Dear
Readers,
As promised I’m back at the computer
recapping the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Series Challenge Races. First
up the Personal Ensign Handicap, Grade I, three-year-olds and up, for fillies
and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Saratoga Racetrack in New York.
Before I talk about the race on the
day, I wanted to look back at the mare the race was named to honor,
Personal Ensign. I let my internet search take me from site to site, recalling
as I went the glorious moments this mare gave to us all, and in particular to
those who love a good racehorse.
We watched Personal Ensign run to
victory, over and over again, a total of twelve times, culminating in the
showdown between her and Winning Colors in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at
Churchill Downs. What an exciting race that was. Winning Colors in the lead all the way,
big, beautiful and barely splashed with mud. Personal Ensign, slender, covered
in muck from the sloppy surface, ears pinned, struggling to handle the track and yet—clearly
determined to pass every horse in sight. And she did, retiring after the race with thirteen
wins from thirteen starts.
Personal Ensign runs down Winning Colors in Breeders' Cup Distaff in 1988.
So what about the 2013 Personal Ensign Handicap itself?
Royal Delta made the other
horses in the short field look like they should have been running somewhere in
the undercard. What a monster. I was struck at how much Royal Delta’s heavy headed running style reminded me of one of her
grandsires, A. P. Indy.
There is very little doubt Royal Delta will be participating in
this year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. And I suspect they will follow the
example of Personal Ensign and use
that race as farewell to her fans, as Royal
Delta retires and heads off to the breeding shed. Let’s hope she turns out
to be as influential as Personal Ensign
was with her offspring.
Adam Coglianese/NYRA Photo
Thanks for reading,
Shelley Riley
www.shelleyriley.com
Author of Casual Lies - A Triple Crown Adventure
2 comments:
How about the A.P. Indy filly who beat her the year before? What's your feeling on her? Just curious. Royal Delta is a lovely and talented mare...but not always a monster in a race.
Thank you for your comment and question. You’re referring to Love and Pride, a wonderful mare who did indeed beat Royal Delta at Saratoga Racetrack in the 2012 running of the Personal Ensign H. a Grade 1 race going a mile and one-eighth. What’s not to like? The two hooked up again in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic where, as you know, Royal Delta prevailed. It’s just my personnel opinion, but I think when you have horses running at this level, with so much talent, there are a lot of variables that come in to play to affect the ultimate outcome. I like the A.P. Indy line, which both mares have in their pedigree, and I’m sure his influence in racing will stand the test of time. While in Kentucky for the Kentucky Book Fair last week, I went to the Keeneland sales and I looked at several horses with A.P. Indy in their pedigree. I can say with certainty I would love to own a broodmare with him close up in the pedigree. Take care, Shelley Riley
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