Midnight Disguise takes another big step forward in Busher

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When a 3-year-old of any gender wins a stakes race at this time of year, thoughts typically turn to the first weekend in May and Churchill Downs.

After Midnight Disguise rumbled through the stretch to win Saturday’s $200,000 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct, her connections started talking about a race in the middle of August, a mere 27 weeks away – the Alabama at Saratoga.

“To me, the Alabama is really the long-term goal,” said Linda Rice, who trains Midnight Disguise for owners and breeders William Wilmot and Joan Taylor.

Midnight Disguise, a daughter of the champion sprinter Midnight Lute, is an imposing physical specimen, standing 17.2 hands tall. That she is 3 for 4 in races run at a mile or shorter speaks to her quality. In January, Midnight Disguise galloped to a 4 1/4-length victory in the Busanda Stakes, run at 1 1/8 miles, the distance of the Kentucky Oaks on May 4.

Midnight Disguise earned 50 qualifying points toward the Oaks. She now has 60 points, which figures to be more than enough to crack the 14-horse field.

The Oaks “is on our schedule,” Rice said, “but we want to win the Alabama.”

The Busher was the fifth race in 78 days for Midnight Disguise, who actually debuted for a $50,000 claiming price on Dec. 15 before coming back six days later to win a starter allowing going six furlongs.

Midnight Disguise finished second to English Soul in the East View Stakes for New York-breds before coming back in 11 days to win the Busanda. Rice would have preferred to have kept Midnight Disguise at 1 1/8 miles, but didn’t want to wait until the April 7 Gazelle to run her back.

“I’ve always been one that doesn’t have a problem running a horse back on short rest,” Rice said. “You got to run them. They can’t stay in the barn.”

Saturday, under Trevor McCarthy, Midnight Disguise bumped with Gypsy Janie out of the gate and settled into last of six down the backside, 5 1/2 lengths off the pace set by War Heroine.

McCarthy kept Midnight Disguise four wide as he began to urge her into contention around the far turn. Midnight Disguise came five wide into the stretch and was just gearing up as Sara Street overtook War Heroine for the lead. Inside the eighth pole, Midnight Disguise began to lengthen stride and she reeled in Sara Street about 100 yards from home and drew away to win by 1 3/4 lengths. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to My Miss Lilly, who had some traffic issues in the stretch but was unlikely compromised a placing. Shamrock Rose finished fourth and was followed by War Heroine and Gypsy Janie.

Blue Union Rags and Youvegottopaytopla were scratched.

Midnight Disguise, who earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure, covered the mile in 1:39.15 and returned $7.90 as the 5-2 third choice.

“It’s better off that she breaks a little slow, she kind of gets herself back and relaxed,” McCarthy said. “Kind of get her to the outside where she’s clear; I think that’s the biggest thing with her. If she’s three wide or six wide I think she needs that easy run the last three-eighths, half-mile.”

Rice said she’s excited about the future for Midnight Disguise, who she believes continues to improve. The Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle on April 7 will be her next start.

“She’s doing everything a little better,” Rice said. “She’s breaking a little better, she switched her leads more comfortably in the stretch today, she’s 17.2 hands tall and she just turned 3. I think she’ll do nothing but get better.”