2018 Eclipse Awards: Midnight Bisou

Midnight Bisou was a $19,000 buyback by breeder Woodford Thoroughbreds when she appeared at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale. Jeff Bloom then purchased her for a bargain $80,000 after she breezed a furlong in a relatively ordinary 10 1/5 seconds at the 2018 OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds in training.

“She was a filly that just really had a wonderful presence about herself,” Bloom recalled. “It wasn’t like her breeze itself was a ‘wow’ kind of preview, but it was what she did before, during, and more importantly after – a strong gallop-out, how she handled herself, it was all those little things.”

Those little things have added up in a big way. Bloom’s bargain filly danced every dance in 2018 and is now a millionaire, multiple Grade 1 winner, and Eclipse Award finalist.

:: 2018 Eclipse Finalists: Profiles and photos for all categories

Midnight Bisou, initially in the care of trainer Bill Spawr for Bloom Racing and partner Allen Racing, finished second by a nose to Dream Tree in her first two outings in 2017, including the Desi Arnaz Stakes. Parting ways with her rival, Midnight Bisou won her maiden in her first start of 2018, rolling by 4 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes. When Dream Tree was sidelined by injury, Midnight Bisou assumed the mantle of the leading 3-year-old filly in the West, winning the Grade 2 Santa Ysabel Stakes and Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks by open lengths

Midnight Bisou met Monomoy Girl, who would become a fierce rival, for the first time in the Kentucky Oaks. Tenth with three furlongs remaining in the filly classic, she made a seven-wide move into the lane and finished third, 4 1/4 lengths back of Monomoy Girl and Wonder Gadot.

After the race, Midnight Bisou was transferred from Spawr to trainer Steve Asmussen in order to more efficiently target major East Coast races. Asmussen found himself impressed by how his new charge handled change.

“How level her temperament is and how willing she is to accept the change from one barn to another is exceptional,” Asmussen said. “She’s very intelligent and doesn’t overreact. She looks and sees everything. When we school her, for example, she just needs to go and see it and then she’s fine. It’s almost like she’s saying ‘I wanted to see it, that’s all,’ and she’s good. She’s just really confident.”

Midnight Bisou also had a shift in ownership, with Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables buying in. And so, the winner’s circle was a little more crowded when she coasted to a six-length victory in the Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont before heading to Saratoga for the summer. She faced Monomoy Girl again in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, finishing second by three lengths. She was then third in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes to Eskimo Kisses.

The division’s top talent lined up for the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing, which wound up marked by controversy. While rallying, Midnight Bisou was forced to alter course multiple times in the lane as leader Monomoy Girl shifted in and then out. The two were separated by a neck at the wire, and Midnight Bisou was elevated to the victory via disqualification.

The season culminated in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, where Midnight Bisou finished third by 1 1/2 lengths behind Monomoy Girl and Chilean champion Wow Cat. All three are expected back on the track in 2019.