Personal Ensign (KY)

The Eclipse Award winner for Champion Older Female in 1988, Personal Ensign went undefeated in 13 career starts from 1986 through 1988.

Inducted

1993

Foaled

1984

Sire

Private Account

Dam

Grecian Banner

Damsire

Hoist the Flag

Breeder

Ogden Phipps

Owner

Ogden Phipps

Trainer

Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey III

Career

1986-1988

Earnings

$1,679,880

Racing Record

13

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1986	2	2	0	0	$174600 $174,600
1987	4	4	0	0	$302640 $302,640
1988	7	7	0	0	$1202640 $1,202,640

Biography

The Eclipse Award winner for Champion Older Female in 1988, Personal Ensign went undefeated in 13 career starts from 1986 through 1988.

Bred and owned by Ogden Phipps, Personal Ensign was trained by Hall of Famer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III and ridden by Hall of Famer Randy Romero in all but one of her starts. A bay daughter by Private Account out of the Hoist the Flag mare Grecian Banner, Personal Ensign won both of her starts as a 2-year-old in 1986, including the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes. However, a broken pastern bone kept her off the track until September of the following year.

Upon her return, Personal Ensign won a pair of allowances before taking the Grade 2 Rare Perfume Stakes and then the Grade 1 Beldame Stakes eight days later. All four of her starts in 1987 were at Belmont Park.

Personal Ensign won all seven of her starts as a 4-year-old in 1988 to earn the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Female. She took the Shuvee, Hempstead, Molly Pitcher, and Whitney handicaps before adding the Maskette Stakes, Beldame Stakes, and Breeders’ Cup Distaff. In the Whitney, she defeated champion Gulch, and in both the Beldame and Breeders’ Cup Distaff she beat Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors. Personal Ensign’s Distaff victory was earned by a nose and is regarded as one of the greatest races in the history of the Breeders’ Cup. Six of her seven wins in 1988 were Grade 1s.

Personal Ensign was retired following the Breeders’ Cup without a blemish on her 13-race record. She earned $1,679,880 and was the first champion to be retired with an undefeated record in more than 80 years.

As a broodmare, Personal Ensign produced Breeders’ Cup winner My Flag, as well as Grade 1 winner Miner’s Mark. My Flag went on to produce champion and Breeders’ Cup winner Storm Flag Flying. Another Personal Ensign foal, Our Emblem, later sired Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner War Emblem.

Personal Ensign was pensioned to Claiborne Farm in 2006 at the age of 22. She died peacefully in her pasture there of natural causes on April 8, 2010.