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Miner's Mark, 23, Euthanized

Miner's Mark, a grade I winner and the first foal out of the legendary Personal Ensign, was euthanized April 30 at Blue Ridge Farm in Virginia. The son of Mr. Prospector was 23.

Robe Tissage a Case of Quality Over Quantity

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
From time to time there are results that make us wonder, what if? One of those moments came Dec. 9 when Robe Tissage scored an upset victory in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (Jpn-I).

After the Wire - 8/27/2012

Evan Hammonds recaps the Travers Stakes, Personal Ensign, Pacific Classic, and more!

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Hansen Works for Travers Stakes

Hansen, the juvenile champion of 2011, worked five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 the morning of Aug. 18 in preparation for a start in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, where Turbulent Descent and It's Tricky also worked.

Australian Horse Provides Inspiration

8-year-old Australian-bred gelding named Geejayhaitch returns from a horrific injury.

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Saratoga Diary: Downwards-wise

Grade 1 Woodward against males a drop-down for winner

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Havre de Grace on Her Way to Woodward

Another showdown between Blind Luck and Havre de Grace will likely have to wait for another day, as Rick Porter said Aug. 19 that Havre de Grace is headed to face males in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 3.

Blind Luck, Havre de Grace Both Work

Fox Hill Farms' Havre de Grace worked five furlongs in :59 3/5 Aug. 17 at Delaware Park, while rival Blind Luck breezed six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 at Del Mar the same morning.

Blind Luck, Havre de Grace to Clash Again?

The $300,000 Personal Ensign (gr. I) Aug. 28 at Saratoga remains a realistic possibility for rivals Blind Luck and Havre de Grace to meet again.

Blind Luck Works Five Furlongs in 1:00 2/5

Champion Blind Luck worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 the morning of Aug. 5 at Del Mar. The Aug. 28 Pacific Classic or Personal Ensign (both gr. I) are being considered for her next start.

Slideshow: 2010 Farewells

Remembering the people and horses that left us in 2010.

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Hangin' With Haskin: Retire Rachel? Why?

It didn't take long for the 'Retire Rachel' cries to be heard. I can't really criticize those who believe Rachel's reputation has suffered, and feel each race compromises her legacy.

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Beldame Next on Agenda for Persistently

Phipps Stable's Persistently appeared well the morning after her one-length upset victory over reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in Aug. 29, grade I, $300,000 Personal Ensign Invitational.

Saratoga Diary: Ghosts in the Pine Trees

The fans' appetite for a confrontation between horse racing's stars wasn't served, but it has probably subsided.

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Rachel Returns to Grade I in Personal Ensign

Rachel Alexandra will make her first foray into grade I company since defeating older males in the Woodward Stakes last September when she takes on four fillies and mares as the 2-5 favorite in the $300,000 Personal Ensign.

Travers-Personal Ensign Double Offered

A double wager linking the Aug. 28 Travers Stakes (gr. I) with the following day's Personal Ensign (gr. I) will be offered at Saratoga Race Course.

Rachel Alexandra in Strong Saratoga Workout

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in a strong six-furlong workout in 1:13 1/5 at Saratoga Race Course early Aug. 16 as the 4-year-old filly continued preparations for the grade I Personal Ensign Stakes.

'Rachel Breezes Six Furlongs in 1:12.96

With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra continued preparations for the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, breezing a strong six furlongs in 1:12.96 Aug. 9.

Rachel Alexandra Breezes Over Training Track

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra breezed five furlongs in 1:02.45 at Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Aug. 2 as she continued to prep for the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I).

Rachel on Her Way to Personal Ensign

Rachel Alexandra, coming off two consecutive wins, will race next in the $300,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 29 in Saratoga. The race for fillies and mares will be run at 1 1/4 miles.

It's Personal

The clamor falls to the floor, leaving only murmurs in the air. Did Personal Ensign get there?

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Personal Ensign's Videos Available

The New York Racing Association has uploaded the replays from all 11 races that the brilliant Personal Ensign won on the NYRA circuit.

Personal Memories of Personal Ensign

Even today, I still can't believe Personal Ensign won the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff. Her will to win was simply too strong.

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Racing Icon Personal Ensign Dead

Personal Ensign's greatest victory came in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) over Kentucky Derby Winning Colors. Her three grade I winners are Miner's Mark, My Flag, and Traditionally.

'Rachel' Breezes at Spa; Next Start Unknown

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.

Ginger Punch Prevails in Ensign Thriller

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.

Ginger Punch Tries 10 Furlongs

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.

Romero Hospitalized, Kidney Removed

Randy Romero, a 2008 Hall of Fame jockey nominee, remains in the Baptist East Hospital in Louisville, Ky.

Unbridled Belle Peaking at Right Time

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.

Pine Island: She's No Beauty, But She Can Shake Her Booty

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.

Churchill Downs Has Played Host to Some Memorable Cups

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.

Leading the Parade to Stand at Lambholm South

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.

Personal Ensign Pensioned at Claiborne

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.

Fleet Indian Sneaks Away in Personal Ensign

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.

Balletto, Fleet Indian Square Off in Personal Ensign

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.

Champion Personal Ensign Delivers Forest Wildcat Colt

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.

Shadow Cast Upsets Ashado in Personal Ensign

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.

Champion Ashado One to Beat in Personal Ensign

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?

Romero Elected to Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame

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.

Storm Flag Flying Makes Last Start in Distaff

Win or lose Saturday in the Breeders' Cup Distaff – Presented by Nextel (gr. I), champion Storm Flag Flying will be making her last start.

Salute, Daughter of Personal Ensign, Second in Debut

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.

It's All in the Family in Personal Ensign

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.

Azeri Topweighted at 122 in Personal Ensign

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).

Champion Storm Flag Flying Breezes

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.

Azeri Sizzles in Workout Over Oklahoma Training Track

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.

Blue Hens

Broodmares represented by two grade/group I winners in the same year form an exclusive band.

Saratoga Notebook: Harlan's Holiday Update; Fur OK, but Frankel Unhappy; Volponi Battled; Mineshaft Breezes; Bailey Hurting

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).

Personal Ensign Foals Monarchos Filly

Unbeaten champion Personal Ensign foaled a Monarchos filly April 18.

Storm Flag Flying Among 138 Oaks Nominees

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.

Forward Gal May Be '03 Debut for Storm Flag Flying

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.