Personal Ensign
Personal Ensign | |
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Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga Race Course |
Personal Ensign (April 27, 1984 – April 8, 2010) was a champion
Personal Ensign showed her class early by winning the
In retirement, Personal Ensign matched her success on the track as a broodmare, being named the 1996 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Her daughter My Flag emulated her by winning a Breeders' Cup race and producing another Breeders' Cup winner, Storm Flag Flying. Her son Our Emblem sired Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem.
Background
Personal Ensign was a bay mare who was bred in Kentucky by Ogden Phipps, for whom she raced as a homebred. The Phipps family had long been a major factor in the horse racing industry, and Phipps himself had bred multiple champions including Buckpasser and Easy Goer.[2] Produced from a mating of Phipps' homebred stallion Private Account and the mare Grecian Banner, Personal Ensign was a full sister to Personal Flag. Their combined exploits in 1988 led Grecian Banner being named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, a feat Personal Ensign later also accomplished. Grecian Banner was out of Dorine, a two-time champion filly in Argentina.[3]
Personal Ensign was trained by
Racing career
1986: two-year-old campaign
Personal Ensign made her first start on September 28 in a maiden special weight race at
Personal Ensign then made her stakes debut in the Grade I Frizette Stakes on October 13. She was the 3-10 favorite in a field that was reduced down to just three horses after the scratches of Sea Basque and Tappiano. Although Personal Ensign was known for her late-running style, in this race she was pushed early to prevent the front-runner Collins from getting an easy lead. She and Collins raced head to head for the final half mile, with Personal Ensign prevailing by a head. "Last time, she won in a gallop," said McGaughey. "This time, she had to belly down and fight."[6]
Personal Ensign was being pointed towards the
1987: three-year-old campaign
After recovering from surgery, Personal Ensign finally returned to the racetrack on September 6, 1987 in an allowance race at Belmont Park. Going off as the 7-10 favorite, she won by 3+3⁄4 lengths. On September 24, she won another allowance race, this time by 7+3⁄4 lengths.[4] She then stepped up in class to win the Rare Perfume Stakes on October 10 by 4+3⁄4 lengths.[9]
Personal Ensign made her next start on October 18 in the Beldame Stakes run at Belmont Park over 1+1⁄4 miles, where she faced older horses for the first time, plus several of the leading three-year-old fillies in the country. She was the second betting choice behind the entry of Coup de Fusil, who had won three straight Grade I races, and Clabber Girl. It was the only time in her career that she was not the favorite. In a change from her normal running style, she stayed close to the pace and took the lead after six furlongs, opening the lead to four lengths in mid-stretch. She won by 2+1⁄4 lengths despite tiring late. "I thought she would go a distance, but you don't know until you try it," said McGaughey. "I had no idea how she would run, coming back eight days after the other race. She has never run against this kind."[4][10]
"Riding her is like pushing a button," said Romero. "She is the fastest filly I ever rode. If she gets in trouble, she is so fast she can get out of it."[10]
Her connections considered sending her to the 1987 Breeders' Cup, but ultimately decided against it because the event was held that year on November 21, much later than the usual date at the beginning of November.[11] The decision possibly cost Personal Ensign the title of three-year-old champion filly: she finished second in the Eclipse Award voting to Sacahuista, who won the Distaff.[12]
1988: four-year-old campaign
In 1988, Personal Ensign won all seven of her starts, including the
Personal Ensign made her four-year-old debut on May 15, 1988 in the Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park. She went off as the 7-10 favorite in a field of six despite the seven-month layoff and carrying top weight of 121 pounds. She broke slowly, then moved into third along the backstretch. She took the lead turning into the stretch then drew off to win by 1+3⁄4 lengths.[13]
Personal Ensign's next start was on June 11 at Belmont Park in the
She then shipped to
It was her tenth win in a row, matching the streak of Ruffian before the latter filly broke down in her final start.[16] It also moved her to the top of the NTRA polling for Horse of the Year.[17]
Personal Ensign made her next start in the
Around the turn, Personal Ensign began to close ground and trailed by just two lengths after the six furlongs was completed in 1:091⁄5. In the top of the stretch, she moved alongside Winning Colors but the other filly responded to the challenge. The two dueled for the remaining eighth of a mile until Personal Ensign finally pulled ahead in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length. "They both made me proud today, especially my filly," said Romero. "A mile isn't even her best distance. I just let her run her race and knew she would get the job done."[18]
On October 16, Personal Ensign entered the Beldame Stakes to defend her victory in the previous year's race. She was "routinely brilliant" on her way to a 5+1⁄2 length win, stalking the early pace and then opening up in the stretch.[19] The fans at Belmont gave her a standing ovation.[20]
Personal Ensign made her final start in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs on November 5. The field included Winning Colors and Goodbye Halo, who had won several major three-year-old filly races while Winning Colors was racing against the colts. Winning Colors went to the lead and set moderate fractions, allowing her to conserve energy. The track was muddy and Personal Ensign did not handle it well, dropping far back and striding cautiously for her footing. McGaughey said to a friend, "Not today... She's beaten."[21]
As they turned into the stretch though, Personal Ensign swung to the center of the track, switched leads and finally hit her best stride. With an eighth of a mile remaining, she was still four lengths behind but Winning Colors was tiring. Goodbye Halo was also moving into contention and the three moved ever closer together. As they neared the finish line, Personal Ensign overtook first Goodbye Halo and then Winning Colors, winning in the final stride by a nose over the latter. The crowd erupted and McGaughey was both jubilant and relieved. "Undefeated," he said. "One of the most courageous performances I've ever seen."[21]
"What's so good about her," said Romero, "she don't want to get beat. She's determined to get the job done, and that's what she did today."[22]
The race drew superlatives from many observers. Edward Bowen, editor-in-chief of the
Personal Ensign was retired following the Breeders' Cup as the first undefeated champion in American racing in over 80 years.[3] Colin, who raced in 1907 and 1908, was the last such champion, winning all fifteen of his starts.[17]
Personal Ensign was voted the
Race Record
Date | Track | Distance | Race | Grade | Finish | Margin | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9/28/1986 | Belmont Park | 7 Furlongs | Maiden | 1 | 12+3⁄4 lengths | 1:24 3/5 | |
10/13/1986 | Belmont Park | 8 Furlongs | Frizette Stakes | I | 1 | head | 1:36 2/5 |
9/6/1987 | Belmont Park | 7 Furlongs | Allowance | 1 | 3+3⁄4 lengths | 1:23 1/5 | |
9/24/1987 | Belmont Park | 1 Mile | Allowance | 1 | 7+3⁄4 lengths | 1:36 1/5 | |
10/10/1987 | Belmont Park | 1 Mile | Rare Perfume Handicap
|
II | 1 | 4+3⁄4 lengths | 1:36 3/5 |
10/18/1987 | Belmont Park | 1 1/4 Miles | Beldame Stakes | I | 1 | 2+1⁄4 lengths | 2:04 2/5 |
5/15/1988 | Belmont Park | 1 1/16 Miles | Shuvee Handicap
|
I | 1 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | 1:41 3/5 |
6/11/1988 | Belmont Park | 1 1/8 Miles | Hempstead Handicap
|
I | 1 | 7 lengths | 1:47 3/5 |
7/4/1988 | Monmouth Park | 1 1/16 Miles | Molly Pitcher Stakes | II | 1 | 8 lengths | 1:41 4/5 |
8/6/1988 | Saratoga Race Course | 1 1/8 Miles | Whitney Handicap
|
I | 1 | 1+1⁄2 lengths | 1:47 4/5 |
9/10/1988 | Belmont Park | 1 Mile | Maskette Stakes
|
I | 1 | 3⁄4 length | 1:34 1/5 |
10/16/1988 | Belmont Park | 1 1/4 Miles | Beldame Stakes | I | 1 | 5+1⁄2 lengths | 2:01 1/5 |
11/5/1988 | Churchill Downs | 1 1/8 Miles | Breeders' Cup Distaff | I | 1 | nose | 1:52 |
Source: Lifetime Past Performances[4]
Record as a broodmare
Personal Ensign became one of the most important broodmares of the late 20th century. She produced ten named foals, most of which were either successful on the track or at stud. Her most notable descendants include:[3][27]
- Miner's Mark, her first foal, won the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
- Our Emblem, her second foal, was a G1-placed runner who went on to sire notable runners including Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem.
- Traditionally was also a G1 winner and sire.
- My Flag, who was sired by Hall of Fame champion Easy Goer, won four G1 races, including the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in a race very similar to Personal Ensign's 1988 Distaff win. Her career earnings totaled over $1,500,000, just $100,000 less than Personal Ensign had earned. Like Personal Ensign, My Flag achieved great success as a broodmare, producing the 2002 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and that year's Eclipse Award-Winning Champion 2-Year Old Filly, Storm Flag Flying. This three-generation success in the Breeders' Cup has not been duplicated by any other mare, and only by one group of stallions.[23]
- Salute, a daughter by Unbridled, was G2-placed, and was also the dam of G1 winner Mr. Speaker.
- Title Seeker, a daughter by Monarchos, was unraced but produced G3 winner Seeking the Title, who in turn produced G1 winner Seeking the Soul.[28]
Personal Ensign was named 1996 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.[29] She was an alpha mare in the Phipps broodmare band, known for her strong protective instinct towards her foals. At one point, she developed a potentially lethal case of peritonitis, but was able to fight off the infection.[3]
In September 2006, at the age of 22, Personal Ensign (after coming up barren from a mating with Forest Wildcat) was pensioned to the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm. Claiborne breeding shed manager Charles Koch said, "She's still in good shape, looks good, and gets around fine. She's just a little arthritic. She'll be spending time out in the field with other mares Korveya, Arabian Dancer, and Narrate."[30]
Name | Sire | Year | Record | Earnings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Miners Mark | Mr. Prospector | 1990 | 18-6-4-2 | $967,170 |
Our Emblem | Mr. Prospector | 1991 | 27-5-5-5 | $366,013 |
Pennant Champion | Mr. Prospector | 1992 | 7-2-1-2 | $48,070 |
My Flag | Easy Goer | 1993 | 20-6-3-4 | $1,557,057 |
Proud and True | Mr. Prospector | 1994 | 9-3-0-2 | $96,170 |
Traditionally | Mr. Prospector | 1997 | 20-5-1-2 | $495,660 |
Possibility | A.P. Indy | 2000 | 7-1-0-2 | $43,278 |
Salute | Unbridled | 2002 | 10-1-3-2 | $103,838 |
Title Seeker | Monarchos | 2003 | unraced | unraced |
Baronial | Kingmambo | 2005 | 19-1-2-0 | $57,365 |
Death and legacy
The pensioned Personal Ensign died on April 8, 2010, in her pasture at Claiborne Farm in
Personal Ensign was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1993, her first year of eligibility.[31]
In the
In 1997, the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Springs was named in her honor.[3]
Pedigree
Sire Private Account (USA) 1976 |
Damascus (USA) 1964 |
Sword Dancer | Sunglow |
---|---|---|---|
Highland Fling | |||
Kerala | My Babu | ||
Blade Of Time | |||
Numbered Account (USA) 1969 |
Buckpasser | Tom Fool | |
Busanda | |||
Intriguing | Swaps | ||
Glamour | |||
Dam Grecian Banner (USA) 1974 |
Hoist The Flag (USA) 1968 |
Tom Rolfe | Ribot |
Pocahontas | |||
Wavy Navy | War Admiral | ||
Triomphe | |||
Dorine (ARG) 1958 |
Aristophanes | Hyperion | |
Commotion | |||
Doria | Advocate | ||
Donatila (family 6-a)[33] |
Personal Ensign is inbred 5x4 to War Admiral, meaning this sire appears once in the fifth generation of her pedigree, as the sire of Busanda, and once in the fourth generation.[3]
See also
- List of Undefeated horses
References
- ^ "Profile of Personal Ensign". Equibase. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ "Ogden Phipps dead at 93". www.espn.com. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Personal Ensign (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Lifetime Past Performances" (PDF). bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ Crist, Steven (29 September 1986). "Tappiano Wins Matron". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (14 October 1986). "Frizette to Personal Ensign". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Personal Ensign Injured". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Dr. Larry Bramlage: A career dedicated to healing horses". Veterinary News. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (11 October 1987). "HORSE RACING; JAVA GOLD UPSET IN GOLD CUP". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ a b Crist, Steven (19 October 1987). "Horse Racing; Personal Ensign Captures Beldame". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (20 October 1987). "Personal Ensign to Skip Breeders' Cup". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (6 January 1988). "Alysheba Is Top 3-Year-Old". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Personal Ensign is Back". The New York Times. 16 May 1988. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Personal Ensign now 8 for 8". The New York Times. 12 June 1988. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (5 July 1988). "Bet Twice Upset at Belmont". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ a b Crist, Steven (7 August 1988). "HORSE RACING; Personal Ensign Wins Her 10th in Row". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ a b Crist, Steven (9 August 1988). "Greatness Proven, Personal Ensign Aims at a Perfect Finish". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ a b Crist, Steven (11 September 1988). "HORSE RACING; Personal Ensign Takes Maskette". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (17 October 1988). "Personal Ensign Closer to Perfect Finish". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Stathoplos, Demmie. "Let's Hear It For the Girl". SI Vault. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ a b c Nack, William. "DARK VICTORY". Vault. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "30 Years in 30 Days: Personal Ensign Distaff". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ a b "BH 100: Three Generations of BC Winners". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (29 November 1988). "One Viewer's Most Stirring Thoroughbred Moments in '88". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (5 January 1989). "East Dominates West in a Race for Eclipse Awards". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Crist, Steven (29 January 1989). "Alysheba is Voted Top Horse of 1988". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Sparkman, John P. "Personal Ensign keeps firing away". www.drf.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Seeking the Soul Narrowly Best in Clark". Thoroughbred Daily News. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Racing Icon Personal Ensign Dead". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Personal Ensign Pensioned at Claiborne". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Racing Legend Personal Ensign, never beaten, dies at 26". ESPN.com. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Pedigree of Personal Ensign". Equineline. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Cream Cheeks - Family 6-a". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved 9 September 2019.