Jockey Mike Smith had a relatively easy time of winning the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes on the heavily favored Midnight Bisou on Saturday. Smith positioned Midnight Bisou in third for the first six furlongs of the race at 1 1-16 miles and urged his mount to the lead with a three-wide move on the turn.

Midnight Bisou ($2.60) responded to win by 2 1-4 lengths in her first start around two turns.

"This was a test of two turns and she passed it with an A-plus," Smith said. "I'm getting to know her more and more. I was a bit concerend warming up. I thought she might be a little too keen early, but she settled really nicely and did everything better than I expected going into a two-turn race. She's getting better, even faster than I thought she would."

Midnight Bisou is having a perfect season, having won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs on Jan. 7 in her first start of the year. Trainer Bill Spawr said Midnight Bisou will have her Grade 1 debut in the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on April 7, the top race of the year in California for 3-year-old fillies.