Midnight Bisou overshadows rivals in Houston Ladies Classic

Midnight Bisou will launch her much-anticipated 4-year-old season on Sunday in the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston. The start will be her first since she finished a fast-closing third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

The Houston Ladies Classic anchors a card of six stakes worth $725,000. The meet’s richest program, it includes the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf, which drew two-time defending winner Bigger Picture. There is a special first post of 1 p.m. Central.

Midnight Bisou is part of a field of seven fillies and mares for the Houston Ladies Classic, which will be run over 1 1/16 miles. Her rivals include Prado’s Sweet Ride, who captured the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap in November at Churchill Downs, and Remedy, who comes off a runner-up finish to Blamed in the Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct.

Houston Ladies Classic (Race 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute

(Last 3 Beyers: 94-101-90)

◗ She was an Eclipse Award finalist for champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 after a season in which she won five of nine starts and earned $1.5 million. Highlights include capturing the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, running third in the Kentucky Oaks, winning the Grade 2 Mother Goose, being placed first in the Grade 1 Cotillion, then wrapping up her year in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

◗ Midnight Bisou has been working steadily at her Fair Grounds base, with her latest move five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Jan. 18. Steve Asmussen, who trains the filly for Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing, is looking forward to her return Sunday.

“She is so special – in her consistency, in her demeanor, in how she travels and how willing and how generous she always is,” he said. “She’s unbelievably consistent.”

◗ Mike Smith has the mount from post 7.

◗ Midnight Bisou has had success from both on and off the pace.

“She’s physically capable and unbelievably pliable,” Asmussen said.

Prado’s Sweet Ride, by Fort Prado

(Last 3 Beyers: 83-91-79)

◗ She’s back on the main track following a fifth-place finish in the $75,000 Blushing K.D. on turf Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds. Her win in the Falls City came on the main track at Churchill.

◗ Florent Geroux has the mount for trainer Gary Scherer.

Remedy, by Creative Cause

(Last 3 Beyers: 88-86-84)

◗ She found herself farther off the pace than usual in the Comely, but managed to close for second, beaten three-quarters of a length on Nov. 27.

◗ In her previous races, Remedy either set or attended the pace, including when second to She’s a Julie in the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks in September.

◗ Joe Bravo has the mount for trainer Brad Cox, who won last year’s Houston Ladies Classic with Tiger Moth.