Midnight Bisou Eyes Fourth Straight Win in Ogden Phipps

The $700,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 8 at Belmont Park marks a rematch between Midnight Bisou and Escape Clause, who were only a nose apart at the wire of the April 14 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park. 

Multiple grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou rallied three wide and nipped the impressive Manitoba-bred after dueling in the stretch. Nearly eight weeks later, the two will face three other older fillies and mares in the 1 1/16-mile event, which offers a fees-paid berth to the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series.

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing's Midnight Bisou has won all three of her starts as a 4-year-old this year and has not finished off the board in 14 races. The Midnight Lute  filly won the Jan. 27 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park and March 16 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn before taking the Apple Blossom. 

Her last race at Belmont was nearly a year ago when she scored by six lengths in the Mother Goose Stakes (G2) at the same distance as Saturday's race.

"She's a horse who really does enjoy her work, and she thrives off of her training and racing," said Jeff Bloom, managing director of Bloom Racing Stable. "There's just more of an element of physical and mental confidence and maturity with her (this year)."

Midnight Bisou has collected more than $2.4 million on the track, more than making up for her $80,000 purchase price when consigned by breeder Woodford Thoroughbreds at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

"She was one of the top horses I had to have," Bloom said. "I really wasn't sure if I was going to be able to afford her or not, and when the hammer dropped for $80,000, I was both ecstatic and quite surprised, because I did think she would bring more than that."

Midnight Bisou tuned up with a half-mile breeze June 4 at trainer Steve Asmussen's Churchill Downs base, where she was timed in :49 2/5 over a fast track. Connections were pleased with her final drill.

"We recognize how fortunate we are on a daily basis to participate and enjoy the experiences she brings to us with her performances," Bloom said. "It's been an incredible ride and journey, and hopefully there's still a lot of exciting times ahead of us with her as well."

Trainer/co-owner Don Schnell's Escape Clause has certainly outrun her odds. Purchased by partner Barry Arnason for US$3,792 as a yearling, the 5-year-old Going Commando mare has earned $645,500 and won multiple stakes, including the Jan. 12 La Canada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. She's won 20 of 31 starts, with her most recent victory a 7 1/4-length score in the March 24 Harry Henson Handicap at Sunland Park.

She last worked five furlongs in :59.74 May 26 at Canterbury Park, the second-fastest of 30 working that distance.

Though Escape Clause fell a nose short in the Apple Blossom, her first attempt at the grade 1 level could not be discredited.

"I probably shouldn't like Midnight Bisou, but she's a lovely mare and always tries really hard," Schnell said. "She's going to be tough to outrun. In the Apple Blossom, we had a little trouble in the first turn when (pacesetter) Wonder Gadot came over on us, and it took her a second to get back into stride, but that's just an excuse and I don't like to make excuses. We're just hoping for a clean trip and that the best horse wins."

Blue Devil Racing Stable's Come Dancing became a multiple graded stakes winner this year with dominant victories in New York. The Malibu Moon  mare kicked off her 5-year-old season with a 7 3/4-length score in the April 5 Distaff Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, then won the May 5 Ruffian Stakes (G2) at Belmont by 6 3/4 lengths on a sloppy track. Both races were around one turn.

Come Dancing breezed six furlongs in 1:11 2/5 at Belmont May 31 in preparation for Saturday.

"She's doing really well. She's only had two races this year by design," said trainer Carlos Martin. "She had a great work the other day. (Jockey) Manny Franco said she's doing as good as she's ever done. She's eating up and looks like a picture, which is what you want to see in these fillies. There are probably three or four fillies in here that you're going to see later in the year at the Breeders' Cup. It's going to be a great race for the fans."

Completing the field are Pacific Wind, the 2018 Ruffian winner who has finished behind Come Dancing in her past two starts, and Mopotism, who is looking for her first victory since last year's La Canada.

Entries: Ogden Phipps S. (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, June 08, 2019, Race 5

• Grade I
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $700,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:01 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Come Dancing (KY)	Manuel Franco	117	Carlos F. Martin	6/5
2	2Midnight Bisou (KY)	Mike E. Smith	123	Steven M. Asmussen	1/1
3	3Pacific Wind (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	117	Chad C. Brown	12/1
4	4Escape Clause (MB)	Tyler Baze	117	Don Schnell	9/2
5	5Mopotism (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	117	Doug F. O'Neill	15/1