In an absolutely epic throwdown between two top-class racehorses, MIDNIGHT BISOU and ELATE gave us the race of the summer in the G1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga.
“It was unbelievably exciting,” said Midnight Bisou’s trainer Steve Asmussen. “They both came into the stretch with a lot of horse. You could tell how confident Jose [on Elate] was when he came into the stretch, and you knew they were going to lock up.”
What happened in that final furlong merits inclusion in a time capsule as MIDNIGHT BISOU (4yo by Midnight Lute) and ELATE (5yo by Medaglia d’Oro), courageously battled to the wire, with Elate seeming to hold an edge until the last stride, when Bisou prevailed by a slim nose.
The G1 Personal Ensign marked the sixth straight win for MIDNIGHT BISOU since a third-place finish in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and her third win over Elate. Midnight Bisou, owned by Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing defeated Elate in the G2 Azeri and G1 Apple Blossom earlier this year.
MIDNIGHT BISOU earned both her 5th G1 win and 5th triple digit Beyer figure, posting a career best 104 securing her top honors in the distaff division.
