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.
| Grade I race | |
| Location | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1948 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄8 miles |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies & Mares, three-years-old & up |
| Weight | Allowances |
| Purse | US$700,000 (since 2017)[1] |
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:
- Jamaica Race Course: 1948–1957
- Aqueduct Racetrack: 1960–1974, 1976–1985
- Belmont Park: 1975
- Saratoga Race Course: 1958–1959, 1986–present
The race has been contested at various distances:
- 1+1⁄16 miles: 1948–1950
- 1 mile: 1960–1961
- 1+3⁄8 miles: 1975
- 1+1⁄8 miles: 1976–1994, 2012–present
- 1+1⁄4 miles: 1995–2011
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:
- 2:02.07 – Shadow Cast (2005) (at the distance of 1+1⁄4 miles)
- 1:47.19 – Abel Tasman (2018) (at the current distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)
Most wins:
- 2 – Lie Low (1974, 1975)
- 2 – Politely (1967, 1968)
- 2 – Beautiful Pleasure (1999, 2000)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 8 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1968, 1972 (2), 1976, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 – C. R. McGaughey III (1990, 1995, 2004, 2010)
- 4 – MacKenzie Miller (1959, 1974, 1975, 1993)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Rokeby Stable (1956, 1969, 1993)
- 3 – Ogden Phipps (1980, 1990, 1995) (other members of the Phipps family also won in 1976, 2004 and 2010)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Idiomatic | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte | 1:49.12 |
| 2022 | Malathaat | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Shadwell Racing | 1:48.30 |
| 2021 | Letruska | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Fausto Gutierrez | St. George Stable | 1:49.15 |
| 2020 | Vexatious | 6 | Jose Lezcano | Jack Sisterson | James C. Weigel & Giant's Causeway Syndicate, LLC | 1:48.82 |
| 2019 | Midnight Bisou | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Steve Asmussen | Bloom Racing Stable, LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC. | 1:47.92 |
| 2018 | Abel Tasman | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | China Horse Club International Ltd. and Clearsky Farms | 1:47.19 |
| 2017 | Forever Unbridled | 5 | Joel Rosario | Dallas Stewart | Charles E. Fipke | 1:49.16 |
| 2016 | Cavorting | 4 | Javier Castellano | Kiaran McLaughlin | Stonestreet Stables | 1:48.61 |
| 2015 | Sheer Drama | 5 | Joe Bravo | David Fawkes | Harold L. Queen | 1:49.05 |
| 2014 | Close Hatches | 4 | Joel Rosario | William I. Mott | Juddmonte Farms | 1:50.62 |
| 2013 | Royal Delta | 5 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Besilu Stables | 1:48.34 |
| 2012 | Love and Pride | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Green Hills Farm | 1:49.22 |
| 2011 | Ask the Moon | 6 | Javier Castellano | Marty Wolfson | Farnsworth Stables | 2:04.21 |
| 2010 | Persistently | 4 | Alan Garcia | C. R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 2:04.49 |
| 2009 | Icon Project | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Martin D. Wolfson | Andrew Rosen | 2:02.37 |
| 2008 | Ginger Punch | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 2:03.37 |
| 2007 | Miss Shop | 4 | Javier Castellano | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 2:03.48 |
| 2006 | Fleet Indian | 5 | José A. Santos | Todd A. Pletcher | Paul Saylor | 2:03.87 |
| 2005 | Shadow Cast | 4 | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish IV | 2:02.07 |
| 2004 | Storm Flag Flying | 4 | John Velazquez | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps et al. | 2:03.63 |
| 2003 | Passing Shot | 4 | José A. Santos | H. Allen Jerkens | Joseph V. Shields Jr. | 2:03.33 |
| 2002 | Summer Colony | 4 | John Velazquez | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 2:03.15 |
| 2001 | Pompeii | 4 | Richard Migliore | John C. Kimmel | WinStar Farm, LLC. | 2:04.60 |
| 2000 | Beautiful Pleasure | 5 | Jorge Chavez | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 2:03.77 |
| 1999 | Beautiful Pleasure | 4 | Jorge Chavez | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 2:02.57 |
| 1998 | Tomisue's Delight | 4 | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | Stephen C. Hilbert | 2:04.08 |
| 1997 | Clear Mandate | 5 | Mike E. Smith | George R. Arnold II | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. | 2:03.71 |
| 1996 | Urbane | 4 | Alex Solis | Randy Bradshaw | Siegel Family | 2:03.05 |
| 1995 | Heavenly Prize | 4 | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 2:04.16 |
| 1994 | Link River | 4 | Julie Krone | William I Mott | Sheikh Mohammed | 1:50.46 |
| 1993 | You'd Be Surprised | 4 | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1:48.59 |
| 1992 | Quick Mischief | 6 | Craig Perret | Charles Carlesimo Jr. | Greg G. Mordas | 1:47.96 |
| 1991 | Fit to Scout | 4 | Chris Antley | Jack C. Van Berg | Robert M. Snell | 1:50.20 |
| 1990 | Personal Business | 4 | Chris Antley | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:51.20 |
| 1989 | Colonial Waters | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Ross Pearce | Buckland Farm | 1:50.00 |
| 1988 | Rose's Cantina | 4 | José A. Santos | LeRoy Jolley | Carl Icahn | 1:49.80 |
| 1987 | Coup De Fusil | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 1:49.20 |
| 1986 | Shocker T. | 4 | Gene St. Leon | George Gianos | Thomasina Caporella | 1:50.00 |
| 1985 | Lady On The Run | 3 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Bruce N. Levine | Peter Montemarano | 1:52.00 |
| 1984 | Solar Halo | 3 | Robbie Davis | J. Elliott Burch | James F. Edwards | 1:49.20 |
| 1983 | Chieftain's Command | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John Parisella | Theodore Sabarese | 1:51.60 |
| 1982 | Number | 3 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1:51.40 |
| 1981 | Tina Tina Too | 3 | Don MacBeth | Richard T. DeStasio | Albert Fried Jr. | 1:51.00 |
| 1980 | Relaxing | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Angel Penna Sr. | Ogden Phipps | 1:49.20 |
| 1979 | Catherine's Bet | 4 | Daryl Montoya | James P. Conway | Adele L. Rand | 1:50.20 |
| 1978 | Mrs. Warren | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Woody Stephens | Newstead Farm | 1:51.40 |
| 1977 | Water Malone | 3 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Philip G. Johnson | Mrs. Morton Rosenthal | 1:50.40 |
| 1976 | Sugar Plum Time | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John W. Russell | Cynthia Phipps | 1:51.00 |
| 1975 | Lie Low | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 2:15.20 |
| 1974† | Lie Low | 3 | Jorge Velásquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 1:49.00 |
| Twixt | 5 | William J. Passmore | Katharine Voss | Mrs. John M. Franklin | 1:49.80 | |
| 1973 | Aglimmer | 4 | Michael Venezia | Willard C. Freeman | John A. Bell III | 1:49.40 |
| 1972† | Manta | 6 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Victor J. Nickerson | Elmendorf Farm | 1:50.00 |
| Aladancer | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Stephen A. DiMauro | Albert Clay | 1:50.80 | |
| 1971 | Kittiwake | 3 | Heliodoro Gustines | Woody Stephens | Mrs. Taylor Hardin | 1:50.20 |
| 1970 | Obeah | 5 | John L. Rotz | Henry S. Clark | Christiana Stable | 1:51.20 |
| 1969 | Amerigo Lady | 5 | Jorge Velásquez | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1:50.00 |
| 1968 | Politely | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | George M. Baker | Bohemia Stable | 1:49.60 |
| 1967 | Politely | 4 | Braulio Baeza | George M. Baker | Bohemia Stable | 1:53.00 |
| 1966 | Straight Deal II | 4 | Bobby Ussery | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:49.60 |
| 1965 | Sailor Princess | 3 | Gary Mineau | Burley Parke | Harbor View Farm | 1:51.20 |
| 1964 | Steeple Jill | 3 | John Ruane | Sylvester Veitch | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:51.80 |
| 1963 | Lamb Chop | 3 | Manuel Ycaza | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1:49.80 |
| 1962 | Pocosaba | 5 | William Boland | H. Allen Jerkens | George H. Bostwick | 1:52.00 |
| 1961 | Oil Royalty | 3 | Hedley Woodhouse | Edward A. Neloy | Elmendorf Farm | 1:36.60 |
| 1960 | Clear Road | 3 | Raymond York | Pete Mosconi | Edward Seinfeld | 1:36.40 |
| 1959 | Polamby | 4 | Pete Anderson | MacKenzie Miller | Ned W. Brent | 1:50.80 |
| 1958 | Hoosier Honey | 4 | John Ruane | Not found | Roy R. Hunt | 1:45.40 |
| 1957 | Gay Life | 4 | John Ruane | Not found | Morty Freedman | 1:50.40 |
| 1956 | Blue Banner | 4 | William Boland | Jack Skinner | Rokeby Stable | 1:49.40 |
| 1955 | Rare Treat | 3 | Ray Mikkonen | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:50.80 |
| 1954 | Parlo | 3 | Ted Atkinson | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 1:53.40 |
| 1953 | Kiss Me Kate | 5 | Dave Gorman | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords | 1:50.80 |
| 1952 | Next Move | 5 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:51.20 |
| 1951 | Renew | 4 | B. Green | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:50.60 |
| 1950 | Red Camelia | 4 | Patterson Milligan | John B. Theall | Joe W. Brown | 1:45.40 |
| 1949 | But Why Not | 5 | Dave Gorman | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:44.80 |
| 1948 | Carolyn A. | 4 | Charles LeBlanc | James P. Conway | Florence Whitaker | 1:46.80 |
† The race was run in two divisions in 1972 and 1974.
References
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