MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019 BLOODHORSE.COM/DAILY RYAN THOMPSON RYAN FEARSOME FIGHT Midnight Bisou Duels to the Wire to Win Apple Blossom See page 4 IN THIS ISSUE 9 Oppenheim: Demand Steady in Early April Sales 22 Stone Farm’s Hancock Back in the Derby with Roadster 25 Omaha Beach Exits Arkansas Derby in Good Order BLOODHORSE DAILY Download the FREE smartphone app PAGE 1 OF 41 Leading distaffer & G1 winner at 2, 3, and 4 RUSHING FALL captured her third G1 victory in the $350,000 Jenny Wiley S. (G1) on Saturday to tie her with Take Charge Lady for the second-most stakes wins at Keeneland with four. Only 2-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan has more Keeneland stakes victories. WATCH RACE Congratulations to breeders Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding and owner e Five Racing Thoroughbreds CONTENTS 4 Midnight Bisou Duels to the Wire to Win Apple Blossom 8 Leading Jockeys 9 Oppenheim: Demand Steady in Early April Sales 22 Stone Farm’s Hancock Back in the Derby with Roadster 25 Omaha Beach Exits Arkansas Derby in Good Order 27 Broodmare Sire Review of Top Kentucky Derby Contenders 29 Campaign Earns First Stakes Victory in Tokyo City Cup 30 American Pharoah’s First U.S. Starters to Race April 17 31 Saturnalia Takes Satsuki Sho at Nakayama Racecourse 32 John Egan Looks to Scale Sales Pyramid at Tattersalls 34 Mohaather Likely to Contest Two Thousand Guineas 35 Results 40 Entries ANNE M. EBERHARDT ANNE M. ON THE COVER Midnight Bisou (outside) battles with Escape Clause to the wire in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park FREE BLOODHORSE DAILY APP Providing updated news and analysis throughout the day. LISTEN ON ALEXA Use your Amazon Alexa devices to listen to the BloodHorse Daily feature stories! Sponsored by Taylor Made Stallions BloodHorse.com/Daily BLOODHORSE DAILY Contact Us: Editor: [email protected] • Advertising: [email protected] Editorial Director John K. Keitt, Jr. BloodHorse Daily Editor Director of Advertising Sales Claire Crosby Scott Carling Asst. Daily Editor Regional Sales Managers Mary LaRue (Reeder) Shirley Dievert Kristi Heasley LABOZZETTA COGLIANESE PHOTOS/JOE Visuals Director Irad Ortiz Jr. gives Fifty Five a pat after the pair won the Anne M. Eberhardt Ellen Lambertus Amanda Ramey Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Bloodstock Editor Eric Mitchell Senior Bloodstock Columnist Sales Editor Bill Oppenheim Ron Mitchell Digital Designer Associate Daily Editor Erin Morgan Meredith Daugherty Digital Media Group Copy Editor Michelle Benson Mark Sonka Christine Wittmer BLOODHORSE DAILY MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019 PAGE 3 OF 41 MIDNIGHT BISOU DUELS TO THE WIRE TO WIN APPLE BLOSSOM By Meredith Daugherty t @BH_MDaugherty idnight Bisou is the kind of Mrunner that forces her com- petition to elevate their game. A multimillionaire who has hit the board in all 14 of her starts, the 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute has proven to be a formidable filly who gives it her all every time she leaves the gate. PHOTOGRAPHY COADY April 14 was no exception. Midnight Bisou (left) battles with Escape Clause through the stretch of the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park In a knock-down, drag-out fight to the wire, Midnight Bisou blessed to do as well as we've done." to cajole longshot Viva Forever to defeated Escape Clause in a photo In a short field of only six older load, delaying the start. finish to take the $750,000 Apple fillies and mares, Midnight Bisou Escape Clause was away first, Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn drew the outside post in the 1 followed by Canadian champion Park. 1/16-mile test. The last to load in filly Wonder Gadot, who shot to the "She's one of the great ones," said the gate Sunday, the 4-5 favorite front up the outside under jockey Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. "It's patiently awaited her turn behind David Cohen and pulled away to an honor to come back here and be the gate as attendants scrambled lead by three lengths. (continued on page 6) COADY PHOTOGRAPHY Midnight Bisou wins the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park BLOODHORSE DAILY MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019 PAGE 4 OF 41 MIDNIGHT BISOU DUELS TO THE "Man, that was great," Smith said. "Escape Clause WIRE TO WIN APPLE BLOSSOM ran huge, but, you know, the great ones seem to pull it off no matter what. I'm really happy with the way she (continued from page 4) ran today, but she had to run. Sometimes you have to do that. I sat back with Elate and waited to make my Setting the pace on the rail, Wonder Gadot led move. She ran huge, she had to fight for it, but she ran through fractions of :23.07 and :47.08 for the half- big. Escape Clause ran really well." mile. Escape Clause tracked the pace and slowly gained It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to third-place ground under Tyler Baze, who pushed the filly to Elate, who finished nine lengths ahead of Viva Forever maintain a two-length advantage over Viva Forever in in fourth. Chocolate Martini, who made brief contact third. with Elate at the start, never fired and took fifth, Advancing to the far turn, Escape Clause came on followed by Wonder Gadot. The final time was 1:43.88. even terms with Wonder Gadot before passing the filly "She's really and truly probably one of the best horses at the quarter pole to take command. Midnight Bisou, I've ever been on in my life," said Baze of Escape Clause. who was patiently handled by Smith, shifted out four A competitor of serious caliber, the 5-year-old Going wide to challenge the leaders and gave chase. Commando mare has continued to impress for owner/ Escape Clause refused to yield and drove hard from trainer Don Schnell, becoming the first Manitoba-bred her spot on the rail in midstretch. The two dueling horse to win a graded stakes at Santa Anita Park when fillies pulled away from the rest of the field and battled she took the Jan. 12 La Canada Stakes (G3). to the wire. When the photo finish was reviewed, "She gives it her all," Baze continued. "She got beat victory fell the way of Midnight Bisou by a nose. a nose, and I got slammed pretty hard going into the first turn. I knew I got beat at the wire. It was a head- and-head battle all the way down the lane. She gave me everything. We were a little unfortunate we didn't get the bob." (continued on page 7) COADY PHOTOGRAPHY Trainer Steve Asmussen greets Mike Smith aboard Midnight Bisou after the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park BLOODHORSE DAILY MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019 PAGE 6 OF 41 MIDNIGHT BISOU DUELS TO THE disqualification of Monomoy Girl in the Cotillion WIRE TO WIN APPLE BLOSSOM Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing. She closed her impressive sophomore year with a third—again to Monomoy (continued from page 6) Girl—in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Churchill. The win was especially poignant for Smith, who Midnight Bisou kicked off 2019 with wins in the earned his seventh Apple Blossom score. His previous Jan. 27 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) at Sam Houston wins came aboard Zenyatta (2008 and 2010), Azeri and March 16 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn. Her Apple (2002-04), and Nine Keys (1994). Blossom win improved her record to 8-3-3, with more "I had a great meet here for only being here a few than $2.4 million in earnings. days," Smith said. "What an unbelievable filly," Asmussen said. "We Campaigned through her first six starts by Allen were talking about what a special filly she is, how much Racing, Bloom Racing Stable, and trainer Bill Spawr, confidence she has this year. She really seems to be Midnight Bisou broke her maiden on third asking in enjoying her job. We're just blessed to have her." the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita at 3. She Owned by Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, followed that performance with back-to-back wins in and Allen Racing, Midnight Bisou was purchased the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) and Santa Anita Oaks by Jeffrey Bloom, agent, for $80,000 from the (G1) at the Southern California track. consignment of Woodford Thoroughbreds to the She placed third in the Longines Kentucky Oaks 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year- (G1) at Churchill Downs behind Wonder Gadot and Olds in Training. Bred in Kentucky by Woodford eventual 3-year-old champion filly Monomoy Girl. Thoroughbreds out of the Repent mare Diva Delite, the Transferred to the barn of Steve Asmussen, she filly is a half sister to stakes-placed Stage Left. bounced back one start later in the Mother Goose Diva Delite has a Warrior's Reward 2-year-old Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. colt and Wicked Strong yearling filly. She was bred to Her next graded score came three months later Pioneerof the Nile for 2019. BH when she was declared the winner following the s Share this story RYAN THOMPSON Midnight Bisou and her connections in the winner’s circle at Oaklawn Park BLOODHORSE DAILY MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2019 PAGE 7 OF 41 Central Kentucky’s Most Respected Source of Farm Brokerage Let’s talk. www.kirkfarms.com │ telephone (+1) 859.576.195 │ [email protected] LEADING JOCKEYS Rank Name Starts Wins Places Shows Earnings Win% WPS% 1 Irad Ortiz, Jr. 507 119 120 74 $8,604,643 23% 62% 2 Javier Castellano 247 55 36 26 $8,315,847 22% 47% Sponsored by Sponsored 3 John R.