GRADE 1 WINNER MIDNIGHT BISOU LEADS THE FIELD IN SUNDAY’S GRADE 3, $300,000 HOUSTON LADIES CLASSIC AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Six Stakes Races Set for the Houston Racing Festival
HOUSTON, TX – Millionaire Midnight Bisou will begin her 4-year-old campaign as the 3-5 favorite in Sunday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic, the richest race of the Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meet. Post time is Sunday, January 27 at 1:15 pm (Central) for the Houston Racing Festival which also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup and four additional undercard stakes.
Midnight Bisou is owned by Bloom Racing Stable, LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing, LLC. The daughter of Midnight Lute out of the Repent mare Diva Delight was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds. She broke her maiden in her third career start, the Grade 2, Santa Ynez Stakes prior to winning the Santa Anita Oaks last April. Next was the Grade 1, Kentucky Oaks, where she rallied gamely to finish third. After two defeats to the heralded filly Monomoy Girl, Midnight Bisou faced her once again on September 22 at Parx in the Grade 1, Cotillion. She finished a neck behind the multiple-stakes winning filly, but was declared the winner after the stewards ruled there was interference. Her final race of 2018 was a third-place finish in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs.
Midnight Bisou has been training at Fair Grounds under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, who has won ten leading training titles in Houston in addition to his numerous national racing accomplishments.
“She’s a very pleasant filly and we are looking forward to running her in the Houston Ladies Classic,” said Jeff Bloom, who serves as racing managing director for the ownership group. “After the Breeders’ Cup, we let her take it easy. Steve had targeted this race as her springboard to kick off her 4-year-old campaign.”
Bloom manages all the acquisitions for Bloom Racing Stable and shared his evaluation of Midnight Bisou, who he purchased for $80,000 at the 2017 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
“Buying horses in a combination of many factors,” stated Bloom. “You are looking at athleticism, pedigree, personality and demeanor. Although it was not a “wow” breeze, she was incredibly professional and her gallop out was impressive. She had command of herself and all the makings of a quality racehorse.”
Midnight Bisou brings a career record of five wins from 11 starts and earnings of $1,565,000. She is a finalist for Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old filly, along with Monomoy Girl and Rushing Fall. The winners in 17 categories will be announced at the 48th annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony, presented by Daily Racing Form, Breeders’ Cup and The Stronach Group on Thursday evening, January 24, at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
Asmussen reports that Midnight Bisou will van to Houston mid-week and that Mike Smith will retain the mount and make his first trip to Sam Houston Race Park. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003, Smith is the all-time leading Breeder’s Cup winning jockey and pilot of the legendary Zenyatta and 2018 Triple Crown winner, Justify.
“Mike is arguably one of the best riders in our sport,” added Bloom. “He fits her like a glove and told us that the first time he rode our filly, he knew she was in a different league!”
Remedy, a 4-year-old Creative Cause owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC and trained by Brad Cox, has been installed as the second choice at 3-1. The $200,000 Keeneland sale purchase made her debut at the Keeneland September sale before breaking her maiden at Fair Grounds. Cox shipped her to Remington Park where she ran second in the Grade 3, Remington Park Oaks. The Kentucky-bred filly overcame a troubled start to finish second in the Grade 3, Comely Stakes on November 23.
“Brad and I thought she was a grass horse and might have run her a few too many times on the turf,” said Steve Davison, owner of Twin Creeks Racing Stables. “She really stepped it up a notch at Aqueduct and even though we will be facing tough competition, we feel she is ready.”
Davison had very good fortune a few years ago at Sam Houston Race Park when his homebred Red Rifle won the 2014 Maxxam Gold Cup. The chestnut gelding went on to win five additional stakes. He earned $1,022,350 in 37 career starts and is now retired at Twin Creeks Farm.
“Sam Houston Race Park has been pretty good for us,” added Davison.
Cox won the 2018 Houston Ladies Classic with Tiger Moth as has given the mount to Joe Bravo.
Prado’s Sweet Ride, owned by Darrell and Sadie Brommer , will van in from her Fair Grounds base for trainer Gary Scherer. The 7-year-old mare, sired by Fort Prado, is a multiple stakes winner who has earned $550,414 in 31 starts. Jockey Florent Geroux, who won last year’s Houston Ladies Classic, has the call.
The Houston Ladies Classic field, in post position order, with riders and morning line odds is: Song From Above, Sasha Risenhoover, 50-1; Remedy, Joe Bravo, 3-1; Viva Forever, DeShawn Parker, 12-1; Moonlit Garden, Jose Ortiz, 8-1; Heavenhasmynikki, Jose Bracho, 15-1; Prado’s Sweet Ride, Florent Geroux. 6-1 and Midnight Bisou, Mike Smith, 3-5.
Inaugurated in 2013, the Houston Ladies Classic was formed to serve as the marquee race for Sam Houston’s Thoroughbred meet. Now in its seventh running, the mile and one-sixteenth Houston Ladies Classic anchors The Houston Racing Festival, which also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, the $75,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint, the $50,000 Houston Turf Stakes, the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes and the $50,000 Stonerside Sprint.
"We thank the many horsemen who have supported the Houston Racing Festival each year and look forward to presenting an excellent card, with full fields on Sunday afternoon," said Matt Crawford, Sam Houston Race Park's racing secretary.
Bigger Picture Aims for Three-Peat in the G3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup
The Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, to be run at the distance of one and one-half miles, attracted a field of nine, including two-time champion Bigger Picture. Owned by Three Diamonds Farm, he will attempt to be the second turf specialist in Connally history to win three times. That feat was accomplished by Glen Warren’s Candid Glen, who was victorious in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Bigger Picture, an 8-year-old son of Badge of Silver, bred in Kentucky by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, will make his 38th career start on January 27. His 11 lifetime wins include five graded stakes. He eclipsed the $1 million earnings mark winning last year’s Connally Turf Cup, and has amassed $1,374,135 since making his debut in 2013.
The chestnut gelding made his last start at Del Mar, running second in the Grade 2, Hollywood Turf Cup. His trainer, Michael Maker was pleased with the January 12 work by Bigger Picture at Palm Meadows in Florida, where he covered five furlongs in 1.02.80.
“He’s doing great; ready to go,” said Maker of Bigger Picture.
Jose Ortiz, his winning pilot in both Connally victories, will guide the 4-5 morning line choice from post position four.
Maker and Three Diamonds Farm will also run Markitoff, a 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway, who will be ridden by Mike Smith. The Kentucky-bred competed in two of the premier turf stakes last year at Woodbine, finishing fourth in the Grade 1, Northern Dancer.
Maker has won six of the last seven editions of the Connally with Papa Bodie in 2012; Admiral Kitten in 2014; Coalport in 2015; Da Big Hoss as well as the last two years with Bigger Picture.
Some In Tieme (BRZ), runner-up in last year’s edition of the Connally, returns for trainer Efren Loza, Jr. The 7-year-old son of Shirocco has earned $470,468 in 19 lifetime starts. He exits a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3, Sycamore Stakes last October at Keeneland. Team Colors, a 7-year-old son of Street Cry (IRE), was claimed last summer at Saratoga by owner Brad Grady. He will make his 28th career start for trainer Joe Sharp with Adam Beschizza making his Sam Houston debut. Trainer Tom Morley ships in 9-year-old Cooptado (ARG), who has earned $1.1 million in 44 starts. He will break from the far outside post under jockey Gabriel Saez.
The Connally Turf Cup was awarded Grade 3 status in 2006 and will run as the eighth race of the card, with an approximate post time of 5:15 pm (Central).
Defending Champion Hogy Returns in the $75,000 Frontier Utilities Sprint
The $75,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint, a five-furlong turf stakes, drew a full field of ten, including defending champion Hogy.
Owned by Michael M Hui and trained by Maker, the 10-year-old son of Offlee Wild has won 19 of his 53 starts and will reunite with Jose Ortiz on Sunday. The Kentucky-bred was a fast-closing second in the 2017 edition of the race, winning in a driving finish last year in a swift clocking of :59.20 last January.
Hui claimed Hogy in 2017 for $80,000, but has been well-rewarded by the efforts of the intrepid turf sprinter.
“I watched him pass my horse Shadow Rock in the 2017 Frontier Utilities Sprint,” explained Hui. “Some might think claiming an older horse for $80,000 was crazy, but I won a three-way shake! He’s a wonderful horse with a unique personality and continues to love what he does. Mike oversees his well being and we would never run him if he was not 100%.”
American Sailor, owned by Raj Jaganan drew the far outside post under Lane Luzzi. The 7-year-old sired by City Zip was the runner-up to Hogy last year and won the 2016 Bucharest Turf Sprint here. Trainer Wayne Potts trains the chestnut gelding who ships in from Tampa Bay Downs.
Texas-bred Direct Dial Among the Contenders in the $50,000 Stonerside Sprint Named in Honor of Bob McNair
A field of eight will compete Sunday in the $50,000 Stonerside Sprint. The six-furlong feature, formerly named the Sam Houston Sprint Cup, was renamed this year to honor the late Robert C. McNair and his Stonerside Stable. The well-respected Thoroughbred operation, in central Kentucky, produced national and international racing stars, including Congaree, Bob and John, Tout Charmont and Chilukki. McNair sold Stonerside Stable to Darley in 2008 to devote his full attention to his Houston Texans NFL team and numerous philanthropic causes.
The contenders in the Stonerside Sprint include William S. Farish’s homebred Direct Dial, winner of four career starts, including the $65,000 Texas Stallion Stakes last February at Sam Houston. The son of Too Much Bling is trained by Steve Asmussen and will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. The high earner in the field is Leadem In Ken, a 9-year-old Sky Mesa gelding who has bankrolled $415,203 in his 39 career starts. Trainer Joseph Smith will give a leg up to rider Danny Sorenson. The Kentucky-bred gelding is owned by Tyree Jacqueline Wolesensky and will be making his Sam Houston debut. Also shipping to Houston for the first time is Nine Thirty Racing LLC’s Driven By History. The 4-year-old son of Two Step Salsa is stakes-placed for conditioner Tom Amoss and will be ridden by Louisiana-based jockey Gerard Melancon.
Fillies and Mares Take to the Turf in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes
Trainer Mike Maker sends in two accomplished turf mares for the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes, a mile and-one-sixteenth feature that will run as the finale on the Houston Racing Festival Card.
Calumet Farm’s Susie Bee, will make her third attempt to win the Jersey Lilly. The regally bred daughter of English Channel was a runner-up last year and makes her 35th career start Sunday under Jose Ortiz. The striking gray 7-year-old mare is approaching the $400,000 earnings mark with four stakes wins at Gulfstream Park on her resume’. Maker’s second entrant is Majestic Angel, a 6-year-old mare by Majestic Warrior, owned by Three Diamonds Farm. Jockey Iram Diego has the call aboard the Kentucky-bred mare, who competed in last year’s Houston Distaff Stakes and won a one mile main track allowance here last March.
Another Bond Girl returns to Sam Houston Race Park for trainer M. Brent Davidson. The Oklahoma-bred mare has won $312,327 in her 40 career efforts. Freddy Manrrique has the call aboard the daughter of Don’t Get Mad. Several prospects will make their first foray to Sam Houston Race Park, including Terra’s Angel, winner of the 2017 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf for owners Johnny B Evans and Terry Eoff; Woodbine invader Silhouette, who ships in for trainer Neil Pessin and Brereton Jones’ homebred Hey Nikki, who will be ridden by Mike Smith.
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. SHRP offers a variety of attractions including 16 recently renovated luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options int the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.
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Photo of Midnight Bisou: Benoit Photography
Photo of Hogy: Coady Photography
