Abel Tasman Outslugs Elate in the Personal Ensign

[Wandering Eyes]

Abel Tasman (f, 4, Quality Road–Vargas Girl, by Deputy Minister) and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Elate (f, 4, Medaglia d’Oro–Cherry, by Distorted Humor) put on a show at Saratoga last summer in the GI CCA Oaks, with the former posting a head success after surviving a claim of foul by Jose Ortiz aboard Elate. It was deja vu all over again in Saturday’s GI Personal Ensign S., but in the end, Abel Tasman-favored at 3-4–got just the better of Elate following an enervating stretch run and survived yet another lengthy debate in the stewards’ room. Content to sit back in fourth early as 55-1 She Takes Heart (Wilburn) threw down fast fractions, Abel Tasman was allowed to roll forward, as is her custom, to take up the running passing the midway stage and a half in :46.62. Still clear on the turn, with Ortiz sitting hard against Elate and waiting to release the brakes, Abel Tasman was in front turning for home, but was tackled in earnest at the three-sixteenths. Racing a few lanes apart into the final eighth of a mile, Abel Tasman appeared to drift out and Elate towards the inside, brushing first before exchanging a bump. Abel Tasman hit the wire about a neck to the good, as Ortiz appealed to the judges two strides past the wire. After a handful of minutes, no change was made and the result allowed to stand. The final time of 1:47.18 took 0.78 seconds off the previous 9-furlong stakes record established by Quick Mischief in 1992. The Personal Ensign was contested over 10 panels from 1995-2011. Lifetime Record: 14-8-4-0. O-China Horse Club International Ltd & Clearsky Farm; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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