Deep BC Distaff a culmination for some, bonus for others

ARCADIA, Calif. – November was far away when Midnight Bisou, Paradise Woods, and Ollie’s Candy began 2019 with the same objective – the Breeders’ Distaff on Saturday at Santa Anita.

“We were mapping it out from a long ways back,” trainer Steve Asmussen said referring to a campaign for Midnight Bisou that began in January. Back then, Asmussen did not predict she would reach autumn 7 for 7 this year, wearing a bullseye.

Midnight Bisou puts her perfect season on the line in the $2 million Distaff, a 1 1/8-mile race in which she is favored over 10 rivals, including top-class cross-country invader Blue Prize and locally based division leaders Paradise Woods and Ollie’s Candy.

None accomplished as much this year as Midnight Bisou, who won a Grade 3 at Sam Houston in January and never looked back. “We got off on the right foot, and it’s gone well since,” Asmussen said. “This is what we strive for, long-term consistency.”

As in, seven graded wins, including three Grade 1’s, at five tracks and versatility jockey Mike Smith said is unique. Midnight Bisou can press the pace or rally from last. “She runs all different kinds of races,” Smith said. “And she’s got a great turn of foot on the dirt. You can cover her up on the dirt. She’ll move like a grass horse.”

Midnight Bisou, who would enter Horse of the Year discussion by winning the Distaff, is likely making her final start for Bloom Racing Stable, Allen Racing, and Madaket Stables. The 4-year-old is entered the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

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Paradise Woods, 5, could have retired last year after a frustrating 0-for-3 season, but co-owner Marty Wygod still believed in the two-time Grade 1 winner. He transferred Paradise Woods to trainer John Shirreffs.

“He wanted her to go out on a high note,” Shirreffs said. “The goal was get her to the Breeders’ Cup; that was the goal for the year.” Paradise Woods enters the Distaff off a powerful prep win, but she unfortunately drew the rail. She does not like the inside.

“It gives you only one card to play – speed,” Shirreffs said. “You gotta go, or else you get buried. The break will be big.”

Ollie’s Candy also changed trainers this season, transferred to John Sadler by owners Paul and Karen Eggert. Sadler’s ambitious plan for 2019? “Try to win a Grade 1 with her, and design a campaign to get her to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Mission accomplished. Ollie’s Candy won a Grade 1 in summer at Del Mar, finished a better-than-looked third in her prep, and enters as a live longshot. Her speed-sharpening half-mile work one week ago mirrors her work prior to her career-best win at Del Mar. Joel Rosario has the mount.

Aside from the field’s overall credentials – nine of the 11 are Grade 1 winners – the Distaff is unique in that seven are with trainers other than those with whom they began their careers, including Midnight Bisou. She was transferred to Asmussen in spring 2018.

Wow Cat, Secret Spice, and Blue Prize are the other older Grade 1 winners in the field. Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress, Cotillion winner Street Band, and Alabama winner Dunbar Road make up a trio of Grade 1-winning 3-year-olds. The outsiders are Mo See Cal and Grade 2 winner La Force.

While the Distaff is a natural target for older, trainer Tom Amoss acknowledges that, for Oaks winner Serengeti Empress, the Distaff “no question is a bonus race for us, but she’s earned the right to be here.”

Serengeti Empress, a front-runner, is likely to dictate the tempo under Flavien Prat. “Our goal is to clear,” Amoss said. “I have some concern with [Mo See Cal] directly to my outside. She’s a horse a lot like mine, in that she’s a need-the-lead type.”

Serengeti Empress and Mo See Cal drew posts 9 and 10, while Paradise Woods drew the rail. Paradise Woods must use her speed to avoid being shuffled. If she breaks cleanly, if she gets to the outside, and if she reproduces her last-start victory, she could post an upset under first-time Breeders’ Cup rider Abel Cedillo.

Blue Prize won the Spinster last out over BC Classic entrant Elate. Blue Prize, 6-year-old veteran of the field, will rally from behind under Joe Bravo.

Secret Spice, racing beyond her optimum distance, has been training to rally from behind. A throat ulcer compromised her performance last out. She won a Grade 1 dirt mile in March. John Velazquez rides.

Street Band came into her own this fall, and arrives following a career-best victory in the Cotillion. Larry Jones trains the off-the-pace filly, whose rider is Sophie Doyle.

Dunbar Road finished third in the Spinster, her first start against older. Jose Ortiz rides for trainer Chad Brown, who also starts Wow Cat, who has Irad Ortiz Jr.

The Distaff is race 10, following the BC Mile and positioned in front of the final two BC races, the Turf and Classic.