Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
After Azeri win, Midnight Bisou now targeting Apple Blossom
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jeff Bloom and trainer Steve Asmussen on Sunday morning were still savoring the performance Midnight Bisou had put on in Saturday’s Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri Stakes at Oakawn. Midnight Bisou shuttled up the rail for a one-length win over a field that included fellow Grade 1 winners Elate, champion Shamrock Rose, and Eskimo Kisses.
“Goosebumps,” co-owner Bloom said of Midnight Bisou’s race Saturday.
“She’s next level,” Asmussen said.
Midnight Bisou, under Mike Smith, stalked the leaders through six furlongs in 1:12.80, got through along the inside, and rolled late. Midnight Bisou finished the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares in 1:42.72 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99.
“Obviously, it was a pretty slow pace for that caliber of horse, so Mike, recognizing that, knew that they were going to accelerate,” Asmussen said. “He held his position, and when a seam presented itself, she was good enough to get through.”
Asmussen said he was hoping to see a strong performance from Midnight Bisou.
“That’s how she’s been training,” he said.
Midnight Bisou prepped for the Azeri at Fair Grounds, but Asmussen said she now will remain at Oaklawn. Bloom said her next target is the Grade 1, $750,000 Apple Blossom on April 14 at Oaklawn. Midnight Bisou will be looking to improve her record this year to 3 for 3, after starting her season with a win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic in January at Sam Houston.
“She’s just an exceptional filly,” Bloom said. “She just shows up every time.
“It’s so special to be around a horse like this. We’re so fortunate.”
Bloom races Midnight Bisou with Madaket Stables and Allen Racing. The filly has won 7 of 13 starts and earned $1.9 million.
Elate closed for second in the Azeri, her first start since August, and earned a 97 Beyer.
“I thought it was good,” trainer Bill Mott said of Elate’s 5-yearold debut. “She showed up. She ran a good race. I mean, she was in the race. She was interested in running. When you get a mare that gets past their 4-year-old year, you’ve got to worry about, ‘Okay, what are they going to want to do now?’ It was pleasing to see that she showed up.
“She’s been off seven months or so. She’s been off a good while. It was a good comeback. It wasn’t an easy spot to come back in.”
Mott said Elate was scheduled to return home to Florida on Monday.
Essex one-two may meet
A rematch is brewing between Rated R Superstar and Snapper Sinclair, who finished a head apart when running a respective one-two in the $350,000 Essex Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn.
The connections for both said they are being pointed to the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 13.
Rated R Superstar made a four-wide move around the final turn and edged Snapper Sinclair on the wire. Rated R Superstar covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.66. Both horses earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
Rated R Superstar races for Crystal Racing Enterprises and trainer Cipriano Contreras.
“He came out of the race looking really good,” Contreras said Monday. “The plan right now is the Oaklawn Handicap. I think the mile and an eighth will suit him a little better.”
Rated R Superstar is based at Oaklawn. Contreras also has a division of his stable at Turfway.
Jeff Bloom, who owns Snapper Sinclair, said Sunday that the horse is being pointed to the Oaklawn Handicap. Snapper Sinclair was an allowance winner at Oaklawn in February.
Cabrera off mounts indefinitely
Jockey David Cabrera will be off his mounts for an undetermined period as he tends to a family emergency in Mexico, according to his agent, Jose Santos Jr. He missed racing here Saturday.
“We spoke the other night, and he is down in Mexico,” Santos said Monday. “He’s going to touch base whenever he thinks he can be back, maybe riding the last few weeks of this meet, or waiting until Prairie Meadows.”
Cabrera won the Remington Park title in December and set a single-season record for mount earnings at the track with $2.7 million. He ranks seventh in the current standings at Oaklawn.
Santos is now representing Tyler Baze, who has moved his tack to Oaklawn from Southern California. Baze picked up mounts on Sunday’s card and after finishing second in his first two races at the meet won the seventh race with Bolita Boyz.
“He’s been able to get on live horses right out of the gate,” Santos said.
Another rider represented by Santos, Israel Rodriguez, is headed to Florida after riding here Thursday, Santos said.
◗ Oaklawn handled $16,221,639 from all sources on its 11-race Rebel Day card Saturday – the track’s highest handle for a single program outside of an Arkansas Derby Day, according to Oaklawn official David Longinotti. Oaklawn handled $13,924,084 on its live races offtrack and another $2,297,554 ontrack, where attendance was an estimated 45,500.
◗ Amy’s Challenge, who has won back-to-back sprint stakes at the meet, worked a half-mile in a bullet 45.60 seconds first after the break Monday at Oaklawn. The track’s clockers caught her galloping out five furlongs in 58.20. She went by herself for trainer Mac Robertson.
◗ Kentucky Dan, 4-year-old out of champion Silverbulletday, ran fourth in his career debut Sunday at Oaklawn and was claimed out of the race for $20,000 by Racer’s Edge and Maxis Stable and trainer Norm McKnight.
◗ Always a Suspect and Strolling lead the eighth race, an optional $20,000 claiming sprint that highlights the Thursday card.