2019 Eclipse Awards: Midnight Bisou

Midnight Bisou’s 2019 campaign of sustained excellence stretched from late January to early November, from coast to coast. She did not win them all, but she sure came close.

Midnight Bisou won seven of eight starts, finished second once, raced at six tracks in five states and emerged as more than just the leader of the filly and mare division. In fact, she emerged as one of the nation’s top horses regardless of gender, age, footing, or distance.

:: Full list of 2019 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

A fitting Eclipse finalist as outstanding older dirt female, Midnight Bisou is trained by Steve Asmussen for majority owners Jeff Bloom and Chuck and Lori Allen, and minority owner Sol Kumin.

A two-time Grade 1 winner at 3, Midnight Bisou blossomed at age 4.

She launched her campaign in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston. Under rider Mike Smith, she won by three-quarters, an ideal comeback. “We got off on the right foot,” Asmussen said. “She’s smart enough to take it easy on herself when the race allows her to.”

Next stop, Oaklawn Park for the Grade 2 Azeri. Midnight Bisou saved ground, waited for room into the lane, uncorked a burst of late speed along the rail, and won by a length.

“She has a turn of foot on the dirt, almost like a good grass horse,” Smith said. “She’ll explode on the dirt. And you don’t need much room. You just need a seam. She’s so quick, that she’ll go in and out of there as fast as you want her to.”

Midnight Bisou was just getting started. Back to Oaklawn for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap, she turned back Escape Clause to win by a nose. Three-for-three in 2019.

The competition escalated in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park, where Midnight Bisou was second choice to Come Dancing. Midnight Bisou crushed by 3 1/2 lengths, and followed by winning the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth to set up a rematch with Elate.

The Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga lived to its billing. Elate’s connections believed their mare was never better. Midnight Bisou would need a career-best performance to beat her again.

Asked and delivered. Midnight Bisou trailed early, rallied wide, collared Elate inside the final furlong, and won by a nose in a thriller.

The Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont was Midnight Bisou’s seventh win of 2019, after which she shipped to Santa Anita to face other Grade 1 winners in the BC Distaff. Blue Prize got first run, Midnight Bisou rallied to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths. It was her first loss of the season.

Her story continues. Plans call for Midnight Bisou to campaign as a 5-year-old in 2020 with an eye on the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Midnight Bisou, the leading money earner by Midnight Lute, has won 12 of 19 starts and earned $3,750,000.