McKinzie and Midnight Bisou Head Santa Anita Work Tab

Karl Watson, Michael Pegram, and Paul Weitman’s McKinzie set a new bar Oct. 28 over the Santa Anita Park dirt, breezing a bullet five furlongs in his final work ahead of his scheduled start Nov. 2 in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). 

Ridden by apprentice jockey J.C. Diaz Jr., the son of Street Sense  went a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 1/5, fastest of 41 at the distance. 

"It went really smooth. I’m really happy,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. “He went just right; like I wanted it. J.C. Diaz did a great job, picked it up when I wanted to pick it up. Galloped out really nice. Shut it down when I told him to shut it down. There are no excuses. He is ready as I can get him. I am looking forward to it now.

"These works are so important. You can make 'em or break 'em in the works," Baffert added. "It went perfect—I just loved the way it went. The kid executed. I made a last-minute call, put a different rider on there. I do that. I didn't want him to go too fast. I wanted to control the work."

McKinzie will enter Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile race off a runner-up finish to fellow Classic contender Mongolian Groom in the Sept. 28 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. Prior to that effort, the 4-year-old picked up the fourth grade 1 of his career when he took the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course by 1 3/4 lengths. While he has hit the board in all six of his starts this season, his only other victory in 2019 came in the May 3 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Jockey Joel Rosario—who has not previously ridden McKinzie—will have the call in the Classic. While the rider change from Hall of Famer Mike Smith would give many trainers pause, Baffert is confident that Rosario will be able to bring out the best in his contender come race day. 

"These guys are professionals," said Baffert. "It's like Tom Brady and you put him on a different team. He will know how to throw the passes."

Midnight Bisou Effortless in Final Breeze for Distaff

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing's Midnight Bisou looked every bit the top-level performer she is on Monday, working a smooth half-mile in :50 4/5 in her final preparation for the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). 

"It was picture perfect," said Jeff Bloom of Bloom Racing Stable. "It was exactly what we were looking for, just an easy half-mile maintenance breeze. She was floating over the ground well within herself and she cooled out quickly. We were thrilled with it." 

Undefeated in seven starts this season—three of those victories being grade 1s—Midnight Bisou has reached the pinnacle of her division. With the Distaff the final hurdle on the filly's calendar, Bloom said the 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute  has only been improving with each start. 

"I have said so many times that it's been such a magical ride," said Bloom. "It's a dream come true with what she's done for us, what she means to us, and how incredibly exciting this whole experience has been. She thrives with each successive race and she just gets better and more confident.

"She came here to California in such good shape and she's blossomed since arriving. She's a remarkable filly. There are a lot of good horses out there and then there are those that separate themselves. She's continuously showed that she is one of the really good ones. She's a pleasure to be around and she's an incredibly engaging, charming, and warm personality at the barn. But the second you get the saddle on her back, she turns into this fierce competitor because she knows it's go time. She's the perfect combination."

Although she is the likely favorite for the Nov. 2 Distaff, victory in the 1 1/8-mile test will not be a given for Midnight Bisou. Ten other fillies entered in Saturday's race, including Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress, two-time Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) victress Blue Prize, and Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Dunbar Road. 

"It's the world championships so it's a collection of the best of the best from throughout the world matching up in their respective divisions," said Bloom. "They don't give you these races—they don't hand them to you. You have to go out there and earn it. She's obviously shown that she's sitting at the top of the game.

"She's undefeated and we hope she remains undefeated and caps this season off with another grade 1. But you have to have your running shoes on when you run against these kinds of horses. It's a talented group of fillies that she'll be staring down in that starting gate but she's done it before. She's certainly up to the challenge." 

Also turning in their final Breeders' Cup works for Asmussen Monday were Bloom Racing Stable's Snapper Sinclair and Woodford Racing's Engage, targeting starts in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), respectively. Snapper Sinclair breeze four furlongs in :50 4/5 while Engage covered three furlongs in :37 3/5. 

Stormy Liberal, Belvoir Bay Work at San Luis Rey 

Trainer Peter Miller, who has won the past two editions of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) with champion sprinter Stormy Liberal, sent out the Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen-owned runner, as well as Gary Barber's Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments (G1) runner-up Belvoir Bay, for routine three-furlong breezes at San Luis Rey Downs Monday morning.

Stormy Liberal was timed in :38 4/5, while Belvoir Bay went in :37 2/5. Both are entered in the Turf Sprint.

"We breezed both Belvoir Bay and Stormy Liberal and they went easy three-eighths by themselves," Miller said. "I got Belvoir in :37 and two and Stormy in :38 and change. It was just the easy work we were looking for this close to the race.

"All of my horses for the Breeders' Cup are here at San Luis Rey, except for (TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, G1, hopeful) Wrecking Crew," Miller continued. "He galloped today and will breeze three-eighths tomorrow. My Friday horses will arrive tomorrow and my Saturday horses will arrive Wednesday."