8/25/2023
7 SAR The Personal Ensign (GI) 
$500.000 4yo&Up F&M 1 1/8m Dirt 123lbs
Friday stakes action from The Spa as the ladies go at it in The Personal Ensign (GI), a mile and an eighth stakes on the main track, here at SAR. Usually, when I say it’s a wide-open race, I’m talking about a bunch of horses that are looking to get back on the winning side of things… not here – this race is LOADED with talent and class. Picking a winner here is going to take some guts, and I’ve landed on the outside post and Retrospect to do just that… show guts and get the win. Mb has a maxed-out three entries today, but this one just tells me that she’s ready to get it done yet again. Let’s stay in the barn and put Present Tense in the picture as well. She looked good taking that CD graded race, going wire to wire… and she may try to run off and hide from this bunch as well.
Throw a dart, or call Ali and ask her… this one, is going to be a fun one to watch.
Here’s The Field –
Looked good taking the Trillium up north of the border to notch her first win of the year. She was close in a few other graded races and seems to run hard every time she lines up, so don’t ignore her in this one.
She’s as honest a race mare as you could ever hope to have and has been on the board in five of six starts this year, including a win in the Dianna (GI) last out. She never runs bad and must be on all tickets in this one, as well.
Her two ’23 wins came vs. softer, but that pair of seconds in the Apple Blossom (GI) and Shawne (GIII) certainly make her a horse to watch today. She was fourth last out, but pressed the pace in that race, where off of the pace may be more to her liking.
Three wins in a row including the Shawne (GIII) and was second last out over this track in the Shuvee (GII) after setting the pace and getting nailed late… she certainly knows how, and you have to like her chances.
She was rolling along stuffing cash in the bank, but the last two have been forgettable. A tiring sixth in the Shawne (GIII) then tiring again in the Great Lady M at LA certainly makes you wonder. Her best will be tough, but…
Does she ever miss a check? The answer is obviously no… 2/2/1 from five starts this year and won the Fleur De Lis Hcp (GII) at CD in her most recent trip to the gate… and the scary part is, she may just be getting to her best form. Watch her.
She won the Ruffian (GII) and the DEL Hcp (GII) then just missed in her most recent, a fast closing second (DH) in the Hirsch (GI) and I think she’s a horse that they will all have to get past in order to win this one.
Her only seasonal win came vs Alw horses, but she’s been close in a number of stakes races, including a near miss last out when just a head back in the Trillium (GIII) at WO. She finds her best stride late, so she could make it interesting down the lane.
Another that likes to close from the clouds, closing late to win the Apple Blossom (GI) at OP, and hit the board in a slew of other stakes races. She certainly knows how to bring home the cash.
Won the Santa Maria (GII) back in Apr but has a trio of third place finishes in the HOU Ladies (GIII), Beholder (GI) and last out in the Pitcher (GIII), and the big barn has three nice entries here today… he’s loaded.
She’s going to be my top pick off of that win here last out in the Shuvee (GII) but also won the Beholder (GI) at SA back in the spring… she will throw a bad race every once in a while, but I think the big barn has this one ready to fire big today.
COZMAN 11 / 7 Willie’s Green Card 7 / 2
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
