Midnight Bisou, Long Range Toddy work for upcoming Grade 1's

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.– Midnight Bisou and Long Range Toddy both remain on pace for upcoming Grade 1 races at Oaklawn Park after emerging from significant workouts in good order, trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday.

Midnight Bisou is on deck for the $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 14 while Long Range Toddy is targeting the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13. Each is coming off a Grade 2 win at Oaklawn, with Midnight Bisou winning the Azeri and Long Range Toddy the first division of the Rebel.

The horses worked early Monday, on a fast track at Oaklawn.

Midnight Bisou went five-eighths in company in 1:01, separating herself from her workmate through the final sixteenth of a mile. Oaklawn clockers had her final quarter in 23.60 seconds and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.20.

“Midnight Bisou worked beautiful, came out of it in great shape,” Asmussen said.

Ricardo Santana Jr. worked Midnight Bisou, who will be ridden in the Apple Blossom by Mike Smith.

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Long Range Toddy worked in tandem with Jersey Agenda, who was situated along the rail, and the pair went five-eighths in a bullet 1:00. Oaklawn clockers had their final quarter in 23 seconds and the six-furlong gallop-out in 1:12.80.

“I thought Long Range Toddy and Jersey Agenda worked gorgeous and we plan on running both of them in the Arkansas Derby,” Asmussen said.

Jon Court was aboard Long Range Toddy. He has the mount in the Arkansas Derby.

Asmsusen said Laughing Fox, who worked five-eighths in 1:00.60 in company Monday, also is headed for the Arkansas Derby.

Another stakes-bound worker on the Monday tab for Asmussen was Tenfold, a Grade 2 winner who worked five furlongs in 1:00.60. Asmussen said Tenfold is targeting the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 13.

Mitole worked five-eighths in 1:00.20 on Sunday at Oaklawn, and will advance to the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, Asmussen said. Mitole is coming off a local allowance win for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 102.