| Grade I race | |
|---|---|
| Personal Ensign Stakes | |
| Location | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1948 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.nyra.com/index saratoga |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1¼ miles (10 furlongs) |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies & Mares, three-years-old & up |
| Weight | Allowances |
| Purse | $400,000 |
The Personal Ensign Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to fillies and Mares age three and older, it is contested at a distance of one and one-quarter miles on dirt (10 furlongs).
Since 1997, this race has been named for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Personal Ensign. Undefeated in racing, Personal Ensign was also a great broodmare.
Inaugurated at Jamaica Racetrack in 1948 as the Firenze Handicap, it was named for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Firenze. From 1986 through 1996 it was run as the John A. Morris Handicap, named to honor John Albert Morris, a prominent horseman who in 1889 built the Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York.
Since inception, the race has also been hosted by all three tracks operated by the New York Racing Association:
The race has been contested at various distances:
The Firenze Handicap was run on turf from 1972 to 1975 and run in two divisions in 1972 and 1974. The 1988 race was run for purse money only, no wagering, after being postponed for one day due to severe thunderstorms that forced cancellation of the remainder of the racing card at Saratoga Springs on Aug. 28, 1988.
Speed record: (at current distance of 1¼ miles)
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2011 | Ask the Moon | 6 | Javier Castellano | Marty Wolfson | Farnsworth Stables | 2:04.21 |
| 2010 | Persistently | 4 | Alan Garcia | C. R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 2:04.49 |
| 2009 | Icon Project | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Martin D. Wolfson | Andrew Rosen | 2:02.37 |
| 2008 | Ginger Punch | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 2:03.37 |
| 2007 | Miss Shop | 4 | Javier Castellano | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 2:03.48 |
| 2006 | Fleet Indian | 5 | Jose A. Santos | Todd A. Pletcher | Paul Saylor | 2:03.87 |
| 2005 | Shadow Cast | 4 | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish IV | 2:02.07 |
| 2004 | Storm Flag Flying | 4 | John Velazquez | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps et al. | 2:03.60 |
| 2003 | Passing Shot | 4 | Jose A. Santos | H. Allen Jerkens | Joseph V. Shields, Jr. | 2:03.20 |
| 2002 | Summer Colony | 4 | John Velazquez | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 2:03.00 |
| 2001 | Pompeii | 4 | Richard Migliore | John C. Kimmel | Robert N. Clay | 2:04.60 |
| 2000 | Beautiful Pleasure | 5 | Jorge Chavez | John T. Ward, Jr. | John C. Oxley | 2:03.60 |
| 1999 | Beautiful Pleasure | 4 | Jorge Chavez | John T. Ward, Jr. | John C. Oxley | 2:02.40 |
| 1998 | Tomisue's Delight | 4 | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | Stephen C. Hilbert | 2:04.00 |
| 1997 | Clear Mandate | 5 | Mike E. Smith | George R. Arnold II | G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. | 2:03.60 |
| 1996 | Urbane | 4 | Alex Solis | Randy Bradshaw | Siegel Family | 2:03.00 |
| 1995 | Heavenly Prize | 4 | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 2:04.00 |
| 1994 | Link River | 4 | Julie Krone | William I Mott | Sheikh Mohammed | 1:50.40 |
| 1993 | You'd Be Surprised | 4 | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1:48.40 |
| 1992 | Quick Mischief | 6 | Craig Perret | Charles Carlesimo, Jr. | Greg G. Mordas | 1:47.80 |
| 1991 | Fit to Scout | 4 | Chris Antley | Jack C. Van Berg | Robert M. Snell | 1:50.20 |
| 1990 | Personal Business | 4 | Chris Antley | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:51.20 |
| 1989 | Colonial Waters | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Ross Pearce | Buckland Farm | 1:50.00 |
| 1988 | Rose's Cantina | 4 | Jose Santos | Leroy Jolley | Carl Icahn | 1:49.80 |
| 1987 | Coup De Fusil | 5 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 1:49.20 |
| 1986 | Shocker T. | 4 | Gene St. Leon | George Gianos | Thomasina Caporella | 1:50.00 |
| 1985 | Lady On The Run | 3 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Bruce N. Levine | Peter Montemarano | 1:52.00 |
| 1984 | Solar Halo | 3 | Robbie Davis | J. Elliott Burch | James F. Edwards | 1:49.20 |
| 1983 | Chieftain's Command | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | John Parisella | Theodore Sabarese | 1:51.60 |
| 1982 | Number | 3 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1:51.40 |
| 1981 | Tina Tina Too | 3 | Don MacBeth | Richard T. DeStasio | Albert Fried, Jr. | 1:51.00 |
| 1980 | Relaxing | 4 | Jorge Velasquez | Angel Penna, Sr. | Ogden Phipps | 1:49.20 |
| 1979 | Catherine's Bet | 4 | Daryl Montoya | James P. Conway | Adele L. Rand | 1:50.20 |
| 1978 | Mrs. Warren | 4 | Jorge Velasquez | Woody Stephens | Newstead Farm | 1:51.40 |
| 1977 | Water Malone | 3 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Philip G. Johnson | Mrs. Morton Rosenthal | 1:50.40 |
| 1976 | Sugar Plum Time | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | John W. Russell | Cynthia Phipps | 1:51.00 |
| 1975 | Lie Low | 4 | Jorge Velasquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stable | 2:15.20 |
| 1974 | Lie Low | 3 | Jorge Velasquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stable | 1:49.00 |
| 1974 | Twixt | 5 | William J. Passmore | Katharine Voss | Mrs. John M. Franklin | 1:49.80 |
| 1973 | Aglimmer | 4 | Michael Venezia | Willard C. Freeman | John A. Bell III | 1:49.40 |
| 1972 | Manta | 6 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Victor J. Nickerson | Elmendorf Farm | 1:50.00 |
| 1972 | Aladancer | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Stephen A. DiMauro | Albert Clay | 1:50.80 |
| 1971 | Kittiwake | 3 | Heliodoro Gustines | Woody Stephens | Mrs. Taylor Hardin | 1:50.20 |
| 1970 | Obeah | 5 | John L. Rotz | Henry S. Clark | Christiana Stable | 1:51.20 |
| 1969 | Amerigo Lady | 5 | Jorge Velasquez | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1:50.00 |
| 1968 | Politely | 5 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | George M. Baker | Bohemia Stable | 1:49.60 |
| 1967 | Politely | 4 | Braulio Baeza | George M. Baker | Bohemia Stable | 1:53.00 |
| 1966 | Straight Deal II | 4 | Bobby Ussery | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:49.60 |
| 1965 | Sailor Princess | 3 | Gary Mineau | Burley Parke | Harbor View Farm | 1:51.20 |
| 1964 | Steeple Jill | 3 | John Ruane | Sylvester Veitch | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1:51.80 |
| 1963 | Lamb Chop | 3 | Manuel Ycaza | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1:49.80 |
| 1962 | Pocosaba | 5 | William Boland | H. Allen Jerkens | George H. Bostwick | 1:52.00 |
| 1961 | Oil Royalty | 3 | Hedley Woodhouse | Edward A. Neloy | Elmendorf Farm | 1:36.60 |
| 1960 | Clear Road | 3 | Raymond York | Pete Mosconi | Edward Seinfeld | 1:36.40 |
| 1959 | Polamby | 4 | Pete Anderson | MacKenzie Miller | Ned W. Brent | 1:50.80 |
| 1958 | Hoosier Honey | 4 | John Ruane | Not found | Roy R. Hunt | 1:45.40 |
| 1957 | Gay Life | 4 | John Ruane | Not found | Morty Freedman | 1:50.40 |
| 1956 | Blue Banner | 4 | William Boland | Jack Skinner | Rokeby Stable | 1:49.40 |
| 1955 | Rare Treat | 3 | Ray Mikkonen | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1:50.80 |
| 1954 | Parlo | 3 | Ted Atkinson | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 1:53.40 |
| 1953 | Kiss Me Kate | 5 | Dave Gorman | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords | 1:50.80 |
| 1952 | Next Move | 5 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:51.20 |
| 1951 | Renew | 4 | B. Green | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:50.60 |
| 1950 | Red Camelia | 4 | Patterson Milligan | John B. Theall | Joe W. Brown | 1:45.40 |
| 1949 | But why Not | 5 | Dave Gorman | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:44.80 |
| 1948 | Carolyn A. | 4 | Charles LeBlanc | James P. Conway | Mrs. Ben F. Whitaker | 1:46.80 |