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. The 22-year-old daughter of Private Account came up barren from a mating to Forest Wildcat this year. Her 2006 offspring is a Forest Wildcat colt.Personal Ensign, who won all 13 races as a homebred for the late Ogden Phipps, is the dam of grade I winners Miner's Mark, My Flag, and Traditionally, plus graded stakes-placed runners Our Emblem, Proud and True, and Salute. Overall, she produced 10 named foals, eight of which are winners. She is owned by Phipps Stable, which is managed by Phipps' son, Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps."She's still in good shape, looks good, and gets around fine." said Claiborne breeding shed manager Charles Koch. "She's just a little arthritic. She'll be spending time out in the field with other mares Korveya, Arabian Dancer, and Narrate."Personal Ensign is best known as a broodmare for launching a Breeders' Cup dynasty. She not only won a Breeders' Cup race - the 1988 Distaff (gr. I) in her farewell race over that year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Winning Colors - but her daughter My Flag and My Flag's daughter, Storm Flag Flying, each won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). Storm Flag Flying was voted champion of her division that 2002 season. Miner's Mark, a son of Mr. Prospector and Personal Ensign's first foal, scored his big win in the 1993 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I). His full brother, Traditionally, captured the 2001 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. I). Our Emblem, also by Mr. Prospector, made a name for himself following his racing days as the sire of champion and dual classic winner War Emblem.Personal Ensign, who is out of the Hoist the Flag mare Grecian Banner, was champion older female in 1988. During her career, she won eight grade I stakes, including two consecutive runnings of the Beldame Stakes (gr. I). She retired with earnings of $1,679,880.
