Fully Subscribed, Scottish Lassie Rematch in 'Ensign'

After a 1-2 finish July 24 in the Shuvee Stakes (G2), Fully Subscribed and Scottish Lassie are set for a rematch at the highest level in the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course. In that 1 1/8-mile contest last month, Scottish Lassie stalked the pace of Don Alberto Stable's Snowyte—who would finish third and also returns Saturday for trainer Danny Gargan—and took command entering the stretch. It looked like the McKinzie filly may have been home free, but on the far outside Fully Subscribed was getting into gear. Having raced midpack, Fully Subscribed's sustained stretch bid was just enough to carry the Klaravich Stables silks to victory, running down Scottish Lassie to win by a half-length. Trainer Chad Brown will hope for more of the same from the daughter of Tiz the Law who picked up her third career graded victory with the win after a pair of runner-up finishes at the grade 1 level. "The way she went and reeled in a nice filly showed a lot of heart, determination, ability and maturity," Brown told New York Racing Association publicity. "I'd say she's finding her best stride now." Meanwhile trainer Jorge Abreu, who co-owns Scottish Lassie with Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, and Corms Racing Stable, sees an opportunity for Saturday's results to be different. Scottish Lassie returned from an 8 1/2-month layoff at Saratoga in June to easily beat allowance foes by 8 1/2 lengths over 7 furlongs before stepping up to the 1 1/8 miles of the Shuvee. With that race now under her belt, Abreu thinks she should be more prepared for the distance this time. "She came out of her last race in pretty good shape," Abreu told BloodHorse. "She had just come off a long layoff, she'd run seven-eighths in a very easy field. I don't know how much she got out of that. To run a mile and an eighth with some nice horses (last time), I think we're in a good spot right now." The Personal Ensign offers an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In. The division has some heavyweight contenders in Nitrogen and Splendora—who are set to meet Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs in the Locust Grove Stakes (G2). Still, Abreu is confident his two-time grade 1 winner is of the same class and will show that Saturday. "I'm not afraid of running against the best," Abreu said. "I'm not afraid to put her up against any others right now, because she belongs there." The Shuvee exacta are well separated from the rest in the morning-line odds, with Fully Subscribed 6-5 and Scottish Lassie 7-5. Third choice at 6-1 is Michael Eiserman's Nerazurri, exiting a third-place finish behind Splendora in the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2) July 18 at Monmouth Park. Also in the field of six are Delta Squad Racing, Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Michael Caruso's graded stakes winner and last-out Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes winner Margie's Intention, and Gary Barber, Bridlewood Farm, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Speed Shopper, a two-time graded stakes winner over 1 1/2 miles on turf who makes her first start on dirt since her a maiden special weight in May 2025.