Racing Career
Personal Ensign was bred and raced by Ogden Phipps. Produced from a mating of Phipp's homebred stallion, Private Account, and the mare Grecian Banner, Personal Ensign was a full sister to Personal Flag. Their combined exploits in 1988 led to their dam, Grecian Banner, being named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year...a feat Personal Ensign would later also accomplish.
Personal Ensign began her racing career as a two-year-old in 1986 with Randy Romero as her regular jockey. He would be aboard her for all but one of her thirteen wins. In her first season, she won a maiden race as well as the prestigious Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. A fracture to her pastern bone cut short her two-year-old season shortly before the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, a race she would have been favored to win. Dr. Bramlage had to insert five screws in her left hind leg. Many people were sure her racing career was over.
Returning to the races late in her three-year-old year, Personal Ensign resumed her winning ways, taking four more races, including two stakes. Her biggest win that year was the Beldame Stakes against older mares.
Personal Ensign shone in 1988, winning all seven of her starts. Her wins included the Shuvee Stakes, the Hempstead Stakes (by seven lengths), the Maskette Stakes, and Beldame Stakes—all prestigious Grade I races against fillies. At Saratoga, she defeated males in the historic Whitney Handicap. Her swan song was a nose victory over Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, a race that is often referred to as the most exciting finish in Breeder's Cup history.
Personal Ensign was retired following the Breeder's Cup as the first undefeated champion in American racing in over 80 years.
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