AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS
| PERSONAL ENSIGN S.
(G1), 9TH-SAR, $400,000, 3YO/UP, F/M, 1 1/4M, 5:18 P.M. EDT, 8-26 |
|
| 1 |
SHADOW CAST, 4, f, by Smart StrikeDaily Special, by Dayjur O-Farish Jr William S; B-William S. Farish Jr. (Ky) |
| 2 |
TWO TRAIL SIOUX, 4, f, by Indian CharlieQuiet Trail, by Quiet American O-Gunther John D Winton Donald; B-Totier Creek Farm (Ky) |
| 3 |
ISLAND SAND, 4, f, by Tabasco CatSue’s Last Dance, by Forty Niner O-Ba Man Stable; B-Richard D. Maynard (Ky) |
| 4 |
PERSONAL LEGEND, 5, m, by Awesome AgainHighland Legend, by Storm Bird O-Gann Edmund A; B-G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. & Louise I. Humphrey (Ky) |
| 5 |
ASHADO, 4, f, by Saint BalladoGoulash, by Mari’s Book O-Starlight Stables Saylor Paul H Martin; B-Aaron U. Jones & Marie D. Jones (Ky) |
| 6 |
ISOLA PIU BELLA (CHI), 5, m, by Rich Man’s GoldSweet Music, by Inchwood O-Sumaya Us Stable; B-Haras Sumaya (Chi) |
| 7 |
A SONG IN A MINOR, 4, f, by Real QuietShe’s a Lively One, by Lively One O-Norman Greg; B-S. David Plummer (Ky) |
Friday’s $400,000 Personal Ensign S. (G1) has attracted seven distaffers and
will be contested over 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga. ASHADO (Saint Ballado), the 2004
champion three-year-old filly, enters the Personal Ensign off a stellar 9
1/2-length romp in the Go for Wand H. (G1), which represented her third career
win at the Spa, and looks very difficult to derail here.
The Todd Pletcher trainee owns a terrific turn of foot, recording BRIS E2
Pace ratings of 110 and 109 (twice) this season, and Ashado will be up close
tracking the likely pacesetter, TWO TRAIL SIOUX (Indian Charlie), to her inside.
When jockey John Velazquez asks for her run, Ashado should respond with another
top-notch performance. The dark bay appears to be at the top of her game and is
well-spotted for her third consecutive victory.
Two Trail Sioux is the obvious danger with her early speed and has displayed
a winning attitude for conditioner Wally Dollase, reeling off five straight
triumphs earlier in her career. The four-year-old miss recorded a sharp score in
the Fleur de Lis H. (G2) at Churchill Downs two starts back, earning a 103 BRIS
Speed rating, and finished a commendable second in the Delaware H. (G2). She
shows three breezes at Saratoga and will take her rivals as far as she can on
the front end under Gary Stevens.
SHADOW CAST (Smart Strike) is an upset candidate. Trained by Neil Howard, the
chestnut has run well on the main track here (2-1-0-1) and could move forward
off her last start on the turf in the Diana H. (G1). The four-year-old
lass closed smartly to win the Louisville Breeders’ Cup
H. (G2) three starts back and looms as a late-running threat on Friday.
ISLAND SAND (Tabasco Cat) brings good present form, having captured the
Delaware H. at the distance last out, into her Saratoga debut and could easily
show up in the top three. The Grade 1 winner hasn’t been a picture of
consistency for trainer Larry Jones, but Island Sand appears to be on the
upswing now and merits serious consideration for the exotics.
ISOLA PIU BELLA (Chi) (Rich Man’s Gold) faltered as the 6-5 favorite in the
Delaware H. following a troubled start and may show more here for Pletcher. The
uncoupled mare will be stalking the pace under Ramon Doniguez, who guided her to
an easy stakes win in their last collaboration, but Isola Piu Bella has
failed to earn triple-digit Speed ratings in her last three starts over fast
tracks. We can’t recommend her chances.
PERSONAL LEGEND (Awesome Again) hasn’t been much of a factor at this level
for trainer Bobby Frankel and will have to surprise us here. A SONG IN A MINOR
(Real Quiet) defeated optional-claiming rivals at Belmont last out and
will probably find this competition too salty.