Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > Personal Ensign Stakes
Personal Ensign Stakes Race Facts
- Location: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Inaugural Race: 1948
- Distance: 1 & 1/8 mile (9 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three Year Olds and up
- 2021 Purse: $600,000
- 2021 Race Date: Saturday, August 28th
2021 Personal Ensign Stakes Race Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Letruska | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Fausto Gutierrez | $3.50 / $2.10 / $2.60 |
| 3 | Bonny South | Manuel Franco / Brad H. Cox | $10.60 / $5.30 |
| 5 | Royal Flag | Joel Rosario / Chad C. Brown | $4.10 |
| 1 | Dunbar Road | Flavien Prat / Chad C. Brown | |
| 4 | Swiss Skydiver | Jose L. Ortiz / Kenneth G. McPeek | |
| 2 | As Time Goes By | Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert | |
| 8 | Harvey's Lil Goil | Luis Saez / William I. Mott | |
| 7 | Miss Marissa | Daniel Centeno / James T. Ryerson | |
| 9 | Graceful Princess | John R. Velazquez / Todd A. Pletcher |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1.00 Exacta (6-3) Paid: $25.50
- $0.50 Trifecta (6-3-5) Paid: $53.50
- $0.10 Superfecta (6-3-5-1) Paid: $45.55
Watch the 2021 Personal Ensign Stakes
Personal Ensign Stakes Race History
The Personal Ensign Stakes is a Grade I horse race run each year at the Saratoga Race Course. The race is named after the Hall of Fame filly Personal Ensign, who finished her career undefeated and went on to be elected to the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.
At its current distance, Abel Tasman holds the speed record, which she set in 2018 with a time of 1:47.19. Currently three horses are tied for most wins with 2 each: Lie Low (1974, 1975), Politely (1967, 1968), and Beautiful Pleasure (1999, 2000). With an impressive eight victories, jockey Angel Cordero Jr. has held the record for most wins since 1989. Trainers C.R. McGaughey III (1990, 1995, 2004, 2010) and MacKenzie Miller (1959, 1974, 1975, 1993) have a record four wins each.
The winner of the race receives an automatic bid to race in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
Personal Ensign Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Letruska | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Fausto Gutierrez | 1:49.15 |
| 2020 | Vexatious | Jose Lezcano / Jack Sisterson | 1:48.82 |
| 2019 | Midnight Bisou | Mike E. Smith / Steve Asmussen | 1:47.92 |
| 2018 | Abel Tasman | Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert | 1:47.19 |
| 2017 | Forever Unbridled | Joel Rosario / Dallas Stewart | 1:49.16 |
| 2016 | Cavorting | Javier Castellano / Kiaran McLaughlin | 1:48.61 |
| 2015 | Sheer Drama | Joe Bravo / David Fawkes | 1:49.05 |
| 2014 | Close Hatches | Joel Rosario / William I. Mott | 1:50.62 |
| 2013 | Royal Delta | Mike E. Smith / William I. Mott | 1:48.34 |
| 2012 | Love and Pride | John Velazquez / Todd Pletcher | 1:49.22 |
| 2011 | Ask the Moon | Javier Castellano / Marty Wolfson | 2:04.21 |
| 2010 | Persistently | Alan Garcia / C. R. McGaughey III | 2:04.49 |
| 2009 | Icon Project | Julien Leparoux / Martin D. Wolfson | 2:02.37 |
| 2008 | Ginger Punch | Rafael Bejarano / Robert J. Frankel | 2:03.37 |
| 2007 | Miss Shop | Javier Castellano / H. Allen Jerkens | 2:03.48 |
| 2006 | Fleet Indian | José A. Santos / Todd A. Pletcher | 2:03.87 |
| 2005 | Shadow Cast | Robby Albarado / Neil J. Howard | 2:02.07 |
| 2004 | Storm Flag Flying | John Velazquez / C. R. McGaughey III | 2:03.63 |
| 2003 | Passing Shot | José A. Santos / H. Allen Jerkens | 2:03.33 |
| 2002 | Summer Colony | John Velazquez / Mark A. Hennig | 2:03.15 |
| 2001 | Pompeii | Richard Migliore / John C. Kimmel | 2:04.60 |
| 2000 | Beautiful Pleasure | Jorge Chavez / John T. Ward Jr. | 2:03.77 |
| 1999 | Beautiful Pleasure | Jorge Chavez / John T. Ward Jr. | 2:02.57 |
| 1998 | Tomisue's Delight | Pat Day / Neil J. Howard | 2:04.08 |
| 1997 | Clear Mandate | Mike E. Smith / George R. Arnold II | 2:03.71 |
| 1996 | Urbane | Alex Solis / Randy Bradshaw | 2:03.05 |
| 1995 | Heavenly Prize | Pat Day / C. R. McGaughey III | 2:04.16 |
| 1994 | Link River | Julie Krone / William I Mott | 1:50.46 |
| 1993 | You'd Be Surprised | Jerry Bailey / MacKenzie Miller | 1:48.59 |
| 1992 | Quick Mischief | Craig Perret / Charles Carlesimo Jr. | 1:47.96 |
| 1991 | Fit to Scout | Chris Antley / Jack C. Van Berg | 1:50.20 |
| 1990 | Personal Business | Chris Antley / C. R. McGaughey III | 1:51.20 |
| 1989 | Colonial Waters | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Ross Pearce | 1:50.00 |
| 1988 | Rose's Cantina | José A. Santos / LeRoy Jolley | 1:49.80 |
| 1987 | Coup De Fusil | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Jan H. Nerud | 1:49.20 |
| 1986 | Shocker T. | Gene St. Leon / George Gianos | 1:50.00 |
| 1985 | Lady On The Run | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Bruce N. Levine | 1:52.00 |
| 1984 | Solar Halo | Robbie Davis / J. Elliott Burch | 1:49.20 |
| 1983 | Chieftain's Command | Ángel Cordero Jr. / John Parisella | 1:51.60 |
| 1982 | Number | Eddie Maple / Woody Stephens | 1:51.40 |
| 1981 | Tina Tina Too | Don MacBeth / Richard T. DeStasio | 1:51.00 |
| 1980 | Relaxing | Jorge Velásquez / Angel Penna Sr. | 1:49.20 |
| 1979 | Catherine's Bet | Daryl Montoya / James P. Conway | 1:50.20 |
| 1978 | Mrs. Warren | Jorge Velásquez / Woody Stephens | 1:51.40 |
| 1977 | Water Malone | Jean-Luc Samyn / Philip G. Johnson | 1:50.40 |
| 1976 | Sugar Plum Time | Ángel Cordero Jr. / John W. Russell | 1:51.00 |
| 1975 | Lie Low | Jorge Velásquez / MacKenzie Miller | 2:15.20 |
| 1974 (Division 1) | Lie Low | Jorge Velásquez / MacKenzie Miller | 1:49.00 |
| 1974 (Division 2) | Twixt | William J. Passmore / Katharine Voss | 1:49.80 |
| 1973 | Aglimmer | Michael Venezia / Willard C. Freeman | 1:49.40 |
| 1972 (Division 1) | Manta | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Victor J. Nickerson | 1:50.00 |
| 1972 (Division 2) | Aladancer | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Stephen A. DiMauro | 1:50.80 |
| 1971 | Kittiwake | Heliodoro Gustines / Woody Stephens | 1:50.20 |
| 1970 | Obeah | John L. Rotz / Henry S. Clark | 1:51.20 |
| 1969 | Amerigo Lady | Jorge Velásquez / J. Elliott Burch | 1:50.00 |
| 1968 | Politely | Ángel Cordero Jr. / George M. Baker | 1:49.60 |
| 1967 | Politely | Braulio Baeza / George M. Baker | 1:53.00 |
| 1966 | Straight Deal II | Bobby Ussery / Hirsch Jacobs | 1:49.60 |
| 1965 | Sailor Princess | Gary Mineau / Burley Parke | 1:51.20 |
| 1964 | Steeple Jill | John Ruane / Sylvester Veitch | 1:51.80 |
| 1963 | Lamb Chop | Manuel Ycaza / James W. Maloney | 1:49.80 |
| 1962 | Pocosaba | William Boland / H. Allen Jerkens | 1:52.00 |
| 1961 | Oil Royalty | Hedley Woodhouse / Edward A. Neloy | 1:36.60 |
| 1960 | Clear Road | Raymond York / Pete Mosconi | 1:36.40 |
| 1959 | Polamby | Pete Anderson / MacKenzie Miller | 1:50.80 |
| 1958 | Hoosier Honey | John Ruane / Not found | 1:45.40 |
| 1957 | Gay Life | John Ruane / Not found | 1:50.40 |
| 1956 | Blue Banner | William Boland / Jack Skinner | 1:49.40 |
| 1955 | Rare Treat | Ray Mikkonen / Bert Mulholland | 1:50.80 |
| 1954 | Parlo | Ted Atkinson / Richard E. Handlen | 1:53.40 |
| 1953 | Kiss Me Kate | Dave Gorman / Oscar White | 1:50.80 |
| 1952 | Next Move | Eric Guerin / William C. Winfrey | 1:51.20 |
| 1951 | Renew | B. Green / Max Hirsch | 1:50.60 |
| 1950 | Red Camelia | Patterson Milligan / John B. Theall | 1:45.40 |
| 1949 | But Why Not | Dave Gorman / Max Hirsch | 1:44.80 |
| 1948 | Carolyn A. | Charles LeBlanc / James P. Conway | 1:46.80 |