Personal Ensign Stakes Explained

Class:Grade I
Horse Race:Personal Ensign Stakes
Location:Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated:1948
Race Type:Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Distance: miles
Surface:Dirt
Track:left-handed
Qualification:Fillies & Mares, three-years-old & up
Weight:Allowances
Purse:US$700,000 (since 2017)[1]

The Personal Ensign Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to fillies and Mares age three and older, it is contested at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt.

Since 1997, this race has been named for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Personal Ensign. Undefeated in racing, Personal Ensign was also a great broodmare. Her granddaughter Storm Flag Flying won the race in 2004.[2]

Inaugurated at Jamaica Race Course in 1948 as the Firenze Handicap, it was named for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Firenze. From 1986 through 1996 it was run as the John A. Morris Handicap, named to honor John Albert Morris, a prominent horseman who in 1889 built the Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York.

Since inception, the race has also been hosted by all three tracks operated by the New York Racing Association:

The race has been contested at various distances:

The Firenze Handicap was run on turf from 1972 to 1975 and run in two divisions in 1972 and 1974. The 1988 race was run for purse money only, no wagering, after being postponed for one day due to severe thunderstorms that forced cancellation of the remainder of the racing card at Saratoga Springs on Aug. 28, 1988.

Records

Speed record:

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
20234Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxJuddmonte1:49.12
2022Malathaat4John VelazquezTodd A. PletcherShadwell Racing1:48.30
2021Letruska5Irad Ortiz Jr.Fausto GutierrezSt. George Stable1:49.15
2020Vexatious6Jose LezcanoJack SistersonJames C. Weigel & Giant's Causeway Syndicate, LLC 1:48.82
2019Midnight Bisou4Mike E. SmithSteve AsmussenBloom Racing Stable, LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC. 1:47.92
2018 Abel Tasman4Mike E. SmithBob BaffertChina Horse Club International Ltd. and Clearsky Farms 1:47.19
2017Forever Unbridled5Joel RosarioDallas StewartCharles E. Fipke1:49.16
2016Cavorting4Javier CastellanoKiaran McLaughlinStonestreet Stables1:48.61
2015Sheer Drama5Joe BravoDavid FawkesHarold L. Queen1:49.05
2014Close Hatches4Joel RosarioWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms1:50.62
2013Royal Delta5Mike E. SmithWilliam I. MottBesilu Stables1:48.34
2012Love and Pride4John VelazquezTodd A. PletcherGreen Hills Farm1:49.22
2011Ask the Moon6Javier CastellanoMarty WolfsonFarnsworth Stables2:04.21
2010Persistently4Alan GarciaC. R. McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable2:04.49
2009Icon Project4Julien LeparouxMartin D. WolfsonAndrew Rosen2:02.37
2008Ginger Punch5Rafael BejaranoRobert J. FrankelStronach Stables2:03.37
2007 Miss Shop4Javier CastellanoH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm2:03.48
2006Fleet Indian5José A. SantosTodd A. PletcherPaul Saylor2:03.87
2005Shadow Cast4Robby AlbaradoNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish IV2:02.07
20044John VelazquezC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps et al.2:03.63
2003Passing Shot 4José A. SantosH. Allen JerkensJoseph V. Shields Jr.2:03.33
2002Summer Colony 4John VelazquezMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans2:03.15
2001Pompeii 4Richard MiglioreJohn C. KimmelWinStar Farm, LLC.2:04.60
20005Jorge ChavezJohn T. Ward Jr.2:03.77
1999Beautiful Pleasure4Jorge ChavezJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley2:02.57
1998Tomisue's Delight4Pat DayNeil J. HowardStephen C. Hilbert2:04.08
1997Clear Mandate5Mike E. SmithGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr.2:03.71
1996Urbane4Alex SolisRandy BradshawSiegel Family2:03.05
1995Heavenly Prize4Pat DayC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps2:04.16
1994Link River4Julie KroneWilliam I MottSheikh Mohammed1:50.46
1993You'd Be Surprised4Jerry BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stable1:48.59
1992Quick Mischief6Craig PerretCharles Carlesimo Jr.Greg G. Mordas1:47.96
1991Fit to Scout4Chris AntleyJack C. Van BergRobert M. Snell1:50.20
1990Personal Business4Chris AntleyC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:51.20
1989Colonial Waters4Ángel Cordero Jr.Ross PearceBuckland Farm1:50.00
1988Rose's Cantina4José A. SantosLeRoy JolleyCarl Icahn1:49.80
1987Coup De Fusil5Ángel Cordero Jr.Jan H. NerudTartan Stable1:49.20
1986Shocker T.4Gene St. LeonGeorge GianosThomasina Caporella1:50.00
1985Lady On The Run3Ángel Cordero Jr.Bruce N. LevinePeter Montemarano1:52.00
1984Solar Halo3Robbie DavisJ. Elliott BurchJames F. Edwards1:49.20
1983Chieftain's Command4Ángel Cordero Jr.John ParisellaTheodore Sabarese1:51.60
1982Number3Eddie MapleWoody StephensClaiborne Farm1:51.40
1981Tina Tina Too3Don MacBethRichard T. DeStasioAlbert Fried Jr.1:51.00
1980Relaxing4Jorge VelásquezAngel Penna Sr.Ogden Phipps1:49.20
1979Catherine's Bet4Daryl MontoyaJames P. ConwayAdele L. Rand1:50.20
1978Mrs. Warren4Jorge VelásquezWoody StephensNewstead Farm1:51.40
1977Water Malone3Jean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonMrs. Morton Rosenthal1:50.40
1976Sugar Plum Time4Ángel Cordero Jr.John W. RussellCynthia Phipps1:51.00
1975Lie Low4Jorge VelásquezMacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables2:15.20
1974†Lie Low3Jorge VelásquezMacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables1:49.00
Twixt5William J. PassmoreKatharine VossMrs. John M. Franklin1:49.80
1973Aglimmer4Michael VeneziaWillard C. FreemanJohn A. Bell III1:49.40
1972†Manta6Ángel Cordero Jr.Victor J. NickersonElmendorf Farm1:50.00
Aladancer4Ángel Cordero Jr.Stephen A. DiMauroAlbert Clay1:50.80
1971Kittiwake3Heliodoro GustinesWoody StephensMrs. Taylor Hardin1:50.20
1970Obeah5John L. RotzHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stable1:51.20
1969Amerigo Lady5Jorge VelásquezJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable1:50.00
1968Politely5Ángel Cordero Jr.George M. BakerBohemia Stable1:49.60
1967Politely4Braulio BaezaGeorge M. BakerBohemia Stable1:53.00
1966Straight Deal II4Bobby UsseryHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1:49.60
1965Sailor Princess3Gary MineauBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm1:51.20
1964Steeple Jill3John RuaneSylvester VeitchGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:51.80
1963Lamb Chop3Manuel YcazaJames W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1:49.80
1962Pocosaba5William BolandH. Allen JerkensGeorge H. Bostwick1:52.00
1961Oil Royalty3Hedley WoodhouseEdward A. NeloyElmendorf Farm1:36.60
1960Clear Road3Raymond YorkPete MosconiEdward Seinfeld1:36.40
1959Polamby4Pete AndersonMacKenzie MillerNed W. Brent1:50.80
1958Hoosier Honey4John RuaneNot foundRoy R. Hunt1:45.40
1957Gay Life4John RuaneNot foundMorty Freedman1:50.40
1956Blue Banner4William BolandJack SkinnerRokeby Stable1:49.40
1955Rare Treat3Ray MikkonenBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:50.80
1954Parlo3Ted AtkinsonRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1:53.40
1953Kiss Me Kate5Dave GormanOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords1:50.80
1952Next Move5Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1:51.20
1951Renew4B. GreenMax HirschKing Ranch1:50.60
1950Red Camelia4Patterson MilliganJohn B. TheallJoe W. Brown1:45.40
1949But Why Not5Dave GormanMax HirschKing Ranch1:44.80
1948Carolyn A.4Charles LeBlancJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1:46.80
† The race was run in two divisions in 1972 and 1974.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Personal Ensign Stakes Profile. Equibase. 27 August 2016.
  2. Web site: Mitchell. Ron. It's All in the Family in Personal Ensign. bloodhorse.com. 25 August 2016.