Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Midnight Bourbon

Apr 23, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Midnight Bourbon ranks 10th on the current 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby series leaderboard with 66 points. The Steve Asmussen trainee has compiled a 7-2-2-3 mark, with $461,420 in lifetime earnings to date.

Midnight Bourbon raced four times as a juvenile. He finished third in his debut at Ellis Park on July 25 prior to graduating in his second attempt on Aug. 22 by a widening 5 1/2 lengths. Facing stakes foes for the initial time in the Iroquois S. (G3) at Churchill Downs third time out, the $525,000 son of Tiznow came home runner-up after leading in the lane. The bay concluded his two-year-old campaign with a distant third-place result in the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park.

The Kentucky-bred was a winner in his sophomore bow when bagging the Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds, which was followed by a third in the Risen Star S. (G2) and a second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his latest venture.

Midnight Bourbon was bred in the Bluegrass State by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and was purchased at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by his current connections. The three-year-old is the fourth black-type winner out of the unraced Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon, following in the footsteps of 2017 Haskell S. (G1) hero Girvin, 2015 Iroquois S. (G3) victor Cocked and Loaded, as well as two-time Grade 3 winner Pirate’s Punch. This is the same female line as Canadian champion Kiss A Native.

In 2021, the colt has earned Brisnet Speed figures of 95-98-94 from a trio of performances, and his game try at 1 3/16 miles most recently gives a level of optimism that he can stay the 10-furlong Kentucky Derby distance. The handsome colt has a fine combination of early speed and the ability to carray it a route of ground, and with seven races under his belt, he has a fine foundation heading into the Run for the Roses on May 1.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has saddled the winner of countless illustrious races around the country in his Hall of Fame career, including the Preakness S. (G1) twice and the Belmont S. (G1) as well. Will he break through with his first Kentucky Derby winner in 2021?