The pursuit of absolute perfection in the realm of professional athletics is rife with potential pitfalls. A premier pitcher might exhibit unparalleled skill for nearly a full game, only to relinquish a perfect game due to a minor miscalculation resulting in a fortunate single, or a formidable NFL contender, akin to the 2007 New England Patriots, could dominate throughout the regular season and smoothly advance to the Super Bowl, only to suffer a stunning defeat in the championship game.
In the sport of horse racing, a Thoroughbred might encounter a rival operating at its zenith, or adverse weather patterns could yield a track surface deemed unfavorable, or the progression of the race could deviate from the optimal scenario. During the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Personal Ensign confronted all such obstacles, yet triumphantly surmounted them with unwavering resolve, culminating her undefeated streak with an unforgettable triumph.
The very fact that Personal Ensign even participated in her third career race was somewhat miraculous, given that she had sustained a fracture in the pastern bone of her left hind leg during a training session subsequent to her victory in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes in her second race. She underwent a procedure involving the insertion of five screws into the affected limb and was subsequently confined to stall rest for a duration of three months.
“We held minimal expectations of her racing again,” trainer Shug McGaughey conveyed to BloodHorse preceding the 1988 Distaff, “although the situation never posed a threat to her life. I initially considered the veterinarians to be overly optimistic when they suggested, approximately a week post-operation, that she retained a chance of resuming her racing career.”
Personal Ensign not only resumed racing but consistently emerged victorious. The Ogden Phipps homebred filly, sired by Private Account, achieved a flawless 4-for-4 record in 1987, securing wins in the Grade 2 Rare Perfume and Grade 1 Beldame Stakes. Subsequently, in 1988, she embarked on a sequence of six consecutive victories – comprising five Grade 1s and a Grade 2 – leading up to the concluding race of her career, the symbolically significant 13th, in the Distaff.
“It will feel peculiar when I escort her to the paddock for the final occasion,” McGaughey disclosed to BloodHorse. “For the majority of the past two years, my routine has entailed visiting the barn, with her well-being consistently occupying my thoughts. I routinely visit her stall to monitor her condition and ensure her contentment. Reflecting on the entirety of my interactions with her each morning, her absence will undoubtedly create a void.”
“The experience of being in her presence and possessing her has been remarkable and unforgettable,” McGaughey added, “albeit not devoid of elements I will miss, as considerable pressure has been associated with it.”
In the prelude to the race, Winning Colors loomed as the principal impediment obstructing Personal Ensign’s path to perfection, despite Goodbye Halo, the 1988 Kentucky Oaks victor, presenting a formidable challenge with three Grade 1 victories that year under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham.
Winning Colors, in the month of May, had etched her name in history as only the third filly to secure victory in the Kentucky Derby. Subsequently, she achieved a third-place finish in the Preakness and a sixth-place finish in the Belmont. Following a period of rejuvenation, Winning Colors secured a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Maskette Stakes and a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes during her concluding preparatory race for the Distaff, with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas having rejuvenated his filly to optimal condition in anticipation of the Distaff.
Winning Colors established a comfortable advantage of 2 ½ lengths on the rain-affected main track, remaining unchallenged throughout the initial phases of the Distaff, establishing a relatively modest pace, completing three-quarters of a mile in 1:12 under the guidance of Gary Stevens. Personal Ensign, conversely, was positioned wide while navigating through traffic entering the first turn, and purportedly exhibited an aversion to the rain-soaked surface under the direction of regular rider Randy Romero.
Winning Colors sustained a distinct lead as they approached the final stretch, seemingly poised for victory, as Goodbye Halo was not gaining sufficient ground. Personal Ensign had advanced into contention on the outer flank but appeared to be rapidly diminishing the available distance. Personal Ensign exhibited the quintessential heart of a champion in the final sixteenth of a mile, extending her reach with each stride to nudge her nose ahead precisely at the finish line.
“I am uncertain whether it constituted her greatest race, but she undoubtedly executed a phenomenal performance,” McGaughey remarked to BloodHorse following the dramatic victory that concluded an unblemished career comprising 13 wins in as many attempts. “While I aim to avoid detracting from the merits of any other competitor, I harbor doubts regarding her affinity for the track’s condition. Upon achieving a straightened trajectory, Randy informed me that she regained her footing effectively; however, I initially perceived her as defeated. I likely perceived a realistic prospect of victory only five or six strides prior to the finish line. I surmise that a race such as [the Distaff] serves to exemplify her inherent qualities.”
“She harbored a resolute aversion to defeat,” Romero conveyed to BloodHorse. “She displayed unwavering determination to accomplish the objective.”
