Persistently Wins the Personal Ensign

Persistently is a four-year-old filly, sired by Smoke Glacken, and out of the Deputy Minister mare Just Reward. In this afternoon's Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, the betting favorite was Rachel Alexandra. Rachel and Life at Ten both jumped from the gate and dueled for the lead until the eighth-pole, when Persistently made her move. She wore down Rachel A, who was under a hard ride and the whip from Calvin Borel. In an odd twist, Persistently is owned by the Phipps family and trained by Shug McGaughey - the same owners and trainer of the undefeated mare Personal Ensign, for whom the race is named.