The Personal Ensign (Grade 1) (BC) – $700.000 Purse
SAR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
August 24, 2019
Here in the SRF, Ghost In The Shell was picked to win the Grade 1 Personal Ensign. However, there were not many people that agreed that this late bloomer who was coming off a win in the Grade 1 Hirsch was the one to beat. She was 15/1 in the morning line, and had 5.9% of those betting in the pick ‘em choosing her, keeping her at 15/1 for the race. I was one of those who picked her, so outside of the SRF, she had plenty of doubters. After the race, congratulatory posts went to the winning trainer with some calling her the BC favorite. That she is. And she probably was before the race, too, but it’s good to finally see her get more respect after this victory. It is the first Personal Ensign win for Spankys Barn, and for the jockey, D Van Dyke, who has been the regular rider for Ghost In The Shell. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:48.21, which is the third quickest winning time in the history of this prestigious race. Let’s take a look at it!
(½ Mile- :47.67)- Misty Firefox, the post-time favorite from Crocker Ggs, is very quick out of the gate, and opens up a lead of about a length and a half as they make their way around the turn. It looked like Elegant, from Mb Stables, was going to run with her early, but she would be restrained to sit a couple lengths off the lead. After a half mile, the lead was much slimmer, and that was because Ineffable, from TwinTowersRacing, advanced on the outside after initially beginning in the middle of the pack. She would now be just a length back. 2017 Personal Ensign winner Viking Vania was third for Delta Farms, and she had First Class Stable’s Blue Jeans to her outside, as well as Elegant. There was a gap of two lengths to Charo, the Team 7 Illusions filly who also would be on a mild restrain as they entered the backstretch. Beside her is the eventual winner, Ghost In The Shell, from Spankys Barn. Right from the start, Ghost In The Shell had no interest in the early pace and became more concerned with getting a position on the rail. This worked out, though being in the second lane. She had more Team 7 Illusions company near her, as longshot Smile In Victory was to her outside. Trailing were Tenrikyo (Smokey Stover) and Seek Victory (Mb Stables).
(3/4 Mile- 1:11.46)- The field concludes the backstretch run with not much changeover in how things were going. Most Ineffable and Viking Vania looked to poised to take over the lead in the turn, but at this point, Misty Firefox was still clinging to the advantage. Further back in the field, Ghost In The Shell gained a length, pulling away from Charo just a little bit, and now moving to the inside of Blue Jeans, and into the sixth position. She seemed to have a good lane for rounding the turn if she wanted to advance, and so would Charo.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)– At this point, they are three wide for the lead, just heads apart. Misty Firefox was still hanging in there, but both Ineffable and Viking Vania had their intentions set on taking over the lead. Elegant had made good progress too, using the fourth lane to her advantage, and now she was just a half length behind the front three herself. Meanwhile, Ghost In The Shell did not overpower her way towards to the front, but she continued to creep closer and closer to it. She was now a length and a half back, and in front of her sat a nice opening between Misty Firefox and Viking Vania for her to come on through. Charo was moving forward, too, and seemed to have enough of an opening on the rail, but it would be a squeeze. Blue Jeans was keeping pace for now in the middle of the pack. Further back, none of Tenrikyo, or the two Victory’s were showing much yet.
(Finish- 1:48.21)- Ghost In The Shell ran an impressive race in the stretch. There was never a time where she was so much better then the field, but with every stride she had just a little bit more then everything else, and there is nothing at all wrong with that. Perhaps, that is an even more convincing way to win the race. Plus, we should expect nothing else from a horse with Ghost in their name to do a methodical close, creep up on the leaders, and then pounce. Charo ends up second (by the way, we picked her to finish second, too), but E Esquivel opted not to try the rail as Misty Firefox would not give her the room needed. This meant Charo essentially had to wait for Ghost In The Shell to go through the lane between Misty Firefox and Viking Vania, and that cost her a chance from giving Ghost In The Shell a real battle in the stretch. She ends up second, in a photo over third place Viking Vania, who put forth a consistent effort from start to finish. It was very tight for fourth, with Ineffable getting the head bob for the check over Elegant and Misty Firefox who officially dead heat with one another. Tenrikyo only approached the pack late, Seek Victory came well short of her goal and Blue Jeans lacked response. Hopefully Smile In Victory can also smile after finishing last.
About The Winner– Ghost In The Shell, trained by Spankys Barn and ridden to victory by D Van Dyke, is a three year old filly by Virtual Realism, and is out of Fatal Fuego. She was bred in California by Rampage Stable, and acquired by Spankys Barn in the December 2018 auction for a mere $14.120. That’s become a steal, congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in eleven starts and her second stake win, each of which is a Grade 1. Her career earnings are now $724.120.
Track: Fast
Time: :473 1:112 1:354 1:481
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 6 – 1 Paid 74.70
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 1 – 2 Paid 1,710.30
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
