The Personal Ensign Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to fillies and Mares age three and older, it is contested at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt.

Since 1997, this race has been named for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Personal Ensign. Undefeated in racing, Personal Ensign was also a great broodmare. Her granddaughter Storm Flag Flying won the race in 2004.

Inaugurated at Jamaica Race Course in 1948 as the Firenze Handicap, it was named for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Firenze. From 1986 through 1996 it was run as the John A. Morris Handicap, named to honor John Albert Morris, a prominent horseman who in 1889 built the Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York.

Since inception, the race has also been hosted by all three tracks operated by the New York Racing Association: Jamaica Race Course: 1948–1957 Aqueduct Racetrack: 1960–1974, 1976–1985 Belmont Park: 1975 Saratoga Race Course: 1958–1959, 1986–present

The race has been contested at various distances: miles: 1948–1950 1 mile: 1960–1961 miles: 1975 miles: 1976–1994, 2012–present miles: 1995–2011

The Firenze Handicap was run on turf from 1972 to 1975 and run in two divisions in 1972 and 1974. The 1988 race was run for purse money only, no wagering, after being postponed for one day due to severe thunderstorms that forced cancellation of the remainder of the racing card at Saratoga Springs on Aug. 28, 1988.

Records Speed record: 2:02.07 – Shadow Cast (2005) (at the distance of miles) 1:47.19 – Abel Tasman (2018) (at the current distance of miles)

Most wins: 2 – Lie Low (1974, 1975) 2 – Politely (1967, 1968) 2 – Beautiful Pleasure (1999, 2000)

Most wins by a jockey: 8 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1968, 1972 (2), 1976, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – C. R. McGaughey III (1990, 1995, 2004, 2010) 4 – MacKenzie Miller (1959, 1974, 1975, 1993)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Rokeby Stable (1956, 1969, 1993) 3 – Ogden Phipps (1980, 1990, 1995) (other members of the Phipps family also won in 1976, 2004 and 2010)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Fully Subscribed4Flavien PratChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables1:49.232025Thorpedo Anna4 Brian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekHill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Magdalena Racing, Mark Edwards & Judy B. Hicks1:49.182024Raging Sea 4Flavien PratChad C. Brown Alpha Delta Stables 1:49.14 2023Idiomatic 4Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxJuddmonte1:49.122022Malathaat4John VelazquezTodd A. PletcherShadwell Racing1:48.302021Letruska5Irad Ortiz Jr.Fausto GutierrezSt. George Stable1:49.152020Vexatious6Jose LezcanoJack SistersonJames C. Weigel & Giant's Causeway Syndicate, LLC 1:48.822019Midnight Bisou4Mike E. SmithSteve AsmussenBloom Racing Stable, LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Allen Racing LLC. 1:47.922018 Abel Tasman4Mike E. SmithBob BaffertChina Horse Club International Ltd. and Clearsky Farms 1:47.192017Forever Unbridled5Joel RosarioDallas StewartCharles E. Fipke1:49.162016Cavorting4Javier CastellanoKiaran McLaughlinStonestreet Stables1:48.612015Sheer Drama5Joe BravoDavid FawkesHarold L. Queen1:49.052014Close Hatches4Joel RosarioWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms1:50.622013Royal Delta5Mike E. SmithWilliam I. MottBesilu Stables1:48.342012Love and Pride4John VelazquezTodd A. PletcherGreen Hills Farm1:49.222011Ask the Moon6Javier CastellanoMarty WolfsonFarnsworth Stables2:04.212010Persistently4Alan GarciaC. R. McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable2:04.492009Icon Project4Julien LeparouxMartin D. WolfsonAndrew Rosen2:02.372008Ginger Punch5Rafael BejaranoRobert J. FrankelStronach Stables2:03.372007 Miss Shop4Javier CastellanoH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm2:03.482006Fleet Indian5José A. SantosTodd A. PletcherPaul Saylor2:03.872005Shadow Cast4Robby AlbaradoNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish IV2:02.072004Storm Flag Flying 4John VelazquezC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps et al.2:03.632003Passing Shot 4José A. SantosH. Allen JerkensJoseph V. Shields Jr.2:03.332002Summer Colony 4John VelazquezMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans2:03.152001Pompeii 4Richard MiglioreJohn C. KimmelWinStar Farm, LLC.2:04.602000Beautiful Pleasure 5Jorge ChavezJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley 2:03.771999Beautiful Pleasure4Jorge ChavezJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley2:02.571998Tomisue's Delight4Pat DayNeil J. HowardStephen C. Hilbert2:04.081997Clear Mandate5Mike E. SmithGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr.2:03.711996Urbane4Alex SolisRandy BradshawSiegel Family2:03.051995Heavenly Prize4Pat DayC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps2:04.161994Link River4Julie KroneWilliam I MottSheikh Mohammed1:50.461993You'd Be Surprised4Jerry BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stable1:48.591992Quick Mischief6Craig PerretCharles Carlesimo Jr.Greg G. Mordas1:47.961991Fit to Scout4Chris AntleyJack C. Van BergRobert M. Snell1:50.201990Personal Business4Chris AntleyC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:51.201989Colonial Waters4Ángel Cordero Jr.Ross PearceBuckland Farm1:50.001988Rose's Cantina4José A. SantosLeRoy JolleyCarl Icahn1:49.801987Coup De Fusil5Ángel Cordero Jr.Jan H. NerudTartan Stable1:49.201986Shocker T.4Gene St. LeonGeorge GianosThomasina Caporella1:50.001985Lady On The Run3Ángel Cordero Jr.Bruce N. LevinePeter Montemarano1:52.001984Solar Halo3Robbie DavisJ. Elliott BurchJames F. Edwards1:49.201983Chieftain's Command4Ángel Cordero Jr.John ParisellaTheodore Sabarese1:51.601982Number3Eddie MapleWoody StephensClaiborne Farm1:51.401981Tina Tina Too3Don MacBethRichard T. DeStasioAlbert Fried Jr.1:51.001980Relaxing4Jorge VelásquezAngel Penna Sr.Ogden Phipps1:49.201979Catherine's Bet4Daryl MontoyaJames P. ConwayAdele L. Rand1:50.201978Mrs. Warren4Jorge VelásquezWoody StephensNewstead Farm1:51.401977Water Malone3Jean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonMrs. Morton Rosenthal1:50.401976Sugar Plum Time4Ángel Cordero Jr.John W. RussellCynthia Phipps1:51.001975Lie Low4Jorge VelásquezMacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables2:15.201974†Lie Low3Jorge VelásquezMacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables1:49.00Twixt5William J. PassmoreKatharine VossMrs. John M. Franklin1:49.801973Aglimmer4Michael VeneziaWillard C. FreemanJohn A. Bell III1:49.401972†Manta6Ángel Cordero Jr.Victor J. NickersonElmendorf Farm1:50.00Aladancer4Ángel Cordero Jr.Stephen A. DiMauroAlbert Clay1:50.801971Kittiwake3Heliodoro GustinesWoody StephensMrs. Taylor Hardin1:50.201970Obeah5John L. RotzHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stable1:51.201969Amerigo Lady5Jorge VelásquezJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable1:50.001968Politely5Ángel Cordero Jr.George M. BakerBohemia Stable1:49.601967Politely4Braulio BaezaGeorge M. BakerBohemia Stable1:53.001966Straight Deal II4Bobby UsseryHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1:49.601965Sailor Princess3Gary MineauBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm1:51.201964Steeple Jill3John RuaneSylvester VeitchGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:51.801963Lamb Chop3Manuel YcazaJames W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1:49.801962Pocosaba5William BolandH. Allen JerkensGeorge H. Bostwick1:52.001961Oil Royalty3Hedley WoodhouseEdward A. NeloyElmendorf Farm1:36.601960Clear Road3Raymond YorkPete MosconiEdward Seinfeld1:36.401959Polamby4Pete AndersonMacKenzie MillerNed W. Brent1:50.801958Hoosier Honey4John RuaneNot foundRoy R. Hunt1:45.401957Gay Life4John RuaneNot foundMorty Freedman1:50.401956Blue Banner4William BolandJack SkinnerRokeby Stable1:49.401955Rare Treat3Ray MikkonenBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:50.801954Parlo3Ted AtkinsonRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1:53.401953Kiss Me Kate5Dave GormanOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords1:50.801952Next Move5Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1:51.201951Renew4B. GreenMax HirschKing Ranch1:50.601950Red Camelia4Patterson MilliganJohn B. TheallJoe W. Brown1:45.401949But Why Not5Dave GormanMax HirschKing Ranch1:44.801948Carolyn A.4Charles LeBlancJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1:46.80 † The race was run in two divisions in 1972 and 1974.

References

The 2008 Personal Ensign Stakes at Thoroughbred Times The Personal Ensign at the NYRA Ten Things You Should Know About the Personal Ensign Stakes at Hello Race Fans