Saratoga Race Course will be a most appropriate site for a showdown of most of the best older fillies and mares based in the East Aug. 23 in the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1).
The race is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, offering a fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The winner and several others from Saturday's race figure to be pointed to the Distaff.
Beyond being one of world's most storied tracks, many of the main contenders in this year's Personal Ensign have registered memorable performances at the Spa ahead of Saturday's 1 1/8-mile test—the same distance as the Distaff.
Favored is reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, who as a 3-year-old captured last year's Distaff at Del Mar. That score marked her fifth grade 1 victory of the season, but one of her most memorable efforts occurred in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, where she nearly caught Fierceness late. Besides that close runner-up finish, the daughter of Fast Anna also won the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Acorn Stakes (G1) over other 3-year-old fillies by 4 1/2 lengths and 5 1/2 lengths, respectively, at the Spa.
Raging Sea won last year's Personal Ensign by rallying from 11 lengths back early to edge champion Idiomatic at the wire by a head. The daughter of Curlin then finished second in last year's Distaff before turning the tables on Thorpedo Anna to win this year's La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs.
One reason for so much success at Saratoga is the move of Belmont Stakes weekend races to the Spa while Belmont Park is rebuilt. The Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) is one of those races and this year's winner, Dorth Vader, as well as last year's winner, Randomized, are both entered. Randomized defeated Idiomatic in that 2024 Ogden Phipps.
Two other Personal Ensign runners enter off recent wins at Saratoga as Leslie's Rose won the Shuvee Stakes (G2) July 18 and Bernietakescharge defeated other New York-bred females in the Critical Eye Stakes June 4.
While Dazzling Move hasn't won at Saratoga, the daughter of Not This Time finished second in both the Shuvee and Ogden Phipps this year.
Before Raging Sea finished second to 3-year-old Thorpedo Anna in last year's Distaff, the past two winners of the Personal Ensign—Idiomatic in 2023 and Malathaat in 2022—each went on to capture the Distaff.
Challenging Card
While the Travers Stakes (G1) is not part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, three other races on the big Saturday card at Saratoga are included.
Besides the Personal Ensign, the Ballerina Stakes (G1) offers a Win & You're In berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) while the Forego Stakes (G1) offers a berth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Also Saturday, the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar will offer a starting spot in the Dirt Mile.
No Classic Call
On Wednesday Godolphin's Ombudsman easily won the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York Racecourse, scoring by 3 1/2 lengths. While that race is contested on turf, it carries a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
It's unlikely that Ombudsman will race in the Classic as after the race co-trainer John Gosden said the son of Night of Thunder will likely target the Sept. 13 Irish Champions Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown Racecourse and the Oct. 18 Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse.
"The Breeders' Cup is a wonderful meeting, everyone targets it, and you know everyone wants to have runners there," said Gosden's son and co-trainer, Thady Gosden. "But again, he's achieved a lot this year so far and we will have to see how the rest of the year progresses."
