2013 Personal Ensign Handicap; On Fire Baby Lookin’ To Scorch Up The Spa

2013 Personal Ensign Handicap (GI); On Fire Baby Lookin’ To Scorch Up The Spa:  The running of the 2013 Personal Ensign Handicap is set for Sunday, August 25th at the Saratoga Oval in Saratoga Springs, New York. The highly anticipated race is for fillies and mares three-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles with a purse of $600,000.

The Personal Ensign Handicap is named after the famous Private Account filly Personal Ensign. Personal Ensign stayed undefeated in 13 starts during her career for trainer Shug McGaughey and owner Ogden Phipps. She amassed eight (GI) victories in her career including wins against the boys. Personal Ensign’s stellar career didn’t end when she was retired from the track as she was voted Kentucky’s Broodmare of the year in 1996. She had an illustrious career of fabulous moments and triumphs with 13 starts, all of them wins.

The four-year-old Smoke Glacken filly On Fire Baby is looking to come back to the track and leave a trail of smoke behind her in the 2013 Personal Ensign Handicap. On Fire Baby is Anita Cauley’s homebred beautiful grey mare whom recently had a little time off after spiking a fever prior to the Fleur De Lis. This year she has raced twice. On April 12, she won the (GI) Apple Blossom and followed that up with a second place behind Authenticity in the (GII) La Troienne. On Fire Baby has been back at Churchill Downs training hard the past couple of months and should have some good odds Sunday, so she’s a player in the Personal Ensign for sure. On Fire Baby gets Joe Johnson in the irons and exits post #1.

Anita Cauley is extremely excited about On Fire Baby’s chances on Sunday and told us, “We are all very honored to be invited to the Personal Ensign Invitational (GI) at Saratoga. This will be a very challenging race as Royal Delta and Authenticity are amazing mares and deserve all the accolades they have received.”

Anita Cauley added,  ”It will be quite exciting this weekend to be in Saratoga Springs with great stakes races every day. Baby is in comfortably resting in her stall and will go to the track on Thursday morning to stretch her legs.”

The Bill Mott trained 5 year-old dark bay mare Royal Delta, daughter of Empire Maker, is the head liner in this small Personal Ensign field of five. She’s already posted her obligatory clunker this year so watch out. This two-time champion recently won an overpowering victory in the Delaware Handicap (GI) on July 20th. Prior to that she was beat in the June 15th Fluer De Lis (GI) at Churchill Downs by Funny Proposition, so it can be done. Royal Delta as won 11 of 19 starts including the past two Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Distaff (GI), while earning $4,251,126. She will exit post #2 with Mike Smith up to ride again.

The other gal I really like in the 2013 Personal Ensign is the Quiet American 6 year-old mare Authenticity who is trained by Todd Pletcher.  Authenticity sat out her 2012 year and is looking game-on this year. Recently, she won the July 20th 2013 Shuvee Handicap (GIII) which gives her two stakes wins this year. Prior to that she won the (GIII) La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 3rd. Authenticity is an easy to train mare that can lead, stalk or take her back, which makes her very tough and she’s hit the board every race so far this year. Authenticity leaves post #5 with J.Velazquez in the saddle.

This 2013 Personal Ensign is one tough field and Royal Delta won’t have it as easy as she did in the Del-Cap. From a handicapping stand-point she’s going to be hard to beat. From a wagering standpoint, she will probably be way over-bet. On Fire Baby and Authenticity are my go-to girls here and I would love to see either of them hit the board in the 2013 Personal Ensign. I love Royal Delta but she’ll have to beat me at the window as my money is on the other gals I like this trip.

Good luck to all of the ladies and their connections, safe run!

The 2013 Personal Ensign is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race for fillies and mares for the Breeder’s Cup Ladies Distaff and is the 10th race of 11 on the card with a post time of 5:50 PM EDT.

Related Links:
Interview with Anita Cauley
Bet on Baby from Home! 

2013 Personal Ensign Post Positions & Odds
1. On Fire Baby 5/1  J.Johnson/G.G.Hartlage
2. Royal Delta 2/5  M.Smith/W.Mott
3. Open Water 20/1  J.Ortiz/E.J.Guillot
4. Centring 12/1  J.Castellano/T.Albertrani
5. Authenticity 7/2  J.Velazquez/T.Pletcher