Midnight Bisou the One to Beat in Alabama

Midnight Bisou | Sarah Andrew

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With divisional leader Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) sitting out the rest of the Saratoga meet with an eye on Parx's GI Cotillion S., the similarly talented Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) stands as the clear favorite in Saturday's GI Alabama S. Wiping the floor with her West Coast rivals in the California preps for the GI Kentucky Oaks, the dark bay came running late to be third behind the aforementioned Monomoy Girl and Queen's Plate winner Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 4. After her effort at Churchill, she was bought into by Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables and transferred from trainer Bill Spawr to Steve Asmussen. Romping by six lengths when debuting for that Hall of Famer in Belmont's GII Mother Goose S. June 30, Midnight Bisou completed the exacta behind Monomoy Girl in this venue's GI CCA Oaks last time Juyl 22. Asmussen also sends out GIII Iowa Oaks romper She's a Julie (Elusive Quality), who captured a June 3 optional claimer at Churchill prior to her 5 1/2-length score at Prarie Meadows July 5.

“The filly has consistently done extremely well and we're obviously very excited about her chances,” Asmussen said of Midnight Bisou.

As for She's a Julie, the conditioner said, “She's coming off a huge win and she's trained really well up here. Obviously, it's a big step up for her and caliber of competition, but she's done all the work.”

Talk Veuve to Me (Violence) has lived up to her 'TDN Rising Star' title in each of her outings since her impressive graduation in March and looks to take the next step here. Runner-up to fellow 'Rising Star' Mia Mischief (Into Mischief) in the GII Eight Belles S. on the Oaks undercard, the dark bay was second to Monomoy Girl in the GI Acorn S. at Belmont June 9 and earned her well-deserved black-type badge last time with a decisive score in her two-turn debut in the GIII Indiana Oaks July 14.

“Last time, [she] was very impressive going for the first time around two turns, so if she can replicate that race and do it going a mile and a quarter, it could be an interesting race,” trainer and part owner Rodolphe Brisset said. “She could actually be a better filly going around two turns.”

Also exiting the CCA Oaks is fourth-place finisher Eskimo Kisses (To Honor and Serve), who finished second in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland this spring and was also fourth in the Kentucky Oaks. Another worth a look is GII Gulfstream Park Oaks victress Coach Rocks (Oxbow), who completed the exacta in both the May 18 GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and the July 7 GIII Delaware Oaks.

 

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