana Wagner & Paradise Farms Corp.; B-Paul
Pruett (LA); T-Michael J. Maker. $20,000.
Margins: 4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 0.60, 12.30, 17.70.
Also Ran: Little Menace, Dreams Untold, Captain Bombastic, Pitching Ari, Arkaan, Lebda. Scratched: Blackberry Wine.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Rising Stars Face Off in Alcibiades

A trio of ‘TDN Rising Stars,’ including unbeaten Thoughtfully (Tapit), will square off in Friday’s GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The rail-drawn Thoughtfully, tabbed as a ‘Rising Star’ out of a blowout debut win for Steve Asmussen at Churchill Downs June 11, made good on the promise with a sparkling performance in Saratoga’s GII Adirondack S. Aug. 12. The $950,000 FTSAUG graduate tries two turns for the first time here.

Drawn one to her outside is fellow ‘Rising Star’ Travel Column (Frosted), herself a flashy debut winner going six furlongs on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard Sept. 4. Brad Cox trains the $850,000 FTSAUG yearling.

Crazy Beautiful (Liam’s Map) posted a ‘Rising Star’ performance at second asking in the Runhappy Debutante S. at Ellis Aug. 9. She was second as the favorite with a troubled trip in the one-turn mile GIII Pocahontas S. last time Sept. 3.

Trainer Ken McPeek will also saddle the two-for-two, rained-off P. G. Johnson S. heroine Simply Ravishing (Laoban) and grassy Mint Juvenile Fillies S. third Oliviaofthedesert (Bernardini).

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Champion Midnight Bisou Retired With Sesamoid Fracture; Headed to Fasig-Tipton November Sale

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's Midnight Bisou, North American champion older dirt female in 2019, has been retired.

Internationally recognized equine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., confirmed on Wednesday that Midnight Bisou sustained a sesamoid fracture in her right front fetlock. According to Dr. Bramlage surgery is not required, and she has already shipped to WinStar Farm, where she will be turned out. The injury will be inconsequential to her and her broodmare career.

The 5-year-old mare by Midnight Lute out of Diva Delite, by Repent, will be offered as a broodmare prospect with Elite Sales at the Fasig-Tipton November sale on Nov. 8, where she will certainly headline the “Night of the Stars” sale.

Midnight Bisou had a routine maintenance work at Saratoga on Monday, Sept. 28 in advance of the G1 Juddmonte Spinster taking place at Keeneland on Oct. 4 as a final prep for her participation in this year's Breeders' Cup. While cooling out, and under the watchful eye of Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen, he noticed something was amiss.

“I cannot begin to tell you what this mare has meant to me, my family, and my partners,” said Jeffrey Boom, co-owner and managing partner of Bloom Racing. “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.”

Midnight Bisou retires as the highest-earning dirt mare of all time, earning $7,471,520. She raced at 10 different tracks. Never off the board in 22-lifetime starts, with a record of 13-6-3. Her five Grade 1 wins include the Santa Anita Oaks and the Cotillion in 2018; and the Apple Blossom, Ogden Phipps, and Personal Ensign in 2019. She finished second in the 2020 Saudi Cup behind last year's 3-year-old male champion Maximum Security.

“I want to thank trainer Steve Asmussen, assistant trainer's Scott Blasi, Darren Fleming, her main exercise rider Angel Garcia, groom Gerardo Morales (Chocolaté), and the entire Asmussen team for the devotion and care they provided each and every single day. 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 G1 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.”

An $80,000 purchase by Bloom at the 2017 OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-Olds in Training, Midnight Bisou was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds. She began her career in California in October 2017 under the conditioning of William Spawr, who won three of six starts with her, including the G1 Santa Anita Oaks in 2018. She was transferred to Asmussen's barn following a third-place finish behind Monomoy Girl in the G1 Kentucky Oaks and was based in the Midwest or East Coast for the remainder of her career.

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Midnight Bisou Retired

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.

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