Midnight Bisou too good for Road to Victory in Mother Goose

The betting public regarded the Mother Goose Stakes as a one-horse race rather than a two-horse race, and the money hit the mark as 2-5 favorite Midnight Bisou strolled to an easy win over second choice Road to Victory on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose went with only four runners after Mo Smart, Gio Game, and Coach Rocks were scratched, and on paper it looked like a two-horse race between Midnight Bisou and Road to Victory. Midnight Bisou, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and third in the Kentucky Oaks, was the more accomplished filly, but Road to Victory had won all three of her starts and handed divisional leader Monomoy Girl her only loss in eight starts when she wore her down in the Golden Rod Stakes last fall.

And indeed, the Mother Goose did turn into a showdown between Midnight Bisou and Road to Victory – for about a half-furlong.

Midnight Bisou broke on top under Mike Smith before Road to Victory and Manny Franco came around her to make the lead while setting splits of 23.79 and 46.87 in the 1 1/16-mile race. Midnight Bisou had raced from well off the pace in her last two starts but she was handy for Smith this time, cruising along while always keeping the pacesetter in sight.

Midnight Bisou rolled up toward the lead past the three-furlong pole on the turn and Road to Victory braced for the challenge, digging in and fighting back, but before the three-sixteenths pole it was over. Midnight Bisou glided away from Road to Victory, crossing the line six lengths in front as Road to Victory had work to get second by 1 ¼ lengths over My Miss Lilly. Indy Union was last of the quartet.

Off a six-furlong fraction of 1:10.87 and a mile in 1:34.66, Midnight Bisou was timed in 1:41.02 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track. She paid $2.90 to win.

“Today she got to show who she was,” said Smith, who has ridden Midnight Bisou in her last four starts. “She’s just getting better this filly. She’s going to keep getting better through the year, too.”

Midnight Bisou is owned by Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing. Madaket purchased a minority share in the filly earlier this week. Midnight Bisou was making her first start for trainer Steve Asmussen, into whose barn she was transferred following the Kentucky Oaks. Midnight Bisou had been trained by California-based Bill Spawr but with her connections desirous of an East Coast summer campaign the decision was made to switch trainers.

Midnight Bisou would be a logical participant in the major 3-year-old filly races at Saratoga, the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Alabama. Midnight Bisou, bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds in Kentucky, is by Midnight Lute and out of the Real Quiet mare, Diva Delight, a three-time stakes winner.