Giving trainer Jack Sisterson his first Grade 1 victory, Calumet Farm's Vexatious held off champion Midnight Bisou the length of the stretch under Jose Lezcano to win Saturday's Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
A 6-year-old mare by Giant's Causeway, Vexatious covered 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.82, winning by about a neck over the odds-on favorite, who was seeking her 14th career win in 22 starts. Point of Honor finished third, with pacesetter Motion Emotion fourth and Abounding Joy rounding out the field of five fillies and mares.
Stewards lit the inquiry sign and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. – riding Midnight Bisou for the first time because COVID-19 restrictions prevented the Midnight Lute mare's regular jockey, Mike Smith, from coming to Saratoga – claimed foul for stretch interference, but the original order of finish was allowed to stand. Vexatious, winning her second stakes and fourth race overall in a 23-race career that began with trainer Neil Drysdale in California in October 2016, paid $21 for the win.
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