Midnight Bisou Seeks Fifth Straight Win

For the fans who turn out at Monmouth Park July 20 during what's taking shape as a blistering-hot TVG.com Haskell Day card, getting a chance to see Midnight Bisou in action promises to be a cool treat.

As for the trainers of the other seven starters in the $150,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3), let's just say the heat index will be turned up quite a few degrees.

"She makes the race a whole helluva lot tougher," said trainer Todd Pletcher.

Pletcher is sending out Sun Studio and Varanasi in the 1 1/16-mile Molly Pitcher, and they, along with everyone else in the field, will have to step up their game noticeably to tangle with Midnight Bisou.

Starting from post 3, the Steve Asmussen-trained 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute  is the top-ranked filly or mare in the latest edition of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 10 poll based on a 4-for-4 2019 record for Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing.

In her previous start, she was particularly impressive as she took charge in the stretch and drew off to a decisive 3 1/2-length score in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) on the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) undercard. 

"You could make the case that the Ogden Phipps was one of the most impressive races of her career," said owner Jeffrey Bloom. "It was nice to do that since she seems to be getting better this year."

Not that Midnight Bisou was a slacker last year. She won five of nine starts at 3, including the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) via disqualification. Yet her third-place finishes in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), Alabama Stakes (G1), and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) pretty much defined her status among the top fillies.

But now, the daughter of the Repent mare Diva Delight is the one everyone is trying to catch.

"She's an extremely talented mare that has caught on to the idea of winning," Asmussen said. "Her confidence level is where you want it. She's been a dream."

Because Midnight Bisou will spend the summer at Saratoga Race Course, staying at home in the Adirondacks for the nine-furlong $200,000 Shuvee Stakes (G3) July 21 seemed an inviting path to the $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 at the Spa. But in the end, the slightly shorter Molly Pitcher was viewed as the better fit—especially with Midnight Bisou owning an 8-for-8 mark in 1 1/16-mile races.

"She's a special mare that has trained extremely well, and we like the record at a mile and a sixteenth and think that will be a nice spot for her," Asmussen said. "She's doing excellent, and we're blessed to have her. It's time for her to run."

Prior to the Phipps, Midnight Bisou reeled off wins in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Azeri Stakes (G2), and the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3).

Bred and consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, the Kentucky-bred was RNA'd for $19,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and then was purchased by Bloom for $80,000 at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Her earnings already stand at a lofty $2.78 million.

Trainer Chad Brown will send out two daughters of Curlin : Sharon Alesia, Ciaglia Racing, Peter Brant, and Dominic Savides' Pacific Wind, who was fifth in the Phipps and second to Phipps runner-up Come Dancing in the Ruffian Stakes (G2), and Stonestreet Stables' Electric Forest, who has not raced since winning the April 19 Hilliard Lyons-Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.

As for Pletcher's duo, John D. Gunther's Sun Studio is a Speightstown  filly who was third in the June 22 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park and fourth in the Ruffian, and Bass Stables' Varanasi is a Jimmy Creed  4-year-old who posted a five-length win in a June 15 allowance optional claimer at the Jersey Shore track.

Also among the entrants are Imaginary Stables and Glenn Ellis' Breaking Bread, who was second in the Lady's Secret and won the Serena's Song Stakes earlier in the meet, and grade 2 winner Coach Rocks for Roddy Valente, RAP Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds.

Entries: Molly Pitcher S. (G3)

Monmouth Park, Saturday, July 20, 2019, Race 8

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 3:27 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Pacific Wind (KY)	Joe Bravo	116	Chad C. Brown	8/1
2	2Coach Rocks (KY)	Luis Saez	116	Dale L. Romans	12/1
3	3Midnight Bisou (KY)	Mike E. Smith	123	Steven M. Asmussen	3/5
4	4Electric Forest (KY)	UNKNOWN	123	Chad C. Brown	6/1
5	5Varanasi (KY)	Paco Lopez	116	Todd A. Pletcher	20/1
6	6Sun Studio (KY)	John R. Velazquez	116	Todd A. Pletcher	12/1
7	7Cosmic Burst (PA)	Richard E. Eramia	116	Donnie K. Von Hemel	10/1
8	8Breaking Bread (KY)	Angel Suarez	120	Jorge Navarro	15/1