Asmussen Plots Course for Midnight Bisou, Basin

Racing was dark at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 15, but the track commanded the Wednesday morning spotlight with a couple of workouts from grade 1 winners trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.

Midnight Bisou, prepping for the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia, breezed five furlongs on a good track in 1:01 2/5, and 3-year-old Basin, gearing up for his first start since winning the Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) last summer at Saratoga Race Course, went a half-mile in :52 2/5. The latter workout was the first of the year for the colt, who outran stablemate Shoplifted by 6 1/2 lengths in capturing the sloppy Hopeful.

Likely to be awarded the 2019 Eclipse Award as champion older dirt female this month, Midnight Bisou has been in a regular work pattern since December as she prepares to face males in the Saudi Cup at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles). A 5-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute , she won seven races last year at 4 before being upset in her final race of the season when second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Blue Prize, in the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Video: Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1)

"She's a tremendous horse. I think she looks fabulous right now and is training as good, if not better, than ever," Asmussen said.

Owned by Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing, Midnight Bisou has won or placed in 18 stakes over her 19-race career. She has a 12-4-3 record and earnings of $3.75 million.

Travel plans call for her to fly from New Orleans to Miami Feb. 16 before leaving the next day for Saudi Arabia, the trainer said. The Saudi Cup and its supporting races will be held at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.

Set to travel with her is Woodford Racing's Engage, who is being targeted for the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, a $1.5 million race at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs). Engage rallied to grab fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) after winning the Oct. 4 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. He breezed Jan. 13, covering five furlongs in 1:00 2/5.

Video: Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1)

Basin also expected to leave Fair Grounds for his next race. Asmussen is pointing the son of Liam's Map  owned by Jackpot Farm toward the Mar. 14 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The 1 1/16-mile Rebel carries a $1 million purse.

Other Asmussen trainees are expected in earlier 3-year-old Derby preps there. Kentucky Jockey Cup Stakes (G2) winner Silver Prospector and Remington Springboard Mile Stakes winner Shoplifted are pointed toward the $150,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Jan. 24.

Wicked Whisper, who won the Frizette Stakes (G1) last year before a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), could also run at Oaklawn in one of the stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the trainer said. She has not worked yet this year.

Among some of the older horses Asmussen trains, Lady Apple is being prepared for the Jan. 26 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park, and grade 1 winner She's a Julie resumed training this week after a winter break, he said.