Midnight Bisou Primed for Fleur de Lis Return

If her recent works over the Churchill Downs surface are any indication, champion filly Midnight Bisou is more than ready to make a comeback. 

Making her first Stateside start since last year's Breeder's Cup World Championships, the 5-year-old mare will face a field of six rivals June 27 in the $200,00 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs. 

"More than anything else we are so ridiculously fortunate with her that she has such a strong constitution and positive attitude and that she's such a happy, healthy horse," said Jeff Bloom of Bloom Racing Stable, who owns the mare in partnership with Madaket Stables and Allen Racing. "It sounds like a broken record, but she could not be training better and it's wonderful." 

In a year of uncertainty driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fleur de Lis will be the second start of the year for Midnight Bisou. The daughter of Midnight Lute  kicked off what promised to be a strong 2020 with a hard-fought runner-up finish against males in the inaugural Feb. 29 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia before the coronavirus derailed racing plans around the globe. 

"That's been the problem for everyone in the industry—uncertainty around racing opening up as well as trying to know what the schedule would be like," said Bloom. "From a training standpoint, at the time we started bringing her back after she had a mini break at Keeneland, the earliest announcement of a race that would fit the program for her was the Fleur de Lis so that is what we focused on. She comes into the race in excellent shape, and we're excited about gearing up the second half of her campaign in this weird, COVID-19 year "

Echoing Bloom, trainer Steve Asmussen said Midnight Bisou hasn't missed a step since she returned to the work tab in early spring. The mare most recently worked four furlongs June 22 in :50 1/5. 

"Her training before we went to Saudi was just mindboggling," 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 (winner) 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."

For the sixth year in a row, the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" stakes event and offers the winner a guaranteed berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland. In one of the most stunning upsets of the 2019 season, Midnight Bisou finished second in the Distaff to Blue Prize. 

This year's renewal of the Distaff could offer up another star-studded match as Monomoy Girl, champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 and old rival of Midnight Bisou, returned to the winner's circle off an 18-month layoff in a May 16 allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs. Though she was briefly considered for the Fleur de Lis, Monomoy Girl will not join Midnight Bisou in the field on Saturday.

But with the potential for a matchup in the cards, Bloom said he's more than confident that Midnight Bisou is up to the challenge.  

"I've said it before but I think those kinds of rivalries and matchups are really good for horseracing," said Bloom. "As a fan you love to see those kinds of things. For Monomoy Girl, having been off so long and coming back victorious off her layoff lends itself to the potential for a matchup between the two sometime down the road. If all goes as planned I would expect we will see a race in the not too distant future where they are running against each other. We feel as though we are up to the task, and I'm sure they do too. Bring it on and let's have some fun." 

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will partner with Midnight Bisou in the Fleur de Lis from post 5.

Monomoy Girl's absence does not mean Midnight Bisou will lack for competitors when the field enters the gate on Saturday. Among her rivals will be Joe Politi's speedy 2019 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress, who is already a stakes winner in 2020 having claimed the March 14 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. 

"We have all the confidence in the world of our filly," said trainer Tom Amoss. "We know how she likes to go and that's to be on the lead. It's a tough matchup against a champion, but the way our horse has prepared for this race has us very confident she'll put in a great performance."

A 4-year-old daughter of Alternation , Serengeti Empress started the year strong with a runner-up finish in the Jan. 26 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park before her Azeri victory. She most recently finished off the board in the April 18 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn. 

Jockey Joe Talamo will have the call on Serengeti Empress from post 4. 

The Fleur de Lis field also will include Jay Em Ess Stable's multiple grade 3 winner Go Google Yourself; Abbondanza Racing, Mark DeDomenico, and Medallion Racing's stakes winner Motion Emotion; Debby Oxley's recent Shawnee Stakes runner-up Chocolate Kisses; Calumet Farm's three-time winner Red Dane, and, Farfellow Farm's multiple graded stakes placed Another Broad. 

Entries: Fleur de Lis H. (G2)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, June 27, 2020, Race 9

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 5:15 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Go Google Yourself (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	120	Paul J. McGee	8/1
2	2Another Broad (MD)	John R. Velazquez	120	Todd A. Pletcher	12/1
3	3Chocolate Kisses (KY)	Declan Carroll	120	Mark E. Casse	12/1
4	4Serengeti Empress (KY)	Joseph Talamo	124	Thomas M. Amoss	2/1
5	5Midnight Bisou (KY)	Mike E. Smith	124	Steven M. Asmussen	3/5
6	6Red Dane (ITY)	Corey J. Lanerie	120	Charles Lopresti	50/1
7	7Motion Emotion (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	120	Richard Baltas	15/1