The Personal Ensign – GI [BC]

SAR  Race #7     1 1/8m     Dirt   GI Purse $500.00  For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

🐎 1 — El Sweetie

Form

Consistent but non‑winning in 2026: 5 starts, 0 wins, best figure 94. Her last three graded tries show mid‑pack finishes.

“18Jul26‑8MTH… 3+fPitBCS‑G2… 94”

Works

Two sharp Saratoga works:

• 25Aug26 SAR 2f :22.3 (2/2) — blistering blowout
• 19Aug26 SAR 5f :56.4 (1/18) — elite, fastest of 18

“25Aug26 SAR 2f fst :223 H 2/2”

Assessment

Her effort in the Doubledogdare was huge and would put her right in this against some brilliant rivals but her form can be a little mixed and she would have to repeat that run plus a length to have any chance. She gets the inside gate which certainly gives her her best chance but it is tough to see her overcoming a few of these elite types

🐎 2 — Wasted Away

Form

Genuine Grade I mare. Her Hirsch G1 second (101 fig) is one of the best last‑out numbers in the field.

“1Aug26‑6DMR… Hirsch‑G1… 101… 2nk”

Works

Strong, steady conditioning:

• 22Aug PRX 6f 1:10.3 (9/53)
• 17Aug PRX 6f 1:11.1 (2/12)

“22Aug26 PRX 6f fst 1:103 H 9/53”

Assessment

She is certainly not the unbeatable force she was but still the great trainer manages to pull great performances from this five year old. A grade one winner in March she is a big race mare who gets all favors with the draw and will be many peoples favorite to pull off another big win.

🐎 3 — El Grande Latte

Form

Two good G2 runs this summer, including a 99 figure at Churchill.

“27Jun26‑8CD… FDLHcp‑G2… 99… 3½”

Works

Mixed:

• 13Aug SAR 5f :58.2 (6/19) — sharp
• Earlier SA works in :57 range — very strong

“13Aug26 SAR 5f fst :582 H 6/19”

Assessment

She is suffering from that flatness that can infect the four year olds after a big three year old season. She has been good just not progressive after her late season win in the Mother Goose. This however is the time of year when the fours can start back up their improvement curve and at her best she would certainly be a contender.

🐎 4 — Vanessa

Form

A G1 winner this year (Apple Blossom), and her Phipps G1 third was strong.

“11Apr26‑2OP… ApBHcp‑G1… 101… 1nk”

Works

Very sharp Ellis Park drills:

• 21Aug ELP 6f 1:10.4 (1/7)
• 13Aug ELP 1m 1:36.4 (1/10)

“21Aug26 ELP 6f fst 1:104 H 1/7”

Assessment

Her last start was concerning but at HRP every horse seems to have one inexplicable run a year. She was sent closer to the pace than normal in that last start so it may have been a failed experiment with the gaming buttons rather than a poor effort and I would expect her to be back to her best today

🐎 5 — Devil In High Heels

Form

The most consistent mare in the race. Last three runs: 100, 99, 96, all in graded stakes.

“24Jul26‑5SAR… Shuvee‑G2… 100… 1”

Works

Not flashy but very steady:

• 10Jul PRX 6f 1:10.4 (8/92)
• 17May PRX 1m 1:36.3 (1/10)

“10Jul26 PRX 6f fst 1:104 H 8/92”

Assessment

One of the most consistent mares in racing she always runs well and I would expect today to be no different. She is a high class mare with one of the top five trainers and there is very little to say she wont win this.

🐎 6 — Down On The Beat

Form

A rising mare with a 100 figure win at Churchill and a strong 99 in the Hirsch.

“27Jun26‑8CD… FDLHcp‑G2… 100… 1nk”

Works

Very sharp:

• 26Jul DMR 5f :58 (4/57)
• 21Jun CD 5f :57.3 (1/35) — elite

“26Jul26 DMR 5f fst :58 H 4/57”

Assessment

It seems to run that a three year old that performs well struggles to improve as a four year old whereas those that don’t excel as a three year old can improve through a third season. So it is with this one who has come on leaps and bounds this year and could be the dark horse here to upset some of the big names.

🐎 7 — Great Smoke

Form

Lightly raced but very progressive. 99 figure win in the Trillium.

“25Jul26‑3WO… Trilli‑G3… 99… 1”

Works

Strong Saratoga 6f drill:

• 19Aug SAR 6f 1:10.3 (3/108)

“19Aug26 SAR 6f fst 1:103 H 3/108”

Assessment

Lightly raced with only eight starts but she has won five of them and was hugely impressive in the Trillium last time. This is a big step up for her but she certainly looks ready and she too could be an upset waiting to happen as the more stablished names vie for the BC spot.

🐎 8 — Credit Crime

Form

Top turf mare switching back to dirt. Her dirt G1 win at Oaklawn (99 fig) is relevant.

“7Feb26‑1OP… Bayako‑G3… 99… 1no”

Works

Solid but not spectacular:

• 17Aug SAR 6f 1:11.4 (11/17)

“17Aug26 SAR 6f fst 1:114 b 11/17”

Assessment

Almost unbeatable as a three year old she has looked more vulnerable at four and I wonder whether she has hit that much talked about flat spot. At her best she would be able to overcome the sticky draw and her rivals but she is not the sure thing she was last year.

🐎 9 — Mightiness

Form

Good mare but winless in 2026; best recent figure 98.

“24Jul26‑5SAR… Shuvee‑G2… 98… 3”

Works

Only one recent work:

• 11Aug KEE 1m 1:39 (2/2)

“11Aug26 KEE 1 fst 1:39 b 2/2”

Assessment

A lightly raced six year old who was bought from team 7 Illusions for $150 but has struggled to recapture her best since. The form has been improving with every race so perhaps she is peaking now but she will need a career best today from a nasty gate.

🐎 10 — Boardwalk Authority

Form

Consistent but not winning at G1 level; best recent figure 97.

“18Jul26‑8MTH… PitBCS‑G2… 97… 4”

Works

Very sharp:

• 24Aug BTP 6f 1:10.1 (1/8)

“24Aug26 BTP 6f fst 1:101 H 1/8”

Assessment

She may not be the best in the field but she is one of the most consistent and that could be key. She is rarely far away and wont  be again it is just a matter of where she tracks from this wide draw. This is a race without weakness so the draw will play its part in the result for sure.

🐎 11 — Starting Over

Form

Four wins from five starts in 2026; 100 figure last out.

“18Jul26‑8MTH… PitBCS‑G2… 100… 1nk”

Works

Older mare but still working strongly:

• 15Jun AQU 5f :59 (9/21)

“15Jun26 AQU 5f fst :59 b 9/21”

Assessment

It is easy to overlook an eight year old but it is certainly not easy to overlook THIS eight year old. She is probably the best mare in the game right now but if you ask many people her name wouldn’t be the first they mentioned. The gate is horrible, almost disrespectful but she overcame the same draw to run a close second in the BC Distaff last year and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a win from her today. If she does and then goes on to victory in the BC she will go into legend status.

🐎 12 — Malibu Cracker

Form

Three‑year‑old star: 5 wins from 5 starts in 2026, figures 94–97, dominant in every run.

“19Jul26‑4WO… WOOak… 94… 1”

Works

Light but sharp:

• 16Jul WO 3f :34.2 (1/1) — blistering
• 10Jun CD 3f :36.1 (1/3)

“16Jul26 WO 3f fst :342 b 1/1”

Assessment

A three year old that has won six from seven and could be the best three year old filly in the game. She hasn’t even run in a graded stakes yet but she has looked that good so far that her inclusion in this field makes for very exciting reading. The trouble is dear old HRP doesn’t like to make it easy and has stuck her out in the car park so she has gone from promising a big effort to she will need to be exceptional to win. I will be watching very closely today.

Race SUMMARY

Wow, what a race! I love these top fillies and mares races where legends meet the wannabe’s. Try and pick a winner? Well you could pick any of them and make a strong case so I will not even try. Instead because I am a sucker for great horses I will box up Starting Over, Wasted Away and Credit Crime but celebrate a great victory whoever wins.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES