Beldame S.

It was the perfect prep in the midst of a perfect season.

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing’s Midnight Bisou cemented her status as the one to beat in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and enhanced her position as a main Horse of the Year contender as she rolled to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $291,000, Grade 2 Beldame Stakes.

In terms of statistics, the victory was the seventh in as many 2019 starts for the 4-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute, who was second behind Bricks and Mortar in this week’s National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 10 poll.

It was also exactly what her owners and trainer Steve Asmussen were looking for in advance of the 4-year-old filly moving on to Santa Anita Park for the World Championships.

“It was perfect,” said owner Jeff Bloom. “We had talked about this right after Saratoga [when she won the Personal Ensign by a nose over Elate Aug. 24]. Certain horses take care of themselves on the racetrack and there’s never been a time when had to make a detour with her. We felt, she loves this track. It’s her third impressive win over this racetrack [in three starts], and the timing was good to shift to here from Saratoga and then fly out to California.”

As for which Breeders’ Cup race, Bloom is sticking with his plan to run in the 1 1/8-mile $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff instead of challenging males in the richer and longer 1 1/4-mile $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.—Bob Ehalt