The major Kentucky mixed sales in early November annually ride the wave of the Breeders’ Cup, with fillies and mares coming directly from the races to the sales, perhaps with major catalog updates, to be sold as racing or broodmare prospects. This year’s contingent making the trip from Santa Anita to Lexington, Ky., is headlined by Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite Midnight Bisou, unbeaten on the season and expected to trigger a multi-million dollar bidding war. But the logistics required to generate those fireworks in the sales ring aren’t easy, particularly when the Breeders’ Cup is hosted by a California track. Following the extreme effort put forth in a race the level of the Breeders’ Cup, a cross-country trip can take a further toll on a horse’s energy and weight levels, particularly if the horse has not shipped frequently or is a nervous individual. It requires strong support from caretakers to get a horse to the sale grounds both physically and mentally prepared to show at their best to potential buyers. To ease the turnaround following this year’s Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1 and 2 at Santa Anita, both of Kentucky’s major November sales will be held one day later than originally scheduled. The single-session Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale will be held the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 5. It had originally been scheduled for Monday night, less than 48 hours following the conclusion of the Saturday Breeders’ Cup program. The following day, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Keeneland will begin its November breeding stock sale, which was originally scheduled to start Tuesday. That sale runs through Nov. 17. “In keeping with Keeneland’s mission, we continually strive to do things that better the entire industry,” Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We listen to our customers and we respond.” The two Kentucky-based auction companies also cited allowing more time for industry participants attending the Breeders’ Cup to travel from California to Kentucky and to inspect horses. “We have advocated for this schedule change for many years, and we are pleased that other industry participants have recognized the need for this change,” Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning said. The vans bound from the airport for the Fasig-Tipton sale grounds will be crowded – although there is always the possibility of withdrawals based on racetrack performance. In addition to Midnight Bisou, Breeders’ Cup entries cataloged at the Fasig-Tipton sale are Bellafina (Filly and Mare Sprint), Belvoir Bay (Turf Sprint), Blue Prize (Distaff), Comical (Juvenile Fillies), Got Stormy (Mile), Heavenhasmynikki (Filly and Mare Sprint), La Force (Distaff), Mirth (Filly and Mare Turf), Secret Spice (Distaff), Selcourt (Filly and Mare Sprint), Vasilika (Filly and Mare Turf), and Wow Cat (Distaff). But Midnight Bisou, who is already considered a virtual lock to earn a divisional Eclipse Award as outstanding older female and who could put herself in the Horse of the Year conversation with a Distaff win, is undoubtedly the star of the show. The 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute will be consigned by Elite Sales as agent for owners Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing. She was purchased by that group for $80,000 from breeder Woodford Thoroughbreds at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s spring auction of 2-year-olds in training. “Midnight Bisou has truly been a dream come true for me, my family, and our partners,” Jeff Bloom said. “She exemplifies class, beauty, and elegance, and she consistently displays unrivaled determination and dominance on the racetrack. She has an incredibly intelligent eye and confident presence, combined with an engaging and warm personality. She has taken us all on the ride of a lifetime and has forever changed our lives.” Midnight Bisou has won five Grade 1 races and 12 graded stakes overall. She has placed in four Grade 1 stakes, including third-place finishes behind Eclipse Award champion Monomoy Girl in last year’s Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Midnight Bisou, trained by Steve Asmussen, is unbeaten in seven starts this year, having most recently coasted by 3 1/4 lengths over Wow Cat in the Grade 2 Beldame Stakes at Belmont. “Very rarely is an in-form, young, set-to-be-crowned champion offered at public auction,” said Bradley Weisbord of Elite Sales. “We’re honored that Bloom Racing has chosen Elite to consign her.” Keeneland November also has a Distaff entrant in its catalog in Ollie’s Candy. The 4-year-old Candy Ride filly was Grade 1-placed on turf last year before winning the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on dirt over the summer at Del Mar to earn an automatic berth in the Distaff. “She is a really nice filly who ran in some big races last year for Bill Morey Jr.,” current trainer John Sadler said. “She came my way in really good shape, and I’ve just kind of carried on for what he did last year. . . . A lot of Candy Rides can run on any surface.” Keeneland’s elite, single-session Book 1 also includes Breeders’ Cup entries Danuska’s My Girl (Filly and Mare Sprint) and Spiced Perfection (Filly and Mare Sprint), while Abscond (Juvenile Fillies Turf) adds some luster to the sale’s Book 2 catalog. Both the Fasig-Tipton and Keene-land sales also include the dams of or half-siblings to several Breeders’ Cup candidates, who could get major catalog updates from their relatives at the races. Fasig-Tipton’s group in that regard is highlighted by Diva Delite, the dam of Midnight Bisou, and Laffina, the dam of Juvenile Fillies favorite Bast and a weanling half-sibling to her Grade 1-winning daughter. Grade 3 winner Diva Delite, by Repent, was consigned by Woodford at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale, and the mare sold for $750,000 to Breeze Easy LLC. She figures to fetch a higher price this year thanks to Midnight Bisou’s rising status and because she is carrying a foal from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Justify. “She’s shown her ability, and the best is yet to come for her,” said Alex Payne, of consignor Taylor Made. Keeneland recently announced that supplemental entries to the November sale include Wild Forest, the dam of Distaff contender Paradise Woods; Tizahit, the dam of Filly and Mare Sprint candidate Come Dancing; and No Use Denying, dam of Juvenile Fillies entrant Perfect Alibi.