MIDNIGHT BISOU RALLIES TO WIN THE GRADE 3, $300,000 HOUSTON LADIES CLASSIC AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK

(Houston, TX) – Mother Nature was much kinder to Houston, Texas than Florida, giving ideal conditions to the contenders in the annual Houston Racing Festival at Sam Houston Race Park. The marquee event of the 2019 Thoroughbred racing season was highlighted by exhilarating performances by Midnight Bisou in the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic and a record seven wins for trainer Mike Maker in the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup. 

Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen had targeted the Houston Ladies Classic for

Midnight Bisou following her third-place finish in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff last November at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute is owned by Bloom Racing Stable, LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing, LLC and showed her class as she prevailed as the 1-9  favorite in the six-horse field. 

Top North American jockey Mike Smith made his first trek to Sam Houston Race Park aboard Midnight Bisou, trailing the field in the early stages of the race.  Heavenhasmynikki ridden by Gerard Melancon went to the lead, setting fractions of :24.68; :49.38 and 1:13.38. Entering the final stretch of the mile and one-sixteenth feature, Moonlit Garden and Jose Ortiz took the lead briefly before Smith came with a final run. He finished on top by a margin of  ¾ length in a final time of 1.44. 52.

"I certainly didn’t mean to make it so close,” said Smith in the post-race interview.  “We were six, seven wide early, so I  dropped her back. The two fillies in front of her ran a huge race. Once she got going, her best movement was probably two strides past the wire.”

Asmussen made the trip to Sam Houston, where he won his tenth-leading training title last March. His runners have fared well here since the meet opened on Friday night.

“She's a  very special filly,” he said. “I had tremendous confidence in the surface here and felt it was the perfect spot for her to make her  first start as a 4-year-old.
Most  likely she will have one race between now and the Apple Blossom (at Oaklawn Park). I think she’ll continue to make Houston fans proud this year.”

“It was a little closer than we liked, but she got the job done,” said Jeff Bloom, who serves as racing managing director for the ownership group. “This was a great spot that Steve had picked out to ease her back for her 4-year-old campaign. When I was saw her this morning and in the paddock before the race, I was very pleased. Steve has her looking spectacular.”

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. The daughter of Midnight Lute out of the Repent mare Diva Delight was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds. Midnight Bisou won $180,000 this afternoon, improving her career record to six wins from 12 starts and earnings of $1,715,000.

Town and Country Racing’s Moonlit Garden earned $60,000 for her runner-up finish. Trained by Christopher Davis, the 5-year-old mare by Malibu Moon shipped to Houston off a third-place finish in the Tiffany Lass at Fair Grounds last month.

“She got a good trip,” stated Ortiz. “I felt she was running well in the final sixteenth, but the winner was too good,”

Heavenhasmynikki owned by Looch Racing Stables Inc, completed the trifecta, followed by Prado’s Sweet Ride, Remedy and Viva Forever. Song From Above was an early scratch.

Sent off as the prohibitive favorite, Midnight Bisou paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. She joined an elite group of Houston Ladies Classic champions, including Forever Unbridled, Cassatt and Joyful Victory.  Last year’s winner, Tiger Moth, has been retired and will be bred to Justify, which was announced last Thursday by Eclipse Award Winning Breeder John Gunther.

Bigger Picture Clinched the Three-Peat in the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup

The Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, 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, the 8-year-old son of Badge of Silver, bred in Kentucky by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, made his 38^th career start today under Jose Ortiz, his winning pilot in the 2017 and 2018 Connally victories. 

Settled from off the pace, Bigger Picture was unpressured early, but began picking off horses as he rounded the far turn. Ortiz had him in full control at the top of the stretch, rallying strongly, crossing the wire in 2.30.60 over the firm turf course.

“I did not want him pressured early,” said Ortiz. “He was comfortable laying off the pace and once I got him into a rhythm, he was moving well, every step of the way. Great job by Mike. I am always happy to ride this horse.”

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, signaling he was ready to return to action..

“He’s a barn favorite,” said Maker of Bigger Picture. “He hadn’t won a race (in 2018) since this race last year, but he showed up and danced a lot of dances with the best in his division. We had this same plan last year; sent him to the farm for a couple of weeks and brought him back in. pointed for this race.”

Zapperini, with Florent Geroux in the saddle, closed for second, by a margin of 3 ½ lengths behind the winner. Owned by Lloyd Madison Farms IV LLC, the 6-year-old son of Ghostzapper was sent off at odds of 15-1 and earned $40,000 today. Some In Tieme (BRZ), runner-up in last year’s edition of the Connally, ran third for trainer Efren Loza, Jr. Maker and Three Diamonds Farm ran fourth with Markitoff, a 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway, who was ridden by Mike Smith. Budro Talking, Net Gain, Cooptado and Lawless West completed the order of finish. Team Colors did not finish and was vanned off.

Bigger Picture ($3.40) now has 12 lifetime wins, including six five graded stakes. He eclipsed the $1 million earnings mark winning last year’s Connally Turf Cup, and has amassed $1,4,94,135 since making his debut in 2013. 

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 three years with Bigger Picture.

Bigger Picture is 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.

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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Photos:  Coady Photography