Personal Ensign top two solid in final works

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Midnight Bisou, leader of the older female dirt division, and the multiple graded stakes winner Elate have put in their final workouts in preparation for a showdown in Saturday’s Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign at Saratoga.

On Monday, Midnight Bisou worked a half-mile in 49.79 seconds over the Oklahoma training track, which was rated good. Midnight Bisou went her first quarter in 25.70 and her second quarter in 24.09. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.67.

“She moved so pretty this morning,” trainer Steve Asmussen said.

Midnight Bisou has won five graded stakes this year, including the Apple Blossom and Ogden Phipps – both Grade 1’s. She is coming off a one-length victory in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park on a very hot day in which the races were delayed several hours.

“I don’t think the race was hard on her at all, and when she came back to unsaddle she was very comfortable and cooled out very comfortable,” Asmussen said.

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On Sunday, Elate worked a solid half-mile in 48.44 over a fast Oklahoma training track.

Elate, under exercise rider Neil Poznansky, started four lengths behind stablemate Channel Maker and tracked that one going in splits of 12.62 and 24.34. She tipped outside at the quarter pole, engaged Channel Maker at the three-sixteenths, and finished a length in front at the wire through a final quarter in 24.10. Elate galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.94 and six furlongs in 1:15.97.

Channel Maker, a two-time Grade 1 winner on turf, worked four furlongs in 49.50 in preparation for a start in Saturday’s Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer.

“Neil was very happy with the work this morning,” trainer Bill Mott said. “She should be pretty fit now because she’s had plenty of racing.”

Elate, who won the Grade 1 Alabama here in 2017, is coming into the Personal Ensign off of four races this year, including victories in the Delaware and Fleur de Lis handicaps, both Grade 2 events.

She’s a Julie, also trained by Asmussen, worked for furlongs in 49.60, with a final quarter of 24.50, in preparation for the Personal Ensign.

“She’s training tremendous just like last year going into the Alabama,” said Asmussen, referring to She’s a Julie’s runner-up finish in that race. “She puts in the work and is very good right now.”

Others expected for the Personal Ensign include Coach Rocks, Golden Award, and Wow Cat.