One of a handful of horses pointing for Breeders' Cup weekend already on the Santa Anita backstretch, Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) tuned up for her upcoming appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with a five-furlong move Monday morning at the “Great Race Place.”
With regular partner Mike Smith at the controls, the 4-year-old worked in the company of her year-younger stablemate Comedian (Into Mischief), with each receiving a clocking of 1:01.60 (XBTV video).
“It went brilliant,” said Smith, who has ridden the dark bay filly in 14 of her 18 career races, winning 10. “She really got over the race track nice; I love the way she handled the surface. She was happy and just cruised…about as easy as you could do it. She left her company pretty handily.”
Added trainer Steve Asmussen: “Perfect. I thought she looked very comfortable. I was extremely curious for Mike's input on how she went over the race track because of his familiarity with her and the race track separately, and all reports were very positive.”
Midnight Bisou enters the Distaff a perfect seven-for-seven in 2019, including a trio of Grade I successes.
Also working for the Asmussen barn was Engage (Into Mischief), the last-out winner of Keeneland's GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S., who went a half-mile in an easy :50.60 (XBTV video).
Baffert Runners Go Five-Eighths…
'TDN Rising Star' Eight Rings (Empire Maker) and his Bob Baffert stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Improbable (City Zip) turned in Monday morning breezes over the Santa Anita main track as they continue their preparations towards championship weekend.
A $520,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Eight Rings drilled five furlongs in 1:01 (XBTV video) in advance of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 1, for which he figures one of the top two betting choices. The dark bay, who worked alongside 'Rising Star' Qahira (Cairo Prince), exits a romping six-length victory in the GI American Pharoah S. Sept. 27. Improbable, who will cut back in trip for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile after finishing fourth in the GI Pennsylvania Derby over nine furlongs, went the same distance in 1:01.20 under Drayden Van Dyke (XBTV video).
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