LOUISVILLE (WHAS11) -- You've probably heard this week, that the threat of showers hangs over Kentucky on Oaks Day, while the Derby Day should provide a fast track.
Don't be surprised if a California entry turns out to be the favorite in the run for the Lilies. Midnight Bisou has won three Graded stakes in a row.
Midnight Bisou is well named, because her trainer likes to work her before the sun comes up. Bill Spawr says 4:30 a.m.is not early if you do it every day. But on May 2, he bowed to convention.
“That's the big news, in fact, that a Bill Spawr horse is gonna train past 5 o'clock in the morning,” Jeff Bloom, part owner of Midnight Bisou, said. “She'll be coming out with the rest of the Oaks and Derby horses right at 7:30."
And just as promised, Midnight Bisou, French for Midnight Kiss, walked into the morning sun. She was followed by her 78-year-old trainer--cane in hand--following her every move on the track.
“Bill is a legend in Southern California, highly respected guy, that's been in the game a long time. But actually, he's been here before. He won one of the Breeders' Cup races with a horse by the name of Amazombie, here, a number of years ago,” Bloom said.
Bloom said his partnership owns a filly, who is a bear on the track, but will put her head on your shoulder when she comes back to the stall. Her trainer said her style is to come with a rush down the stretch. And he saw that big move in the Santa Anita Oaks.
“She had one horse beat at the half mile pole. I was worried at the time that maybe she was too far back. And that at the quarter pole she was already making the lead. It was unbelievable the move she made,” Bloom said.
That move down the lane made her a 5-2 second choice in the Oaks morning line. And based on her history, everyone will be watching to see if her closing rush will be enough to capture a garland of Lilies.