Midnight Bisou among Asmussen's Monday workers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Led by champion Midnight Bisou, trainer Steve Asmussen had at least a trio of horses he plans to run in Grade 1 races at Saratoga put in workouts Monday over Saratoga’s main track.

Midnight Bisou, looking to repeat in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 1, worked five furlongs in 1:01.22, going in company with Tenfold, the 2018 Jim Dandy and 2019 Pimlico Special winner. Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch caught the team in splits of 24.63 seconds and 36.23 seconds.

It was Midnight Bisou’s first work since she won the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 27.

“She did miss her first work back over the travel and the weather,” Asmussen said. “I had considered working her on Sunday but we all saw the [wet] weather. We’re obviously very pleased it moved out and had a good surface today.”

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Asmussen said Tenfold would be nominated to multiple races, including the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 1 and the $85,000 Alydar on Aug. 9.

Asmussen’s top-flight sprinter Volatile worked five furlongs from the half-mile pole in company with Shoplifted, the pair going in 1:00.10 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.56, according to Welsch.

Volatile, eight-length winner of the Aristides Stakes on June 6, is pointing to the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 25. Shoplifted, who won his maiden and was second in the Grade 1 Hopeful here last summer, is pointing to the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 1.

“Solid set, both within themselves,” Asmussen said.

Also working Monday for Asmussen was Pneumatic, the fourth-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes, who went five furlongs in 1:00.61 in company with recent maiden winner Amani’s Eagle. Pneumatic is pointing to the $500,000 West Virginia Derby on Aug. 1.