Midnight Bisou to Saudi Cup

Midnight Bisou arrived Friday morning at Fair Grounds, where she’ll prepare to make her 2020 debut in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Midnight Bisou is sure to be named champion older dirt female of 2019 despite finishing second to Blue Prize on Nov. 2 in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Earlier in the year she won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, and the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, and she’s sure to be among the favorites for the inaugural Saudi Cup, to be contested over dirt at 1,800 meters, or about 1 1/8 miles.

“She’ll resume training down there pretty quick,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who added he expected Midnight Bisou to get back on a regular breeze pattern, weather permitting, before year’s end.

Midnight Bisou appeared to struggle with a tricky Santa Anita main track, gutting out a second-place finish despite not traveling with her typical zeal over the racing surface.

“I was amazed how good her attitude was, how spry and how well she came back,” Asmussen said. “It was very trying circumstances, she was left with a lot to do, and we’re very pleased with the mare we have today.”

The ownership group that campaigns Midnight Bisou announced her withdrawal from a Kentucky auction the day she raced in the Distaff and said Midnight Bisou would have a 5-year-old campaign in 2020. Where that campaign goes after the Saudi Cup is uncertain, though the Dubai World Cup in late March could hold appeal of Midnight Bisou performs well in Saudi Arabia.

“Hopefully we’ll win in a fashion that makes going to Dubai inevitable,” said Asmussen.

McKinzie, who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, also is expected to race in the Saudi Cup, as is his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Much Gusto.

The Saudi Cup undercard includes other lucrative opportunities and Asmussen didn’t rule out sending other horses to race there.