Midnight Bisou, Tom's d'Etat could be headed for confrontation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Midnight Bisou and Tom’s d’Etat didn’t just pick up automatic Breeders’ Cup berths in their respective Grade 2 victories Saturday at Churchill Downs. Both horses put in dazzling performances, leaving no doubt that they are candidates for 2020 Horse of the Year.

Midnight Bisou won the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis with ridiculous ease, earning a 93 Beyer Speed Figure in her first start in nearly four months. Mike Smith was aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen.

“Mike was over-the-top thrilled,” said Jeff Bloom, who manages Midnight Bisou for Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing. “He’s been on her a lot of times, but he said there was more in the tank than he’s ever felt before. He said it’s as good as she’s ever felt.”

Thirty-two minutes later, Tom’s d’Etat dominated the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster in a similar fashion, getting nothing but love taps from jockey Miguel Mena down the stretch. The 7-year-old horse earned a career-high 109 Beyer after finishing in 1:47.30, just .02 of a second off the track record. It was his eighth straight race with a triple-digit Beyer.

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“He’s truly an amazing horse,” said Al Stall Jr., who trains Tom’s d’Etat for the GMB Racing of Gayle Benson.

Midnight Bisou and Tom’s d’Etat most likely will both race next on Aug. 1 at Saratoga, albeit in different Grade 1 races – Midnight Bisou in the Personal Ensign and Tom’s d’Etat in the Whitney. Still, that’s not to say that Midnight Bisou won’t try male rivals again before the year is out.

“Everything we do is pointing to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Bloom, “and when I say Breeders’ Cup, I’m not singling out a particular race.”

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff and the Classic are both set for Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Bloom said Midnight Bisou was scheduled to leave Churchill sometime this week for Saratoga, accompanied by Scott Blasi, the longtime Asmussen assistant. Stall said he will wait until mid-July to send Tom’s d’Etat. Saratoga opens a fan-free 40-day meet on July 16.

Meanwhile, Midnight Bisou was part of an 11th-hour Asmussen assault that allowed the Hall of Fame trainer to wrest the Churchill spring meet training title from Brad Cox.

On Saturday, Cox won the second race with Frost Or Frippery to put himself ahead 16-12, but then Asmussen won four of the last nine races on the card – maiden-specials with Whiskey Double and Amani’s Eagle; the Grade 3 Bashford Manor with Cazadero; and the Fleur de Lis with Midnight Bisou.

On Sunday, closing day, Asmussen snapped the tie when Joy’s Rocket barely held on to win the second race and Cox’s last two starters were defeated. Not only was this the 23rd time Asmussen has won or shared a Churchill meet title, extending his own record, but he also overtook Dale Romans during this meet for the most wins in track history, with 747.

Tyler Gaffalione was the meet’s leading jockey with 31 wins.