Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing’s Midnight Bisou, North American champion older dirt female in 2019, has been retired.
Internationally recognized equine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., confirmed on Wednesday that Midnight Bisou sustained a sesamoid fracture in her right front fetlock. According to Dr. Bramlage surgery is not required, and she has already shipped to WinStar Farm, where she will be turned out. The injury will be inconsequential to her and her broodmare career.
The 5-year-old mare by Midnight Lute out of Diva Delite, by Repent, will be offered as a broodmare prospect with Elite Sales at the Fasig-Tipton November sale on Nov. 8, where she will certainly headline the “Night of the Stars” sale.
Midnight Bisou had a routine maintenance work at Saratoga on Monday, Sept. 28 in advance of the G1 Juddmonte Spinster taking place at Keeneland on Oct. 4 as a final prep for her participation in this year’s Breeders’ Cup. While cooling out, and under the watchful eye of Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen, he noticed something was amiss.
“I cannot begin to tell you what this mare has meant to me, my family, and my partners,” said Jeffrey Boom, co-owner and managing partner of Bloom Racing. “The places she has taken us and the thrills she has given us are immeasurable. And just to be in her presence is to feel what greatness is all about. Her calm, inquisitive demeanor, her fierce determination in a race is unlike any other horse. She is all class. I’m just so grateful I got to be a part of her incredible journey, and I’m extremely excited to watch the next phase of her life, watch her become a mother, and for her babies to hit the track with all of her class and elegance, and continue the Midnight Bisou legacy.”
Midnight Bisou retires as the highest-earning dirt mare of all time, earning $7,471,520. She raced at 10 different tracks. Never off the board in 22-lifetime starts, with a record of 13-6-3. Her five Grade 1 wins include the Santa Anita Oaks and the Cotillion in 2018; and the Apple Blossom, Ogden Phipps, and Personal Ensign in 2019. She finished second in the 2020 Saudi Cup behind last year’s 3-year-old male champion Maximum Security.
“I want to thank trainer Steve Asmussen, assistant trainer’s Scott Blasi, Darren Fleming, her main exercise rider Angel Garcia, groom Gerardo Morales (Chocolaté), and the entire Asmussen team for the devotion and care they provided each and every single day. I would also like to thank her regular rider, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith who shared a very special bond with her, and was aboard for all five G1 wins, as well as the other jockeys who were fortunate enough to climb aboard. Finally, a sincere thank you to all of Midnight Bisou’s legion of fans who have been extremely loyal with their support and love for our Champion throughout her career.”
An $80,000 purchase by Bloom at the 2017 OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-Olds in Training, Midnight Bisou was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds. She began her career in California in October 2017 under the conditioning of William Spawr, who won three of six starts with her, including the G1 Santa Anita Oaks in 2018. She was transferred to Asmussen’s barn following a third-place finish behind Monomoy Girl in the G1 Kentucky Oaks and was based in the Midwest or East Coast for the remainder of her career.
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