Talk Veuve to Me, Midnight Bisou Work Ahead of Alabama

Indiana Oaks (G3) winner Talk Veuve to Me put in her last work before Saturday's Alabama Stakes (G1) going 1 1/4-miles at Saratoga Race Course, breezing four furlongs on the Oklahoma training track Aug. 13.

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset said her :47.95 work, the second-fastest of 54 at the distance Monday, was impressive. Talk Veuve to Me has breezed three times since arriving at Saratoga from Keeneland in July, including a five-furlong breeze on the main track Aug. 6.

"She got a good half-a-mile and we're happy with the move. It looked like she cooled out good and hopefully she'll look good tomorrow," Brisset said. "It seems like she has a mind about the track. She's an easy horse to be around and she's acclimated very, very good."

The 3-year-old Violence  filly has only raced five times but has finished first or second in all three of her stakes appearances since breaking her maiden at second asking March 25 at Fair Grounds. Since then, the Kentucky bred ran second by three-quarters of a length to Mia Mischief in the seven-furlong Eight Belles Stakes presented by Kentucky Trailer (G2) May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Stretching out to a mile, Talk Veuve to Me ran second to leading 3-year-old filly division contender Monomoy Girl in the June 9 Acorn Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day. Anxious to stretch her out to two turns, Brisset entered her in the July 14 Indiana Oaks going 1 1/16 miles at Indiana Grand, and she responded with a 4 3/4-length win for her first stakes victory.

"We can't be overconfident, (but) when you look at the numbers, the replays, and the PPs, and we're right there," Brisset said. "She deserves a shot in that race. We'll see what happens with it being a mile and a quarter.

"Last time was very impressive going for the first time around two turns, so if she can replicate that race and do it going a mile and a quarter, it could be an interesting race. Luckily for me, I've been able to ride her for the last six months; I breeze her all the time and I know the filly pretty well. She could actually be a better filly going around two turns. She's won on the lead, she's won while rating. She has some tactical (speed) and shouldn't be too far from the front. Maybe she'll be on the lead, we'll see how the draw goes."

Multiple graded stakes winner Midnight Bisou also put in the final touches Monday morning as the prospective favorite in Saturday's contest, breezing four furlongs in :51.62 for a final blowout in preparation for the race.

"She breezed an easy half-mile for the Alabama and the filly has consistently done extremely well and we're obviously very excited about her chances," said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Midnight Bisou, owned by Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing, is exiting a runner-up finish to Monomoy Girl in the July 22 Coaching Club American Oaks. It was the second meeting of the fillies, following the Kentucky Oaks, won by Monomoy Girl. Wonder Gadot, currently pointing to the Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), was a half-length back, while Midnight Bisou was third, beaten 4 1/4 lengths.

Following the Kentucky Oaks, the Midnight Lute  filly was transferred to Asmussen for an East Coast campaign. She returned to action in impressive fashion with a six-length win in the June 30 Mother Goose (G2) at Belmont Park. 

Also expected to enter for Asmussen in the Alabama is Whispering Oaks Farm's She's a Julie, who breezed four furlongs in :49.67 Sunday morning on the Oklahoma training track.

She won an allowance optional claiming race June 3 at Churchill before impressively winning the July 4 Iowa Oaks (G3) last out by 5 1/2 lengths.

"She's coming off a huge win and she's trained really well up here," Asmussen said. "Obviously, it's a big step up for her and caliber of competition, but she's done all the work."

Also expected to enter the Alabama are Coach Rocks, winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in March; lightly raced Auspicious Babe in her stakes debut; Indiana Oaks runner-up Figarella's Queen; and Eskimo Kisses, fourth in both the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).