Midnight Bisou looks right at home in Breeders' Cup Distaff work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Although it has been a year and a half since Midnight Bisou raced in California, she still has an affinity for the Santa Anita racetrack.

The 4-year-old filly posted an important five-furlong workout early Monday morning under jockey Mike Smith as she prepares for her role as favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Midnight Bisou worked at 6:40 a.m., breaking off at the five-furlong pole with the colt Comedian. She inched ahead of her workmate in deep stretch, and clockers gave her a work time of 1:00.40. Everyone else gave her thumbs-up.

“The main thing, again, is she got over this surface really well,” Smith said. “And that’s a really good work horse she worked with.”

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Comedian, who most recently finished second in a first-level allowance at Remington Park, also received a time of 1:00.40.

Steve Asmussen trains Midnight Bisou, who did more on Monday than she did in her previous work when she and Comedian finished together. Asmussen and Smith wanted Midnight Bisou to “win” the Monday workout, and she obliged.

“She left her company just enough [in the stretch] that we finished up good,” Smith said. “She’s not one that takes off and leaves them unless we want her to. In the afternoon, of course, she has. It is all about what you want her to do. She’s really smart.”

She also is undefeated this year in seven starts and will be solidly favored in the Distaff. After her Monday work, Asmussen said Midnight Bisou is “happy, moves well, and goes over this racetrack nicely.”

Midnight Bisou had her own fan club Monday, including Smith’s wife, Nancy; owners Jeff and Susie Bloom; and their daughter Hannah.

Midnight Bisou has started at five tracks already this year, racing from January through autumn. Jeff Bloom said he is in awe of her.

“She’s the type horse that adapts to any situation, but in particular she really does seem to be comfortable on this surface,” Bloom said. “You see it. She just seems to float over this racetrack.”

Midnight Bisou will offered for auction Nov. 5 at the Fasig-Tipton November sale. She has won 12 races and $3,410,000 from 18 starts and won three graded stakes at Santa Anita in early 2018.