Maximum Security, Midnight Bisou to Campaign Stateside

After putting on a dazzling show against the world's best horses in the $20 million Saudi Cup, both the victorious Maximum Security and runner-up Midnight Bisou will be heading home March 6 to prepare for domestic campaigns that will use the Breeders' Cup World Championships as a bookend.

The owners of both horses confirmed those plans March 3 following a Daily Racing Form report that along with 11th-place finisher McKinzie, they will return to the U.S. on a March 6 flight, while Mucho Gusto (fourth in the Saudi Cup) and Tacitus (fifth) will remain in the Middle East to train toward a start in the $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.

Gary West, who owns Maximum Security along with the Coolmore partnership, said returning stateside would be "the right thing to do" for the champion 3-year-old male of 2019.

"He ran really hard, had no prep race, and running him back too soon would not be the right thing to do for 'Max,'" West said. "As for future plans, 'Max' will tell us when he is ready to run again. Our ultimate goal this year is the Breeders' Cup."

Jeff Bloom, managing partner of the group that owns Midnight Bisou, said the timing of the Dubai World Cup worked against running the 5-year-old mare in the demanding 1 1/4-mile test.

"She ran such an incredibly big race and the other race (in Dubai) comes up a little quick," said Bloom, who owns the daughter of Midnight Lute  along with Madaket Stables and Allen Racing. "It's a timing thing. We can get her back home after being on the road for a while and thought it would be best to get her settled down and geared up for a 2020 season here where she can be home and hopefully have another championship season."

The champion older dirt filly of 2019, Midnight Bisou rallied strongly along the rail in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup to finish within three-quarters-of-a-length of Maximum Security while facing males for the first time in her 20-race career. She was two lengths ahead of Godolphin's Benbatl who was third in a field of 14 filled with international stars.

In earning $3.5 million for her second-place finish, Midnight Bisou moved her career earnings to $7.25 million.

Bloom said he would meet with trainer Steve Asmussen after Midnight Bisou returns to the U.S. for a campaign in which all options are on the table.

"At this point, we want to get her back home and settled," Bloom said. "Then we'll look at the Breeders' Cup and work backwards from there. Steve and I decided when she gets back here we'll sit down and put another map together that puts her in an opportunity to do the things she does the right way. Right now we don't have a very specific race and targets planned but it will be easy to put one together. We won't rule out anything. Anything is open for discussion."