Serengeti Empress Joins Midnight Bisou in Fleur de Lis

Champion Midnight Bisou is expected to have some grade 1-winning company when she returns in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs June 27.

Following a five-furlong workout from Serengeti Empress in :57 4/5 at Churchill June 10, trainer Tom Amoss said his filly is targeted for that 1 1/8-mile dirt race, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series prep for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland. The Joel Politi-owned 4-year-old daughter of Alternation  won the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at the same distance at Churchill Downs in May 2019.

Should Midnight Bisou and Serengeti Empress remain on course for the race over the next two weeks, it would mark their second meeting. Last fall in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park, they ran second and third, respectively, behind Blue Prize.

Since then, Serengeti Empress has raced three times. She ran second in the Jan. 26 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park, won the March 14 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park, and faded to 11th in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn April 18 after being outsprinted to her preferred position on the lead.

She flashed her speed Wednesday at Churchill Downs with a breeze that ranked as the second-fastest of 12 at the distance. Only stakes-winning stablemate No Parole, whom Amoss is pointing for the June 20 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Claiborne Farm (G1) at Belmont Park, went faster, covering the distance in :57 3/5. 

"We stepped it up today, increased the speed and distance of the work, kind of sharpened her up. It went well," Amoss said.

Midnight Bisou, owned by Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing, was the outstanding older dirt female of 2019 after winning seven of eight races. She finished second behind Maximum Security in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in her only race of 2020.

The 5-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute  picked up the pace with a fast workout June 9 at Churchill, breezing five furlongs in :59 4/5 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Another locally based star mare, the Brad Cox-trained Monomoy Girl, is also under consideration for the Fleur de Lis. But because Monomoy Girl shares some common ownership with Midnight Bisou, the July 11 Ruffian Stakes (G2) at Belmont may prove a desirable alternative.

"Look, we have tremendous respect for a champion like Midnight Bisou, as well as Monomoy Girl, who is a possibility," Amoss said of running Serengeti Empress in the Fleur de Lis. "It's in our own backyard, and we're going to see how it goes. It's where we want to be."

A rider for his filly in the Fleur de Lis has not been chosen, Amoss said.