Midnight Bisou Nears Return in June 27 Fleur de Lis

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing's Midnight Bisou completed her most serious preparation for the June 27, $200,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes Presented by Coca-Cola (G2) with a swift six-furlong breeze in 1:12 June 15 at Churchill Downs. 

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 2019 champion older dirt female has been well traveled throughout her career with five grade 1 victories, plus runner-up efforts in last year's Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup. The 5-year-old Midnight Lute  mare is unraced since a three-quarter-length loss to Maximum Security in the latter race.

"Her training before we went to Saudi was just mind-boggling," Asmussen said. "It's just like it is now. We still wonder how she's able to do it so easily and so consistently. Her works at Churchill have been beautiful. I was very tempted to run her in the (June 13) Ogden Phipps (G1) and leaving She's a Julie for the Fleur de Lis.

"I feel like with what she's done—traveling to Saudi, taking on older boys, and everyone knows the trip she got and knows the circumstances … how do you have an adjective for what she is and what she means to racing? Coming back, the next race isn't the goal for this year. The Breeders' Cup is. She is arguably the best horse in the world."

Ultimately, Asmussen elected to run She's a Julie in the Odgen Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park, and the 5-year-old Elusive Quality mare scored a narrow victory over Point of Honor and Ollie's Candy.

Midnight Bisou's 20-race career has been nothing short of spectacular. She began her career on the 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks with victories in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2), Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3), and Santa Anita Oaks (G1) with previous trainer Bill Spawr. She finished third behind winner Monomoy Girl in the 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), her last start for Spawr. 

Under the care of Asmussen, Midnight Bisou won the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) and Cotillion Stakes (G1) at 3 and ended the season with a third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill.

Last year at 4, she won the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3), Azeri Stakes (G2), Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Ogden Phipps, Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3), Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1), and Beldame Stakes (G2). She closed the year with a runner-up finish behind Blue Prize in the Distaff.

Midnight Bisou is slated to take on 2019 Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress in the Fleur de Lis, a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" berth to the Distaff. The Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland.