2020 Eclipse Awards: Midnight Bisou

Midnight Bisou nearly achieved racing immortality in February 2020, when she shipped more than 7,000 miles from Louisiana to Saudi Arabia for the richest Thoroughbred race in history – the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 29 at King Abdulaziz racetrack in Riyadh.

With a solid workout foundation at Fair Grounds for her first start in five months, first start outside the United States, and facing males for the first time in her career, Midnight Bisou missed by only three-quarters of a length to Saudi Cup winner Maximum Security. It was a gallant runner-up performance by a top-class mare.

And as Midnight Bisou walked off the King Abdulaziz racetrack, a member of her entourage shouted to a racing reporter: “Who’s your Eclipse vote going to?”

The reporter replied, “It’s only February.”

As it turns out, it was already late for Midnight Bisou, though no one knew. She raced just twice more, sustained a sesamoid injury in an autumn workout, and was retired from racing. Nonetheless, her three-start campaign was enough to make her an Eclipse Award finalist as 2020 champion older dirt female, an award she won in 2019.

:: Full list of 2020 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Notwithstanding her abbreviated campaign, Midnight Bisou traveled farther and earned more money in 2020 than any of her first three seasons. She actually earned $3.5 million in one race alone, as runner-up in the Saudi Cup, after which trainer Steve Asmussen freshened her for a late-season campaign.

Four months after the Saudi adventure, Midnight Bisou resumed racing in the United States. It was almost like she never left. Midnight Bisou returned June 27 in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs and romped by more than eight lengths under regular rider Mike Smith. Midnight Bisou was back, it appeared.

Her next start was Aug. 1 at Saratoga, where she would try to win the Grade 1 Personal Ensign for a second straight year. But she could not get past winner Vexatious, and finished second. It turned out to be the final start of an outstanding career.

Midnight Bisou raced three times in 2020. She won one race, finished second twice, and earned $3,721,520. Over the course of four racing seasons, she finished in the money in all 22 starts and earned $7,471,520, winning 13 races. All her wins were graded stakes.

Bill Spawr was Midnight Bisou’s first trainer; she transferred to Asmussen in spring 2018. Midnight Bisou was owned by Jeff Bloom, Chuck and Lori Allen, and minority owner Sol Kumin.

Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Midnight Bisou was originally purchased by Bloom for $80,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring 2-year-olds in training sale in 2017. At the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November sale, Allen bought out Bloom, spending $5 million for the future broodmare. She will be bred to Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion Curlin. Midnight Bisou is the leading progeny sired by Midnight Lute.