At a Glance Handicapping Preview of Personal Ensign

One of the most prestigious races in America for older fillies and mares, the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course is an important prep on the road to the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Named after the legendary mare who retired unbeaten after an unforgettable late run to win at the 1988 world championships, the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign is often an ingredient of an Eclipse Award campaign. This year's edition has attracted a field of six. Headlining the race will be the top two finishers from last month's Shuvee Stakes (G2) at Saratoga. Fully Subscribed and Scottish Lassie will be the strong favorites again in this one, but a couple of others merit consideration. 1. Margie's Intention (12-1 morning-line odds): Away since winning the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes at Laurel Park on Preakness weekend, this Brad Cox trainee will step up in class Saturday. Having said that, she is a consistent stakes performer, who ran third to Nitrogen in the Alabama Stakes (G1) last year in her only previous run at Saratoga. With enough tactical speed to stay in touch early and a solid closing kick, look for her to outrun her morning-line odds. JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Brad Cox 2. Fully Subscribed (6-5): The Personal Ensign morning-line favorite closed with dogged determination to win the Shuvee at this track and distance last time out. A similar effort here for the daughter of Tiz the Law will make her the one to beat Saturday. She has never thrown in a poor effort in eight lifetime starts and appears to be methodically improving for top trainer Chad Brown. She likes this distance and is clearly a major threat here. JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown 3. Nerazurri (6-1): A workmate of Travers Stakes (G1)-bound Silent Tactic, she will take another shot at graded stakes competition after a nonthreatening third behind Splendora in the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2). The closest she has come against this quality of competition was a solid second behind Nitrogen early this year. Jockey Luis Saez should have her more involved early than she was last time at Monmouth Park, and that is when she performs best. She is in with a shot. JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Mark Casse 4. Scottish Lassie (7-5): The Shuvee runner-up will look to turn the tables after relinquishing a clear advantage in midstretch last time. There is good reason to believe that she can improve off that effort here. A talented filly and twice a grade 1 winner, she will be running at Saratoga in her third start off the layoff. That is a pattern that worked quite nicely last year when she blitzed the field in last year's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). She is the top pick. JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Jorge Abreu 5. Speed Shopper (12-1): After a long run of turf races, she will return to dirt and tackle grade 1 competition while doing it. Not only will she face elite females in her return to the main track, where she is 0-for-2 lifetime, but she will also cut back in distance after running exclusively in longer races. Despite being a graded stakes winner, this does not look like a good spot for her. JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Will Walden 6. Snowyte (8-1): She controlled the pace in the Shuvee before proving no match in the stretch to the top two. She gets a rider switch from Luis Saez to Junior Alvarado for this one, but that looks like a lateral move at best. She is dangerous when left alone on the lead, but it's hard to expect that Scottish Lassie won't bring the pressure once again. JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Danny Gargan THE PICK: Scottish Lassie LIVE LONGSHOT: Margie's Intention SUPERFECTA: 4-1-2-3