Some of the top fillies and mares in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff division clash Friday at Saratoga in a major lead-in to Travers Weekend. The mile and one-eighth Personal Ensign, named for the Champion Mare and 1988 Distaff winner who retired unbeaten in 13 starts, boasts a Champion of its own in the field of five.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Personal Ensign (Race 10):
#1-XIGERA: Last year’s Mother Goose winner captured 5 of 6 starts in 2023, but has failed to visit the winner’s circle in 3 starts this year since facing older fillies and mares. The daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist has run all of her best races when able to press the early pace, and from the rail with a short run to the first turn, should be aggressively ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer Phil Bauer has had a dream Saratoga summer with 5 wins and 2 seconds from his first 11 starters.
#2-SOUL OF AN ANGEL: Lost the photo in Monmouth’s Grade 3 Molly Pitcher last month when nearly upsetting Idiomatic over 110 yards shorter in trip. She’s made a dramatic performance improvement in 3 starts since coming to the Saffie Joseph Jr. barn, which has had a remarkable run at Saratoga this summer with 9 winners. Late-running style will require a strong pace in front of her for success under Irad Ortiz Jr.
#3-RAGING SEA: Strong finisher has rallied to win Keeneland’s Grade 3 Doubledogdare and Saratoga’s Grade 2 Shuvee in recent outings, the latter over the same trip as the Personal Ensign. Trainer Chad Brown turns once again to Flavien Prat, whose 11 stakes wins at the current Spa meeting are far and away best of any rider. Daughter of Curlin’s only loss in her last 5 starts came when a non-threatening fourth in the local Grade 1 Ogden Phipps behind rematched rivals Randomized and Idiomatic. Provides the late-running half of an uncoupled Brown entry with front-running Randomized.
#4-IDIOMATIC: Last year’s Eclipse Award-winning Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year finalist is back to defend her crown in the Personal Ensign. Four-length victory here in ’23 was part of a 6-race winning streak that ended in a photo loss June 8 at the Spa in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps during the Belmont Stakes Festival (pictured above). She’s now 1-and-1 in head-to-head matchups with Personal Ensign rematched rival Randomized. Brad Cox trainee has won 11 of 15 lifetime for more than $3.4 million, easily tops in the field in terms of victories and earnings. Like Raging Sea, she’s a daughter of Curlin. Beautiful Pleasure (1999-2000) was the last Personal Ensign winner to go back-to-back and the only to do so in the last 50 years.
#5-RANDOMIZED: Not only the second Chad Brown trainee in the lineup (along with Raging Sea), but also the second daughter of Nyquist (Xigera). Front-running filly is expected to tussle early with Idiomatic and Xigera over a course she absolutely loves. Randomized has won 3 straight here, including the Wilton, Grade 1 Alabama and the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps. She’s 4: 3-1-0 in true, 2-turn races and 3-for-3 when paired with newly minted Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario.
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