Personal Ensign Stakes

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.

Personal Ensign Stakes
Grade I race
LocationSaratoga Race Course
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated1948
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Websitewww.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/personal-ensign/
Race information
Distance​1 1⁄8 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, three-years-old & up
WeightAllowances
PurseUS$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:

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:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
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 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 Robert N. Clay 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
1974† 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
1972† 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
  1. "Personal Ensign Stakes Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  2. Mitchell, Ron. "It's All in the Family in Personal Ensign". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
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