The Personal Ensign (Grade 1) (BC)- $600.000 Purse
SAR- For Fillies Four Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
August 1, 2020

Races are not happening when we would normally have expected them at Saratoga. The Personal Ensign, like the Jerkens Memorial, is a race that would have been a part of the Travers undercard. Now, with 2020 being what it is, this race also moves up to the beginning of August. What has not changed is its significance for the BC Distaff as a “Win and You’re In” race. Last year, that winner was Ghost In The Shell, for Spankys Barn. She would not have a good run in the BC, however, and is hoping for a career resurgence with John Henry. The BC Distaff had a total of six horses in it that ran in the Personal Ensign last year, with that pack highlighted by Tenrikyo, who ran second in November. For a race of this caliber, a field of eight can seem small, but it is plenty talented, with the big name being Z Command, who was that BC Distaff winner last fall. Let’s meet the runners!

#1- High On Haggis (Winning Link Stables, ridden by F Geroux)- Ran at Saratoga last summer in the Alabama in a race that she would love to forget about. She recovered well from that to run second in the Cotillion, which set her up to race in the BC Distaff. However, she failed to beat a horse in that event. Might be starting to get back on track right now, but she has been inconsistent over her career, so you never know what she will get you.

#2- Totally Baroque (Aer Stables, ridden by A T Gryder)- Also ran in the Alabama last year, and fared better, but it didn’t keep her with her trainer. Fractious sold her off after the race, and the runner up of the 2019 KYO would get to the BC Distaff anyway, and end up third. Has one win, the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes in January, out of four starts this year. I am not sure how reliable of a pick she is, however.

#3- Hollywood Sister (Winning Link Stables, ridden by A Cedillo)- Not a reliable one to put on top, which just two wins in nineteen career starts. That second win was in her last start, and it came in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis, over High On Haggis. It was an impressive showing, but it is hard to pick her to win two races in a row. What she does a better job at is hitting the board, doing so in thirteen tries. Her form is good at the moment, so I could see this being the fourteenth time.

#4- Pure Addiction (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by M Tunon)- A few weeks ago, she ran ten furlongs at the muddy DEL Handicap and had a real nightmare of a run. She had climbed the ladder to get there, and made her graded stake debut in April at the Apple Blossom at OP, and opened eyes with her second place performances. However, she has since closed those eyes and must bounce back from the DEL Handicap.

#5- Z Command (Smokey Stover, ridden by J R Velazquez)- The filly was on good form heading into the KYO last spring, but was unable to run well in that race. That did not bother her, even though she would find a new home with Smokey Stover a few months later. She would win her debut with Smokey in the Alabama, a race that helped her make the BC Distaff. In that, she would become a champion, getting the milestone victory. There has been no let up, either, winning her first three races of 2020, including the Vinery Madison and the La Troienne, each a Grade 1. She was a due for a race like the Phipps in her last, so we can put that aside and get prepared to see her run big again.

#6- Cannolo (Mb Stables, ridden by J K Court)- Usually when Cannolo shows up for a race, she gets to be the headliner, but right now she would like to get some more bragging rights on Z Command. She beat her in June in the Phipps, but has finished behind her more often then not, such as in the La Troienne, BC Distaff, and the Alabama. They have gotten accustomed to one another and will probably recognize each other in the starting gate.

#7- Laffy Crack (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J R Leparoux)- Ended up being a great claim from La Canada Racehorses in July of last year, but would sit out seven months before she even made her debut with Night Rider. The trainer has been rewarded for that high level of patience with a recent win in the muddy DEL Handicap. It’s very interesting to see how she may follow that up.

#8- Puddle Jumper (Mb Stables, ridden by D Davis)- The Commanding filly will make the 16th start of her career, and hopes to pick up her fourth win. So far this year, she has been pretty good, and never seems to run a bad race. She has hit the board in four out of five races. What she needs is a signature win (the Doubledogdare Stakes doesn’t give bragging rights in this barn), and here she has the chance to get it. No reason to think she can’t do it, other then the fact that she takes on some real heavyweights here.

Prediction: 5-6-4-8

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES