Champion Midnight Bisou Eyes Return in $200,000 Fleur de Lis

LOUISVILLE, KY – Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing’s 2019 Eclipse Award winner Midnight Bisou completed her most serious preparation for next Saturday’s $200,000 Fleur de Lis presented by Coca-Cola (G2) with a swift 6-furlong move in 1:12 Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou has been well-traveled throughout her career, with five Grade 1 victories and runner-up efforts in last year’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and February’s $20 million Saudi Cup.

“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 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) and leaving (the race’s 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 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.”

Midnight Bisou’s 20-race career has been nothing short of spectacular. The now-5-year-old mare began her career on the 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks with victories in the $200,000 Santa Ynez (G2), $100,000 Santa Ysabel (G3), and $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1) with previous trainer Bill Spawr. Midnight Bisou finished third behind Monomoy Girl in the 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Under the care of Asmussen, Bisou reeled off victories in the $250,000 Mother Goose (G2), $1 million Cotillion (G1), $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3), $350,000 Azeri (G2), $750,000 Apple Blossom (G1), $700,000 Ogden Phipps (G1), $150,000 Molly Pitcher (G3), $700,000 Personal Ensign (G1), and $300,000 Beldame (G2).

Midnight Bisou is slated to take on 2019 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress in the Fleur de Lis, which is part of a quartet of stakes next Saturday at Churchill Downs along with the $400,000 Stephen Foster presented by Coca-Cola (G2), $100,000 Regret presented by TwinSpires.com (G3), and $100,000 Bashford Manor presented by TwinSpires.com (G3).

The Fleur de Lis is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Distaff Division race, while the Stephen Foster is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Classic Division event. This year’s Breeders’ Cup is scheduled for November 6-7 at Keeneland.