Midnight Bisou back on work tab, targets Spinster Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The champion Midnight Bisou returned to the worktab Sunday morning at Saratoga, breezing a half-mile in 50.80 seconds over the Oklahoma training track as she prepares for a fall campaign that will begin with the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 4, her connections said.

Midnight Bisou, coming off a controversial neck loss to Vexatious in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes here Aug. 1, went her opening quarter in 25.84 seconds and her second quarter in 24.96.

Asmussen typically works his horses back nine days after a race, but waited a little longer to breeze Midnight Bisou back because he said he wanted to get her on a Sunday schedule.

“She won’t run back til the first week of October, so she has plenty of time,” Asmussen said.

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The Spinster was chosen over the Beldame, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 4 at Belmont, for a couple of reasons - perhaps most notably that it will enable Mike Smith to regain the mount on the mare. Smith has ridden Midnight Bisou in 17 of her last 20 starts. Due to COVID-19 related restrictions put in place by Saratoga and Del Mar officials this summer, Smith was unable to travel from California to ride Midnight Bisou in the Personal Ensign.

Additionally, the Spinster is run at Keeneland, the site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 6-7, so the race will give Midnight Bisou her first start over that surface while allowing her to remain in Kentucky once she leaves Saratoga in a couple of weeks.

“Timing-wise it’ll work out,” said Jeff Bloom, whose Bloom Racing is majority owner of Midnight Bisou. “I think Mike Smith will be able to commit to staying in Kentucky to be able to ride her.”

Bloom said Midnight Bisou will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup, but he won’t commit to the Distaff or the Classic just yet.

Bloom still disagrees with the stewards’ decision not to disqualify Vexatious from first in the Personal Ensign for interfering with Midnight Bisou in the stretch.

“There’s no doubt in my mind she should have been moved up,” Bloom said. “She got fanned out multiple lanes across the track. That initial bump came at a crucial point of the race and was compounded by being fanned out and the rider was hitting left-handed. The horse that beat us ran a huge race, it was a very impressive performance by the winner. At the same time, we were compromised substantially.”

Vexatious returned to the worktab Saturday in Saratoga, breezing a half-mile in 48.98 seconds over the main track. Trainer Jack Sisterson mentioned the Spinster as a possible next start, but also did not rule out running her in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on Sept. 4.

Midnight Bisou was one of four Grade 1 winners, as well as a bevy of other horses, Asmussen breezed Sunday at Saratoga.

Echo Town, winner of the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 1, worked a half-mile in 50.59 seconds. Echo Town is pointing to the Grade 2, $500,000 Pat Day Mile at Churchill on Sept. 5.

Mia Mischief, winner of the Grade 1 Humana Distaff in 2019, worked five furlongs in 1:01.54 over the Oklahoma training track. Asmussen said she is a candidate for either the Grade 1, $500,000 Derby City Distaff, formerly the Humana Distaff, on Sept. 5 or the Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap here on Sept. 6.

Wicked Whisper, winner of the Grade 1 Frizette last fall at Belmont, worked five furlongs in 1:01.02 in preparation for the Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 28.
Jackie’s Warrior, who won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special by three lengths on Aug. 7, worked a half-mile in 51.58 seconds for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Hopeful here on Sept. 7.

“He’s a very mature, comfortable horse who’s been beautifully consistent mentally and physically,” Asmussen said.

On Saturday, Asmussen unveiled another good-looking 2-year-old colt as Calibrate, a son of Distorted Humor owned by Ron Winchell, won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by 4 1/2 lengths. He covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.55 and earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Grade 1, $400,000 Breeders’ Futurity run at 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland on Oct. 3 will be the likely next spot for Calibrate.

“I think he’s a nice horse that ran well at 6 1/2 [furlongs], that will excel at longer distances,” Asmussen said.

On Sunday, Asmussen sent out the 2-year-old filly Cantata to a 10 1/4-length debut victory at Saratoga. A daughter of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Stonestreet Stable who brought $950,000 as a yearling, Cantata could be a candidate for the Grade 1, $350,000 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 2.

Cantata gave Asmussen his 24th win with a 2-year-old in 2020, fifth at Saratoga. Overall at the meet, Asmussen is 10 for 46 through Sunday’s program.