Originally published by the BloodHorse.com.
Midnight Bisou is the kind of runner that forces her competition to elevate their game. A multimillionaire who has hit the board in all 14 of her starts, the 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute has proven to be a formidable filly who gives it her all every time she leaves the gate.
April 14 was no exception. In a knock-down, drag-out fight to the wire, Midnight Bisou defeated Escape Clause in a photo finish to take the $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park. “She’s one of the great ones,” said Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. “It’s an honor to come back here and be blessed to do as well as we’ve done.”
“Man, that was great,” Smith said. “Escape Clause ran huge, but, you know, the great ones seem to pull it off no matter what. I’m really happy with the way she ran today, but she had to run. Sometimes you have to do that. I sat back with Elate and waited to make my move. She ran huge, she had to fight for it, but she ran big. Escape Clause ran really well.”
Midnight Bisou kicked off 2019 with wins in the Jan. 27 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) at Sam Houston and March 16 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn. Her Apple Blossom win improved her record to 8-3-3, with more than $2.4 million in earnings.
“What an unbelievable filly,” Asmussen said. “We were talking about what a special filly she is, how much confidence she has this year. She really seems to be enjoying her job. We’re just blessed to have her.”
