Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra put in her first work at Saratoga Race Course the morning of Aug. 11 in preparation for her as-yet-to-be-determined next start, covering a half-mile in :50.72 under exercise rider Dominic Terry.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
There were many who questioned whether champion mare Ginger Punch would be able to stretch out to 10 furlongs, something she had never done before. In the $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 22 at Saratoga, the 5-year-old daughter of Awesome Again was grateful for the added distance, as she needed every last stride to pass Lemon Drop Mom.
Friday, August 22, 2008
On Aug. 22, Ginger Punch will try something she has never done -- go 10 furlongs for the first time in the $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. She will take on six rivals in the main track event.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Randy Romero, a 2008 Hall of Fame jockey nominee, remains in the Baptist East Hospital in Louisville, Ky.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The last time Unbridled Belle raced at Saratoga, the bay filly was in the midst of a long and unfulfilling summer. An 11 1/2-length defeat in the 2006 Alabama (gr. I) was just one of three sound New York losses for the then 3-year-old filly, prompting Team Valor Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher to give her an extended rest.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Pine Island, bred and owned by the Phipps Stable, probably wouldn't win an equine beauty contest. But she's Miss America on the racetrack.
Friday, November 03, 2006
For the first time since 2000, the Breeders' Cup World Championships returns to Churchill Downs Nov. 4. The historic track has held the event five times in the past, and the six-year gap between hosting duties is the longest it has faced.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Leading the Parade, a stakes-placed son of A.P. Indy out of grade I winner and champion producer My Flag, has been retired and will stand in 2007 at Roy Lerman's Lambholm South near Reddick, Fla. His fee will be $3,500.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Personal Ensign, the unbeaten Hall of Famer and 1996 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, has been pensioned at the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Paul H. Saylor's odds-on favorite Fleet Indian and jockey Jose Santos set a dawdling pace, then opened up in the lane to win the $392,000 Personal Ensign (gr. I) for fillies and mares at 10 furlongs at Saratoga Race Course.
Friday, August 25, 2006
It's seldom that horses come out of retirement. And even more seldom that they come out of retirement and regain the form that they once had. Now Balletto, a grade I winner as a 2-year-old, is one of those horses trying to make a comeback off retirement.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Champion Personal Ensign delivered a colt by Forest Wildcat April 2 at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky. The chestnut colt was bred by the Phipps Stable and is Personal Ensign's 11th foal.
Monday, April 03, 2006
There was a big shadow cast at Saratoga Friday, and it was Shadow Cast who was responsible as the 4-year-old Smart Strike filly upset heavily favored Ashado in the $400,000 Personal Ensign (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Starlight Stables and partners' Ashado is arguably the dominant older filly and mare in North America. The questions remaining are: Can she get any better? And, can anyone get close to her?
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Former jockey Randy Romero is among eight sports figures that will be inducted into Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame at a June 25 ceremony in Natchitoches.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Win or lose Saturday in the Breeders' Cup Distaff – Presented by Nextel (gr. I), champion Storm Flag Flying will be making her last start.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Salute, a 2-year-old daughter of Unbridled out of the undefeated champion Personal Ensign, ran an encouraging second as the 4-5 favorite in her debut Sunday at Belmont Park.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
It was a family affair at Saratoga on Friday when Storm Flag Flying wore down 3-5 favorite Azeri to win the Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) by more than a length.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Michael Paulson's Azeri, a three-time champion who became North America's all-time richest female in winning the Aug. 1 Go for Wand Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, was assigned top weight of 122 pounds in Friday's $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I).
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Ogden Mills Phipps' Storm Flag Flying breezed six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Saturday morning as the 2-year-old filly champion of 2002 prepped for Friday's grade I, $400,000 Personal Ensign at 1 1/4 miles.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Azeri, the 2002 Horse of the Year and 2003 champion older filly or mare owned by the Allen Paulson Living Trust, tuned up for the grade I, $400,000 Personal Ensign Aug. 27 with a sparkling breeze on the Oklahoma training track Thursday morning.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Broodmares represented by two grade/group I winners in the same year form an exclusive band.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
According to trainer Todd Pletcher, Harlan's Holiday is likely to retired after damaging a suspensory ligament during the running of the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II).
Sunday, August 17, 2003
Unbeaten champion Personal Ensign foaled a Monarchos filly April 18.
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Champion Storm Flag Flying, and eight fillies each from the Godolphin operation and trainer Todd Pletcher, are among those nominated to the 129th Kentucky Oaks.
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Ogden Mills Phipps' Storm Flag Flying, the regally-bred filly who was named champion 2-year-old female of 2002, could make her 3-year-old debut in the $100,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park on March 14.
Friday, January 31, 2003
The late Ogden Phipps, who bred and raced generations of champion Thoroughbred racehorses, and longtime racing secretary and handicapper Howard Battle, who died of cancer last summer, have been named co-recipients of the Eclipse Award of Merit.
Friday, January 03, 2003
It didn't take long for anyone with a sense of racing history to start comparing Storm Flag Flying's performance in the Long John Silver's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Arlington Park to that of Personal Ensign's in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Sure, a solid favorite has been established, but there are still many questions to be answered in the week's time before pre-entries are taken Oct. 15 for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
Well, if you want good stories, the results of the races this past weekend affecting the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) division couldn't have been more perfect.
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Summer Colony was pressed through the early and middle stages of the Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) Friday at Saratoga, but it didn't faze her at all as she drew off to an authoritative victory.
Saturday, August 24, 2002
Dancethruthedawn and Summer Colony, who finished a nose apart after a competitive stretch duel in the Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff Handicap (gr. III), meet up in Friday's Personal Ensign Handicap.
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Few stallions in recent memory have enjoyed more of an upswing in their reputation in such a short span as Our Emblem.
Monday, May 20, 2002
In honor of the recent passing of Ogden Phipps, the New York Racing Association decided Wednesday to rename the grade I Hempstead Handicap the Ogden Phipps Handicap.
Wednesday, May 08, 2002
Former jockey Randy Romero, who continues to battle a serious kidney disorder, was recently informed he also suffers from the Hepatitis C virus, which causes chronic liver disease.
Monday, May 06, 2002
Champion Personal Ensign's eighth foal, a bay filly by Unbridled, is doing well in her second week at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky.
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Arlington Park has established a "Rally For Randy" Fund to assist former jockey Randy Romero who is undergoing kidney dialysis while awaiting a transplant. Arlington will initiate the fundraising effort with a $2,000 donation and invites all other racetracks to participate in the effort.
Monday, February 18, 2002
Former jockey Randy Romero is undergoing kidney dialysis while waiting on a transplant.
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Traditionally, the royally-bred winner of last year's Oaklawn Handicap (gr. I), worked a half-mile in :49 2/5 over a fast track at Gulfstream Park on Sunday and trainer Shug McGaughey said he will probably run him in Saturday's Skip Away Stakes (gr. III).
Monday, January 07, 2002
Beautiful Pleasure will go to the lead in Friday's grade I $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga and a field of six young guns will be on her heels looking to stop her chance for a three-peat in the 1 1/4-mile event.
Thursday, August 23, 2001
John C. Oxley's Beautiful Pleasure earned a front-running win in in the $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) Friday at Saratoga. Under Jorge Chavez, Beautiful Pleasure raced wide around both turns while alone on the lead before racing down the center of the track through the stretch, finishing five lengths clear of Back in Shape.
Friday, August 25, 2000
Beautiful Pleasure and Heritage of Gold will begin their rematch from neighboring starting gate stalls as the two drew post positions two and three, respectively, for Friday's $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Wednesday, August 23, 2000
Heritage of Gold and Beautiful Pleasure continued preparing for their expected rematch in the $400,000 Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 25, completing workouts at that track Friday morning.
Saturday, August 19, 2000
