Originally known as the Firenze H. and then the John A. Morris H., the Personal Ensign dates to 1948. While members of the Phipps family have won six editions of the race which now holds one of the greatest names associated with the stable, Personal Ensign never actually ran in the contest.

In 1987, when the great mare was three, she had not yet returned to the races from a broken pastern bone in her left rear leg sustained as a juvenile. That year's race was run on Aug. 30; Personal Ensign would not come back until a week later in a Belmont allowance, her first start in nearly 11 months. The race would also miss the champion's dance card in 1988, but for a very different reason. She was fresh off a win over males in the GI Whitney S. just three weeks prior.

The transcendent mare's champion granddaughter, Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), did win the Personal Ensign S. in 2004. Like her legendary granddam, she was a Phipps homebred raised at Claiborne Farm and trained by Shug McGaughey.

Not only was Personal Ensign an unblemished champion on the racetrack, she also was named Broodmare of the Year in 1996. She produced one champion, three Grade I winners, and a dynasty through her daughters that is still churning out major winners today, including 2023's GISW Arabian Lion (Justify), who is set to run in Saturday's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., and GSW Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro).

Following are highlights of some of the most important Personal Ensign winners by what impact they've had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

Cavorting (2012, Bernardini–Promenade Girl, by Carson City), bred by Swettenham Stud: A mare this young with two stakes winners to her name wouldn't normally make a list of matriarchs, but one of her foals is Clairiere (Curlin), a four-time GISW and 5-2 morning-line second choice in this year's Personal Ensign.

Heavenly Prize (1991, Seeking the Gold–Oh What a Dance, by Nijinsky II), bred by Ogden Phipps: This Phipps homebred and Hall of Famer produced MGISW Good Reward (Storm Cat), as well as GSW and good sire Pure Prize (Storm Cat). Her descendants include GISW Persistently (Smoke Glacken), a 2010 Personal Ensign winner for Phipps Stable, as well as more recent GISWs Instilled Regard (Arch) and Queen Goddess (Empire Maker).

Number (1979, Nijinsky II–Special, by Forli {Arg}), bred by Claiborne Farm: Japanese champion and MG1SW Gold Dream (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}), Breeders' Cup and GI Met Mile winner Corinthian (Pulpit), French G1 winner and Japanese sire Jade Robbery (Mr. Prospector), and a 'number' of other graded performers trace to this incredibly well-bred mare from one of the most 'special' families in the stud book.

Relaxing (1976, Buckpasser–Marking Time, by To Market), bred by Ogden Phipps: How fitting that this mare's greatest son would be bred to Personal Ensign, resulting in that mare's greatest daughter, My Flag. This 1989 Broodmare of the Year produced champion and Classic winner Easy Goer (Alydar), as well as GI winners Cadillacing (Alydar) and Easy Now (Danzig). Her descendants include GISW Strolling Along (Danzig), MGSW Cat Cay (Pleasant Colony), and MGSW & MGISP Abaco (Giant's Causeway).

1980 winner Relaxing's son Easy Goer was the sire of Breeders' Cup winner My Flag (outside), a filly out of Personal Ensign who would produce 2004 Personal Ensign winner Storm Flag Flying | Horsephotos

Sugar Plum Time (1972, Bold Ruler–Plum Cake, by Ponder), bred by Calumet Farm: A number of big winners trace to this mare, who was the first Phipps mare to win the then-Firenze, although she wasn't a homebred. Among her descendants are GISWs Grand Slam (Gone West), Christmas Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), and Kudos (Kris S.); MGSW Christmas Gift (Green Desert); and MSW & MGISP Bright Candles (El Gran Senor).

Kittiwake (1968, Sea Bird {Fr}–Ole Liz, by Double Jay), bred by Martin Andersen: This bay Florida-bred produced French G1SW Kitwood (Nureyev), six-time GISW Miss Oceana (Alydar), and MGSW & GISP Larida (Northern Dancer). Among the top horses tracing to her are European champion and MG1SW Dawn Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), GISW Aruna (Mr. Greeley), and English G1SW Magic of Life (Seattle Slew).

Obeah (1965, Cyane–Book of Verse, by One Count), bred by Bertram N. Linder: There may not be a big placeholder for this mare in the breeding annals as her two best foals to make it to the breeding shed–MGSW/MGISP Dance Spell (Northern Dancer) and GSW/GISP Discorama (Northern Dancer)–weren't able to leave a significant mark. Regardless, this mare will forever command a special place in racing due to her beloved champion daughter Go for Wand (Deputy Minister), who was lost too soon.

Straight Deal (1962, Hail to Reason–No Fiddling, by King Cole), bred by Bieber-Jacobs Stable: Desiree (Raise a Native) was the sole Grade I winner produced by this champion, whose multi-year racing campaigns meant she didn't have her first foal until age 10. However, her daughters certainly gave her an assist, with descendants including MGISW Adored (Seattle Slew); Breeders' Cup winner Dangerous Midge (Lion Heart); GISWs Qualify (Danzig), Scorpion (Seattle Slew), and Alwajeeha (Dixieland Band); MGSW and good sire Belong to Me (Danzig); and popular MGSW and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles (Unbridled's Song).

Blue Banner (1952, War Admiral–Risque Blue, by Blue Larkspur), bred by Mrs. John D. Hertz: This lovely bay produced a Broodmare of the Year in Key Bridge (Princequillo {GB}), who in turn produced Horse of the Year Fort Marcy (Amerigo {GB}), champion and influential sire Key to the Mint (Graustark), additional GISW Key to Content (Forli {Arg}), and GSW Key to the Kingdom (Bold Ruler). Others tracing to the then-Firenze winner include European champion and MG1SW Silver Patriarch (Ire) (Saddlers' Hall {Ire}), English highweight and G1SW Papineau (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), and Brazilian champion Mensageiro Alado (Brz) (Ghadeer {Fr}).

Rare Treat (1952, Stymie–Rare Perfume, by Eight Thirty), bred by Erdenheim Farms Co: Among her descendants are European champion and G1 Epsom Derby winner Golden Fleece (Nijinsky II); U.S. champion What a Treat (Tudor Minstrel {Ire}); French G1SWs Mandaean (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and Wavering (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}); U.S. GISWs Victory Speech (Deputy Minister) and Ida Delta (Graustark); and European MGSW Be My Guest (Northern Dancer), England's leading sire in 1982.

Parlo (1951, Heliopolis {GB}–Fairy Palace, by Pilate), bred by William duPont, Jr.: Horse of the Year Arts and Letters (Ribot {GB}), champion Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy), MGISW Waquoit (Relaunch), and Chilean champion All Glory (Honour and Glory) are among the top horses that trace to this diminutive chestnut, who also produced Broodmare of the Year All Beautiful (Battlefield).

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Following significant improvement in air quality conditions throughout New York State, the 155th GI Belmont Stakes–celebrating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's performance of a lifetime in the final leg of the Triple Crown–will go on as scheduled Saturday evening.

If there's one sire's name that you want to see when handicapping the 1 1/2-mile Classic, it's Tapit.

Responsible for a co-record four Belmont winners, two second-place finishers and two third-place finishers, the 22-year-old Gainesway kingpin will be represented by potential race favorite Tapit Trice (Tapit) and the rail-drawn longshot Tapit Shoes (Tapit) in the field of nine as well as an additional four runners as a broodmare sire.

“Tapit's everywhere,” Gainesway's General Manager Brian Graves said. “He's a once-in-a-lifetime horse. We'll probably be quite content if we just have a few stallions half as good as him at Gainesway in the near future.”

The $1.3-million Keeneland September yearling graduate Tapit Trice, winner of the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and seventh-place finisher in the GI Kentucky Derby, was bred by Gainesway and is campaigned in partnership by Antony Beck's operation along with Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm.

“We're hoping for our own selves that Tapit Trice can win this race and stand beside his dad at Gainesway,” Graves said. “We're very proud. We bred this horse and we have the mare on the farm. We bought her as a 2-year-old and raced her, so it's a family that we have created right here. There's a lot of excitement in the air hoping that Tapit Trice could be a special horse. We're all dreaming right now.”

Tapit Trice's Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Belmont four times himself, including with Tapit's Tapwrit following a sixth-place finish on the first Saturday in May, and will also saddle morning-line favorite and last year's champion 2-year-old colt Forte (Violence). The latter was forced to scratch on the morning of the Derby with a well-documented foot bruise.

The field for the Belmont also includes wire-to-wire GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) and beaten Kentucky Derby favorite and third-place finisher Angel of Empire (Classic Empire), who adds blinkers for the first time.

Keeping it 100…

Commanding a stud fee of $185,000 in 2023, North America's three-time leading sire Tapit is responsible for 100 graded winners worldwide–31 at the highest level–including Belmont winners Essential Quality (2021), Tapwrit (2017), Creator (2016) and Tonalist (2014).

Tapit is the broodmare sire of 12 Grade I winners, including this year's GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who returned with a thrilling victory in Friday's GI Acorn S., and Saturday's GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. 7-5 morning-line favorite and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody's Wish (Curlin).

He'll have four chances to collect his first Belmont trophy as a broodmare sire with the lightly raced GIII Peter Pan S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate); Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), a better-than-it-looked fifth in the Kentucky Derby after racing close to a hot pace; last out Gulfstream optional claiming winner Il Miracolo (Gun Runner); and Bath House Row winner and GI Preakness S. fourth Red Route One (Gun Runner).

Tapit's progeny will also be featured prominently on the absolutely stacked Belmont undercard via Charge It (Tapit) (GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H.); Highest Honors (Tapit) (GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S.); and Portos (Tapit) (GII Brooklyn S.).

Star Power…

There will be eight additional graded stakes races–five at the Grade I level–on the blockbuster Belmont undercard.

The aforementioned fan favorite Cody's Wish (Curlin) will put his five-race winning streak on the line in the stallion-making GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H.

Clairiere (Curlin) and Secret Oath (Arrogate) will meet for the third straight time in the GI Ogden Phipps S. The former defeated two-time champion Malathaat (Curlin) by a head in a thrilling renewal of the Phipps last year.

Last out GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. winner Up to the Mark (Not This Time) will take on nine rivals, including the Charlie Appleby-trained duo of Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Warren Point (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), in the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S.

A terrific field of 13 sophomores, including top two choices General Jim (Into Mischief) and Arabian Lion (Justify), will throw down in one of the best betting races on the day in the seven-furlong GI Woody Stephens S.

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast) will face an overflow field of males, including two-time GI Jaipur S. winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), in a very deep edition of the six-furlong turf sprint Saturday.

Streaking champion sprinter and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power (Curlin) looms large in the GII True North S.

Chez Pierre (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), winner of the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. at Keeneland this spring, is the even-money, morning-line favorite for the GIII Poker S.

And a field of 11 stayers will be locked and loaded in front of the crowd at the Belmont distance of 1 1/2 miles in the GII Brooklyn S.

The legendary Tom Durkin will make his return out of retirement to the announcer's booth to call the Belmont S. as well as all the races aired during FOX's Belmont Day coverage scheduled for 4:00-7:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday's forecast calls for partly sunny skies and a delightful high of 77 degrees on Long Island.

First post for the 13-race program, featuring a trio of Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' events (Met Mile, Ogden Phipps and Jaipur), is 11:20 a.m. ET. Post time for the Belmont is 7:02 p.m.

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According to Brooks, he does social media for Phipps Stable and operates the account @PhippsStableFan on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Curious, I took a look at his Twitter account. He'd quoted something I'd said on Byk's show a day earlier: “Flightline is absolutely exceptional. He comes from a great Phipps family. It's really phenomenal. He's a massive talent. He's going to be one of the most desirable stallions when he goes to stud. – Sid Fernando.”

Then on Friday, I took a call from someone I did know very well, Canadian owner-breeder Chuck Fipke, a longtime client of ours at Werk Thoroughbred Consultants. Fipke had two homebreds in graded races Saturday, Canadian champion Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) in the GII Nassau S. at Woodbine and Title Ready (More Than Ready) in the GII Stephen Foster S. at Churchill.

Fipke wasn't too concerned about Lady Speightspeare, an attractive chestnut 4-year-old filly who'd already won a Grade I race at two and is destined to join his accomplished broodmare band as a valuable member. She ended up dead-heating for the win after being passed in the stretch, becoming trainer Roger Attfield's 2,000th winner in the process. It was fitting that Attfield attained the milestone with a Fipke runner. The two have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship together, and Attfield also trains Fipke's 5-year-old horse Shirl's Speight (Speightstown), winner of the GI Maker's Mile S. at Keeneland in April.

Fipke wanted to primarily discuss Title Ready, a 7-year-old Grade III winner who is multiple Grade II placed, with earnings of more than $750,000. He'd like to stand the horse at stud next year and wants to bolster his resume and earnings, and as an involved owner he'd had a conference call with trainer Dallas Stewart and jockey Brian Hernandez on how best to ride the horse for maximum effect. The plan, Fipke said, was to drop him back, get him to the rail, save ground, and make a belated run on the inside as Sonny Leon had done with Rich Strike in the Derby. It didn't quite work out this time; Title Ready finished fifth, his closing kick blunted after staying closer to the leaders than anticipated and altering course in the stretch.

Undeterred, Fipke called again after the race to map out a plan for Title Ready for the remainder of the year. Why is he so interested in standing Title Ready? Because Title Ready is out of the unraced Monarchos mare Title Seeker, a Phipps-bred daughter of the great Personal Ensign. Fipke had purchased Title Seeker for $1.7 million in 2006 at Keeneland November, and he'd bred and raced her Seeking the Gold daughter Seeking the Title, a Grade III winner.

Seeking the Title in turn produced Fipke's Grade I winner of $3.4 million, Seeking the Soul, a son of the Fipke homebred Grade I winner and champion Perfect Soul (Ire). Like Title Ready and Seeking the Title, Seeking the Soul was trained by Dallas Stewart, and he raced as a 7-year-old as well. He now stands for Fipke at Ocala Stud.

Also on Saturday, Brooks emailed me again to update his list. There'd been two more graded stakes wins, he said, upping the total to 23: Frosted Over (Frosted) won the GIII Dominion Day S. at Woodbine Friday, and the other race was the aforementioned one that Lady Speightspeare won Saturday.

Fipke had purchased Lady Speightspeare's second dam, Grade I winner Lady Shirl, for $485,000 in 2005 at Keeneland November when the mare was 18 and nearing the end of her breeding career. “You know, I looked at her closely before I bought her, and I noticed that she looked younger than she was–she didn't look her age at all. And, eh, she had a great Phipps family behind her tracing to La Troienne (Fr), and I wanted to get some fillies from her,” Fipke said by phone Monday.

Lady Shirl's third dam was the Phipps-bred (Wheatley Stable) Brilliantly, whose next four dams were Glamour/Striking/Baby League/La Troienne–the last named one of the most influential mares in the Stud Book, if not the most. The Phippses came into this branch of La Troienne by acquiring Baby League from E.R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. In fact, they acquired several other Bradley-bred daughters of La Troienne as well.

Fipke got three foals, all fillies, from Lady Shirl. Two of them made it to the track under the guidance of Attfied. The first, Lady Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}), was a Grade II winner of $495,608, and she is the dam of Lady Speightspeare. The second, Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul), won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and earned $1,390,729. She is the dam of Shirl's Speight, who Fipke will also stand at stud at the end of his career.

It's an understatement to say that Fipke highly values the female families that have been cultivated by four generations of Phippses, starting in the mid-1920s with Gladys Mills Phipps (in the beginning with her brother Ogden Mills) through the famed Wheatley Stable, which bred and raced, among many others, the influential leading sire Bold Ruler, whose tail-male influence continues to this day through leading sire Tapit, the sire of Flightline.

The next generation was Gladys's son Ogden Phipps, who raced icons Personal Ensign, Easy Goer, and Buckpasser; and her daughter, Barbara Phipps Janney, who bred and raced the great filly Ruffian with her husband Stuart Janney Jr. After them came Ogden's son Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps, who bred and raced, among many other high class and influential colts and fillies, GI Kentucky Derby winner Orb, in partnership with cousin Stuart Janney lll; and Ogden's daughter Cynthia Phipps, who bred and raced champion Christmas Past. The present generation of Phipps Stable is headed by Dinny's daughter Daisy Phipps Pulito and son Ogden Phipps II.

Back in the 1990s when I was bloodstock editor of Daily Racing Form, I'd occasionally speak to Dinny Phipps about the female lines that he and his family had cultivated through the decades, and he always enjoyed discussing them. Four decades later, many of those families are still highly productive, and I'm sure he'd be especially pleased that one branch through the acquired Lady Pitt's daughter Blitey is responsible for Flightline, who is undefeated in four starts and two Grade I races and has yet to be asked for 100% effort though he's won by open lengths in each start.

Graded wins

Brooks sent me a list of the horses responsible for the 23 graded wins, but he'd included two who were from dams whose sires were bred by the Phippses, and I'm not including them in this tally. Only those horses descending from Phipps families or a dam bred by a Phipps are counted. He'd also mistaken–these things can easily happen with two horses sharing the same name–the pedigree of 2-year-old Adare Manor (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is from a Phipps family, for U.S. graded winner Adare Manor (Uncle Mo); therefore, she's out as well.

Through Saturday, there were 225 graded races contested in Canada and the United States. According to Brooks's research, the winners of 20, or almost 9%, descend from families developed or bred by the Phippses. That's significant influence. The Phippses emphasized quality over quantity and developed a limited number of deep families from mares they'd acquired, and through the years there have been many beneficiaries of Phipps breeding who got into these families as the principals culled them. These families have given past and present breeders a deep foundation on which to build upon and create their own top-class horses, and that is one of the important legacies of the Phippses.

Below are the 15 horses and their Phipps families that have accounted for the 20 graded races through Saturday. Note that seven of them, like Lady Shakespeare, have won a Grade l race at some point in their career.

Grade I Winners

Flightline (Tapit) [Blitey branch of Lady Pitt]
Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) [Glamour/Striking branch of Baby League/La Troienne]
Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) [Busanda branch of Businesslike/La Troienne]
There Goes Harvard (Will Take Charge) [No Fiddling branch of Big Hurry/La Troienne]

Grade II Winners

Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) [My Boss Lady/Striking branch of Baby League/La Troienne]
Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) [Clear Ceiling branch of Grey Flight]
Turnerloose (Nyquist) [High Voltage branch of Erin]
Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) [Glamour/Striking branch of Baby League/La Troienne]

Grade III Winners

Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) [Second dam Cabbage Key co-bred by Ogden Phipps ll]
Glass Ceiling (Constitution) [Bases Full/Striking branch of Baby League/La Troienne]
Cellist (Big Blue Kitten) [Blitey branch of Lady Pitt]
Cody's Wish (Curlin) [Baby League/La Troienne]
Frosted Over (Frosted) [Allemande branch of Big Hurry/La Troienne]
Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) [Blitey branch of Lady Pitt]
Becca Taylor (Old Topper) [Glamour/Striking branch of Baby League/La Troienne]

Sid Fernando is president and CEO of Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc., originator of the Werk Nick Rating and eNicks.

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Defending Ogden Phipps winner Letruska was hammered down to 3-5 favoritism to repeat here with Malathaat the 3-1 second-choice and Clairiere behind them at 9-2. Clairiere broke sharply, but was quickly out-footed by an over eager Search Results and the typically speedy Letruska. Search Results gained a narrow advantage with the chalk glued to her tail through a :22.75 opening quarter and over a dozen lengths back to the remaining three, led by Malathaat. Clairiere inched up to confront Malathaat as the top two, now on even terms, blazed through a :45.23 half-mile. Search Results overtook Letruska at the five-sixteenths pole as Clairiere and Malathaat began to wind up on the outside. That duo overtook a tiring Letruska in early stretch and set their sights on Search Results. That Chad Brown trainee put in a valiant effort, but the early pace caught up with her in late stretch. Malathaat seized command with Clairiere on her outside shoulder, but it was clear Clairiere had more momentum. She forged past a determined Malathaat in the final strides to secure a narrow victory.

“It was very special, especially with a field like this,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen. “It was a wonderful experience. 1:41 for a mile and a sixteenth. Is that even possible? They were rolling. The separation they got from the three-eighths to the quarter-pole worried me a bit. The first half, you think, 'perfect'. But when those fillies continued to separate I became concerned. They flew home. 1:41 flat [1:41.10]. They didn't stagger. They had to run.”

He continued, “It was heart, soul and guts, absolutely. What can you say about her? She is racing royalty by Curlin out of Cavorting. I think she's even better this year. She was a wonderful filly last year, but as a 4-year-old, she's faster now than she was then. This is a tremendous stage to do it on. The head went our way this time. I think it is absolutely beautiful that she and Malathaat were that close together the entire race. They are great mares. Unbelievable mares. How proud Stonestreet should be that they bred both of them.”

As for what's next, the Hall of Famer said, “The horse goes to Saratoga next, looking at the [GI] Personal Ensign. The [GI] Breeders' Cup Distaff is the main goal.”

“I always felt Clairiere was coming on strong and if she got a little bit of pace she would do it, and she did it,” said Stonestreet principal Barbara Banke. “She got pace and she did it. I was happy to see Malathaat right behind her. Those are two Stonestreet homebred Curlin fillies. You can't beat that.”

“She was tough to beat and for a second I thought she got me, but she really responded and we got lucky we got it,” said Joel Rosario. “I started by following Johnny [Velazquez aboard Malathaat] for a bit and turning for home it looked like I may never go by, but she did go by.”

As for the runner-up, trainer Todd Pletcher said, “Johnny said she kind of lost focus the last sixteenth of a mile. It's probably time to think about some blinkers, which we've had in the back of our minds for a while. It caught him off-guard because usually if she has a horse next to her, she'll stay focused, but the last 100 yards she saw something and kind of came off the bridle. It's a big effort.”

Clairiere announced herself last year with a win in the race named for her birthplace's most famous resident, the GII Rachel Alexandra S. She was ultra consistent in her next five starts, never finishing worst than fourth, including a second to GI Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat in the GI Alabama S. last August. She got her well-deserved Grade I next out in the Sept. 25 GI Cotillion S. at Parx and rallied from well back to be fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 6, one spot behind Malathaat. Kicking off 2022 with a dominant optional claimer score at Fair Grounds Mar. 16, the homebred came in second to another Eclipse winner in Letruska in Oaklawn's GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Pedigree Notes:

Clairiere is one of 18 Grade I winner by the mighty Curlin. She is the first foal out of MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Cavorting, who won this race in 2016 for the now-retired Kiaran McLaughlin. That Stonestreet colorbearer is one of 14 mares by the late Bernardini to produce a Grade I winner. Her second foal, the now-3-year-old filly La Crete (Medaglia d'Oro), won the Silverbulletday S., making that two black-type winners from two to race for the star mare. Cavorting's 2020 colt Judge Miller (Curlin) summoned $550,000 at KEESEP form Muir Hut Stables. She was barren when bred to Quality Road for 2021 and was bred back to Into Mischief, but has no live foal reported yet for this year. Out of GSW Promenade Girl, Cavorting is a half to GSW Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) and MGSP Thirstforlife (Stay Thirsty).

Saturday, Belmont Park
OGDEN PHIPPS S.-GI, $480,000, Belmont, 6-11, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:41.10, ft.
1–CLAIRIERE, 122, f, 4, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Cavorting (MGISW, $2,063,000), by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Promenade Girl, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Promenade Colony, by Pleasant Colony
O/B-Stonestreet Stables LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 13-5-4-2, $1,799,592. *1/2 to La Crete (Medaglia d'Oro), SW, $159,460. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Malathaat, 124, f, 4, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Dreaming of Julia (GISW, $874,500), by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Dream Rush, by Wild Rush
                3rd Dam: Turbo Dream, by Unbridled
($1,050,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Shadwell Stable; B-Stonestreet  Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. $100,000.
3–Search Results, 122, f, 4, by Flatter
                1st Dam: Co Cola (GSP), by Candy Ride (Arg)
                2nd Dam: Yong Musician, by Yonaguska
                3rd Dam: Alljazz, by Stop the Music
($310,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 6 3/4. Odds: 4.80, 3.15, 5.30.
Also Ran: Bonny South, Letruska.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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The Fleur de Lis, at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up, is carded as Race 5 at 2:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). The first of 12 races will get underway at 12:45 p.m. The Fleur de Lis is one of seven stakes events on Saturday's closing day program at Churchill Downs. The other stakes are the $600,000 Stephen Foster (G2), $300,000 Wise Dan (G2), $150,000 Bashford Manor (G3), $150,000 Debutante (Listed), $150,000 Tepin and $150,000 War Chant.

The Fleur de Lis is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race for the $4 million Longines Distaff (G1) on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. The winner will receive an all entry fees paid berth to the season ending championship event.

Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska scored a front-running victory in the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) earlier this month on the Belmont Stakes undercard. The 5-year-old Super Saver mare has 14 wins from 18 lifetime starts including a victory in the $1 million Apple Blossom (G1) in April where she re-rallied against multiple champion Monomoy Girl.

“She's in a good condition to run,” Gutierrez said. “This is a very important race. We're going step by step for now and this is next race we had in mind. I know it's just 21 days from the (Ogden Phipps). When a horse wants to run and they're ready to run, we have to let them run. She's at Keeneland training and we're looking forward to getting her to Churchill.”

Gutierrez, who was a top trainer in his home country of Mexico, has been primarily training in the U.S. in 2021. Letruska's only blemish in her 5-year-old campaign was a runner-up effort to Shedaresthedevil in the $350,000 Azeri (G2).

Jose Ortiz has the mount in the Fleur de Lis from post position No. 6.

Among Letruska's challengers in the Fleur de Lis is Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Grade 2 winner Envoutante. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Envoutante cruised to a 4 ¼-length victory in last month's $150,000 Shawnee Stakes, the local prep for the Fleur de Lis on May 29.

Envoutante, a 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo, finished 2 ¼ lengths behind Letruska in the Azeri. Arguably the biggest win in Envoutante's career was a six-length win in last year's $200,000 Falls City (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Her regular pilot Brian Hernandez Jr. will be in the saddle from post 4.

Another top filly that entered the Fleur de Lis is Robert and Lawana Low's $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff Match Series (G3) winner Spice Is Nice. The Curlin filly is a four-time winner for trainer Todd Pletcher. The regally-bred Spice Is Nice is out of Pletcher's former Grade 1-winning mare Dame Dorothy. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has the mount from post 5.

Also entered in the Fleur de Lis is Kueber Racing, Barlar LLC, Madaket Stables and Little Red Feather Racing's recent $200,000 Ruffian (G2) winner Vault. The Brad Cox trainee will attempt to get her first victory at 1 1/8 miles. The seven-time winning mare be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 3.

The complete field for the Fleur de Lis from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Point of Honor (Javier Castellano, Shug McGaughey)
2. Antoinette (Florent Geroux, Bill Mott)
3. Vault (Gaffalione, Cox)
4. Envoutante (Hernandez, McPeek)
5. Spice Is Nice (Velazquez, Pletcher)
6. Letruska (Ortiz, Gutierrez)

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The victory earns Letruska an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff, scheduled for early November in Del Mar.

It was the second Grade 1 win for both Letruska and Gutierrez; the mare defeated champion Monomoy Girl last out in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park.

“Today, she confirmed what we saw in the Apple Blossom,” Gutierrez said. “She's progressed with age and taking the blinkers off. She ran like a big horse. When she would run on the lead, she never saw the other horses. She has improved so much more. She has this class to her. She really likes to run.

“Now we need to focus on the Breeders' Cup with the form that we have. These races are really tough. We'll check how she does. She's a very sound filly and I hope she continues like this.”

The anticipated speed duel with Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil did not materialize as Letruska was able to clear away from that rival down the backstretch, setting measured fractions of :23.49 and :45.87. Ortiz held a 1 1/2 length advantage heading into the turn, and Letruska extended that lead to nearly three lengths without being asked to mark three-quarters in 1:10.26.

Shedaresthedevil was unable to match strides with the winner down the lane, and late-running Bonny South moved up from last to gain second. At the finish, however, Letruska was all alone and geared down to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Queen Nekia filled out the super, while Water White finished last of the five. Both Swiss Skydiver and Valiance were scratched.

“She was breaking a little bit slow, but she broke good today,” Ortia said. “I was able to put her on the lead and make the other horses chase me. Florent [Geroux, aboard Shedaresthedevil], if he wanted to beat me, he had to run with me. She couldn't keep up with me by the three-eighths pole. When I looked back and saw her three lengths behind me, I was very happy.”

Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Letruska is out of the graded stakes-placed Successful Appeal mare Magic Appeal, a half to Grade 1 winner J P's Gusto. Letruska is a half-sister to the Grade 1-placed Trigger Warning; St. George purchased the dam, Magic Appeal, with Letruska in utero for $100,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. She began her career in Mexico, winning a pair of G1 races, then came to the United States with her trainer in late 2019. Letruska has blossomed this year as a 5-year-old, winning three of her four starts including back-to-back Grade 1's. Overall, the mare's record stands at 14 wins from 19 starts for earnings of over $1.4 million.

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While no Triple Crown is on the line, the Belmont will feature an Eclipse Award winner, the Preakness winner, two Grade 1 Derby prep winners, and four other sophomore colts chasing their place in the history books.

Friday, June 4

4:07 p.m. – G2 True North Stakes – Belmont Park

Grade 1-winner Flagstaff bested Eclipse award-winner Whitmore in a thrilling finish last out and will look to win his third consecutive stakes race as part of a seven-horse field in Friday's Grade 2, $300,000 True North for 4-year-olds and up sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track at Belmont Park.

4:40 p.m. – G3 Bed o' Roses Stakes – Belmont Park

In two winning starts over the Belmont Park main track, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Victim of Love has displayed an affinity for the Nassau County oval and will vie to keep such ways intact in Friday's 64th running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Bed o' Roses for older fillies and mares going seven furlongs. Trained by Todd Beattie, Victim of Love's pair of winning starts at Belmont Park took place when sweeping the last two editions of the Grade 3 Vagrancy.

5:15 p.m. – G2 New York Stakes – Belmont Park

Looking to defend her $750,000 New York title will be the popular Graham Motion-trained mare Mean Mary, who is owned by Alex G. Campbell, Jr. and will be ridden by Luis Saez from post 7. The daughter of Scat Daddy seeks her seventh career victory in her 11th start and enters off an impressive gate-to-wire victory three weeks ago in Pimlico's Grade 3 Gallorette, her first start since finishing seventh in November's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. A dominant 5¼-length winner of last year's New York, a 1¼-mile inner turf test, she faces an arguably tougher field in 2021 and the possibility of more cut in the ground.

5:48 p.m. – G2 Belmont Gold Cup – Belmont Park

LECH Racing Limited's Baron Samedi will seek to parlay his winning form in Europe when traveling stateside as the lone international contestant in Friday's seventh running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup at two miles over the Widener turf. Trained by Joseph O'Brien, Baron Samedi began his career with five unplaced efforts, but once gelded and stretched out considerably in distance, the son of Harbour Watch displayed a notable turnaround in form. He conveyed his newfound winning ways in August at Cork Racecourse going ten furlongs over heavy ground while being given a 65 rating.

Saturday, June 5

12:47 p.m. – G1 Woody Stephens – Belmont Park

Undefeated one-turn titans Jackie's Warrior and Drain the Clock will square off in Saturday's 37th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency.

1:22 p.m. – G2 Brooklyn Stakes – Belmont Park

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be well-represented with three contenders in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. But the Hall of Fame conditioner will also send out a strong contingent in another 1 1/2-mile graded stakes contest on the day, with Ajaaweed and Moretti forming a potent one-two punch in the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational presented by Northwell Health for 4-year-olds and up.

2:01 p.m. – G1 Acorn Stakes – Belmont Park

Traditionally one of America's premier races for sophomore fillies, Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn at Belmont Park has attracted a compact, quality field to tackle Big Sandy's one-turn mile. Blazing Meadows Farm and Siena Farm's Tim Hamm-trained Dayoutoftheoffice returns to the course and distance of her greatest triumph, last fall's Grade 1 Frizette, in what will be just her second start of the season. Klaravich Stables' Search Results will hope to optimize her second top-level attempt after losing last month's Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks by a neck to divisional leader Malathaat. Trained by Chad Brown, the daughter of Flatter went into the Classic undefeated from three tries, including the Grade 3 Gazelle at the Big A.

2:41 p.m. – G1 Jaipur Stakes – Belmont Park

MyRacehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm's multiple Grade 1-winner Got Stormy joins defending race-winner and fellow mare Oleksandra in taking on the boys in Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur, a six-furlong turf sprint on Belmont Stakes Day. The 35th running of the Jackpocket Jaipur is a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar.

3:18 p.m. – G1 Ogden Phipps Stakes – Belmont Park

With the Friday morning scratches of both Swiss Skydiver and Valiance, the 53rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps has drawn a field of five fillies and mares. G1 Apple Blossom winner Letruska is the morning-line favorite after her upset of champion Monomoy Girl, while Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil is two-for-two so far this year. The prestigious 1 1/16-mile test for older fillies and mares is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier, offering the winner an automatic entry into the Distaff on November 6 at Del Mar.

3:58 p.m. – G1 Just A Game Stakes – Belmont Park

Twelve stakes winners, including 11 graded/group stakes winners—all seeking their first turf Grade 1 score comprise the dozen entered in Saturday's $500,000 Longines Just a Game over one mile on the Widener turf course. The powerhouse stables of Charlie Appleby and Chad Brown make up half of those in a race that has traditionally showcased some of the best turf females in training, including eight Breeders' Cup winners.

4:42 p.m. – G1 Met Mile – Belmont Park

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex will look to build on his already impressive ledger in Saturday's stallion-making Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up on Belmont Stakes Day. However, Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, trained by reigning Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, looms the one to beat as the 126 pound highweight with an impressive record of 19-6-3-1 with purse earnings in excess of $4.5 million.

5:30 p.m. – G3 Monmouth Stakes – Monmouth Park

A winner in his 2021 comeback race on April 24 at Pimlico Race Course, Corelli will step up to graded stakes company again when the grass specialist goes in the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes, the headliner on Saturday's 12-race card at Monmouth Park. The 13th running of the $150,000 Monmouth Stakes, scheduled for 1 and 1/8th miles on the grass, has attracted a field of 10 plus two alternates.

5:38 p.m. – G1 Manhattan Stakes – Belmont Park

Trainer Chad Brown will be loaded for bear in the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan, with four of the 10 horses entered running under his banner in the 1 1/4-mile inner turf test for 4-year-olds and up on Saturday, Belmont Stakes Day, at Belmont Park. Brown's quartet all have the credentials to win, but that honor may go to Domestic Spending, a 4-year-old son of Kingman who made a successful 2021 debut in the Grade 1 Turf Classic on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

6:49 p.m. – G1 Belmont Stakes – Belmont Park

A talented group that includes an Eclipse Award winner (Essential Quality) and an American Classic victor (Rombauer) will comprise an eight-horse field for the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday at Belmont Park, marking the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. Hot Rod Charlie ran a strong third, just one length back to winner Medina Spirit, in the Kentucky Derby, and will get a rematch against Essential Quality. Pletcher, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer, will saddle three contenders as he seeks his fourth career Belmont score: Known Agenda, Overtook, and Bourbonic. Rock Your World notched a Grade 1 win with a 4 1/4-length margin in the Santa Anita Derby in April in his main track debut, improving to 3-for-3 overall to start his career before running 17th in the Kentucky Derby last out. Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina will look to nab the $1 million bonus offered to the connections of any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont Stakes.

7:52 p.m. – G2 Monrovia Stakes – Santa Anita

A two-time graded stakes winner who has been idle since well beaten by Eclipse Champion Gamine in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 7, the Richard Baltas-trained Venetian Harbor heads a field of eight fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs on turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita.

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The prestigious 1 1/16-mile test for older fillies and mares is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier, offering the winner an automatic entry into the Distaff on November 6 at Del Mar.

Owned by Peter Callahan, Swiss Skydiver boasts a lifetime record of 14-7-3-2 and a bankroll of $2,125,480 in earnings, most notably becoming only the sixth filly in history to capture the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Her six graded stakes victories make up a cumulative 21 graded stakes triumphs in the Ogden Phipps field.

In the third start of her 3-year-old campaign, the daughter of Daredevil won her first graded stakes when taking the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in gate-to-wire fashion and began adding miles to the tank with triumphs in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks. After taking a crack against males with a game second in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland, she recorded her first triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure with a 3 ½-length win in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga, where she ran a 102.

Swiss Skydiver registered her biggest claim to fame thus far two starts later in the Preakness. At the top of the stretch, she engaged in a dramatic stretch duel with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and managed to fend off the subsequent Horse of the Year by a neck while recording a career-best 105 Beyer.

Trainer Kenny McPeek gave Swiss Skydiver a freshening after a seventh-place effort in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Keeneland to close out her sophomore season. She returned to action with vigor when making her 4-year-old bow a winning one in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita. She arrives at the Ogden Phipps off a distant third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on April 17 at Oaklawn Park.

Swiss Skydiver has put together a strong series of works heading into her upcoming engagement. She recently went a sharp half-mile over the Churchill Downs main track in 47.80 on Saturday morning.

“She's been training super,” McPeek said. “We had a little hind leg infection that was bothering her. It didn't appear to be a big deal going into Oaklawn, but it might have been why she ran a little flat that day. She's trained like a beast going into this race. So, we're lining up with her again. She's obviously a great filly.

“She is pretty amazing, there's no question,” McPeek added. “She doesn't have many quirks and she loves her routine. She's a very happy filly. She loves to eat, train and has been a pleasure for the people around her. I just hope it last a couple of more years. She's very low maintenance.”

McPeek said Swiss Skydiver could target a start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch on August 1 at Del Mar. She also could set sights on a return to the Spa for the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign on August 28. Like the Ogden Phipps, both races are also “Win And You're In” events.

“The Grade 1 status and the timing for this race was ideal,” McPeek said. “We could have waited it out for the [Grade 2] Fleur de Lis [on June 26 at Churchill Downs], but we wanted to run here,” McPeek said. “I'd like to think we could get her to the Clement Hirsch in California or the Personal Ensign and then there's the Spinster in the fall, too.”

McPeek said Callahan, a New Yorker, has expressed excitement in watching his champion filly run at Belmont Park.

“Peter is from New York, New York so obviously he was interested in this race himself,” McPeek said. “We're also looking at the Saratoga schedule. It was a big deal for Peter when we won the Alabama. We're going to meet Peter this week and hope to enjoy another big win.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz will attempt to be the sixth jockey to pilot Swiss Skydiver to a graded stakes triumph when she breaks from the inside post.

Three of Swiss Skydiver's foes also are Grade 1-winners, including St. George Stable's Letruska, who notched her first victory at such caliber last out in the Apple Blossom on April 16 at Oaklawn Park.

The conquest was a breakthrough one for the 5-year-old daughter of Super Saver, as she defeated two champions in Swiss Skydiver and Monomoy Girl, the reigning Champion Older Mare. After setting the pace, she was confronted by Monomoy Girl in upper stretch, but re-rallied along the rail to win by a neck.

“She's doing very well since the Apple Blossom,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “She's trained very well at Keeneland. The first question I had was if she could fit with those kind of mares and she showed in that race that she could. She ran like a champion.”

Letruska brags the most amount of victories in the field with 13.

She scored her first six wins in as many starts in Mexico, where she won two Group 1 events. When shifting to the United States, she remained competitive at a high level with stakes triumphs in the Added Elegance at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga.

Following a distant fourth in the Grade 2 Beldame Invitational, Letruska returned ten weeks later with a decisive win in the Grade 3 Rampart on December 12 at Gulfstream Park. Her career has reached new heights during her current campaign, which commenced with a sharp triumph in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic on January 31.

Gutierrez said removing blinkers ahead of the Rampart benefitted Letruska.

“After we took the blinkers off, she had more chance to relax,” Gutierrez said. “She's more competitive. She would go very fast. She's a filly with some natural speed. She likes to run free.”

Letruska will be reunited with Irad Ortiz, Jr. from post 3.

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox will saddle two contestants, including 2020 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil.

Shedaresthedevil led a Daredevil-sired exacta in the Kentucky Oaks defeating Swiss Skydiver by 1 ½ lengths while completing the nine-furlong journey in 1:48.20 – the fastest time in the race's history.

Owned by Flurry Racing and Qatar Bloodstock, Shedaresthedevil will seek to keep a clean 4-year-old season intact. Following a wire-to-wire win against Letruska in the Grade 3 Azeri at Oaklawn Park in her seasonal debut, she returned to Churchill Downs with vigor when defeating five graded stakes winners in the Grade 1 La Troienne on April 30.

“Off the bench, she's 2-for-2 and was able to beat some really good horses,” Cox said. “She was able to keep her head in front of Letruska in her first start as a 4-year-old. She's a big, beautiful filly and I think she's moved forward from 3 to 4.”

Jockey Florent Geroux has been aboard for four of Shedaresthedevil's five graded stakes victories and will be reunited with the talented bay filly from post 5.

Cox also sends out two-time graded stakes-winner Bonny South for three-time Ogden Phipps winning owner Juddmonte Farm.

The daughter of Munnings won in her 2021 debut when prevailing in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare on April 16 at Keeneland. During her sophomore campaign last March, Bonny South made her first start against graded stakes company a winning one in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Bonny South worked in company with Grade 1 Belmont Stakes favorite Essential Quality on May 29 going a stiff five furlongs in 59.40 seconds over the Churchill Downs main track.

While Shedaresthedevil boasts a more accomplished resume, Cox said Bonny South is on the improve.

“She's been training really well, and I thought her race off the layoff was huge,” Cox said. “I really feel this filly has moved forward from 3 to 4 physically, mentally and just how she's training. We're expecting a big year out of her. This is going to be her 4-year-old Grade 1 debut, so with a good trip, she can be a big factor. She breezed with Essential Quality and they both breezed fantastic.”

Jockey Joel Rosario wore Juddmonte's iconic pink, teal and white silks when guiding Close Hatches to victory in the 2014 Ogden Phipps, and has the mount from post 7.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher seeks his fourth Ogden Phipps victory with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin Schwartz and China Horse Club's Valiance.

The gray Tapit mare makes her 5-year-old debut having last raced when second to Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Keeneland. Initially campaigned on turf, on which she won her first three starts,

Valiance saw an alternation of her campaign after a victory in an off-the-turf Eatontown in August at Monmouth Park. She parlayed her newfound winning dirt form into Grade 1 company, capturing the Spinster on October 4 at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length.

“I think as she improved last year, she started training better and running better on the dirt,” said Pletcher who previously won with Ashado [2005], Life At Ten [2010] and Awesome Maria [2011]. “We were happy to run her when it came off. She came out of it and started training better and better. Obviously, the Spinster was a huge win for her and then she ran super in the Breeders Cup. It's a tough race off the layoff, but she seems to be training well.”

Jockey Luis Saez will ride from post 2.

Completing the field are graded stakes-placed Water White [post 6, Manny Franco], who won last year's Busher Invitational at Aqueduct for Rudy Rodriguez, and the Saffie Joseph, Jr. trained Queen Nekia [post 4, Tyler Gaffalione], an upset winner of the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park two starts back.

Previously raced as the Hempstead through 2001, the Ogden Phipps honors the late philanthropist and horse owner, whose iconic and timeless black and cherry cap silks have been synonymous with some of the greatest thoroughbreds of the 20th century. During his long tenure as an owner, Phipps campaigned multiple Hall of Famers such as Easy Goer, Buckpasser, Personal Ensign and Inside Information. One year after his passing in 2002, Phipps was posthumously awarded the Eclipse Award of Merit in 2003 and was named a Pillar of the Turf in 2019. The Phipps family remains active in racing under the moniker Phipps Stable, which is managed by Daisy Phipps Pulito with their horses being trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.

The Ogden Phipps is carded as Race 7 on Saturday's 13-race program at Belmont Park. First post is 11:35 a.m.

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The post Spendthrift Continues FTKNOV Buying Spree, Picks Up She’s a Julie for $3M appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bradley first saw She’s a Julie (Elusive Quality) at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale, and while impressed with her physical, a simple vet issue kept him from bidding. She was purchased by Steve Asmussen as agent for Carol Castille’s Whispering Oaks.

“I think the score is Julie one million and veterinarians zero on this one,” Bradley quipped. “Steve was smart enough to buy her as a yearling. She was beautiful; I absolutely loved her. She had size, balance and a beautiful head on her.”

Bradley watched from the sidelines as ‘Julie’ won on debut as a juvenile and claimed the GIII Iowa Oaks that next summer. Soon after, the opportunity arose for him to buy back in on the filly. He jumped at the chance.

Other partners would eventually get in on the ownership, including Tim and Anna Cambron, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing and Madaket Stables.

After that first graded stakes victory in 2018, She’s Julie came back with a runner-up effort in the GI Alabama S. followed by a win in the GIII Remington Park Oaks.

A favorite in the Asmussen barn for her bright personality and namesake Julie Asmussen, She’s a Julie claimed consecutive graded stakes wins in her first two starts as a 4-year-old, including her first Grade I.

“There are two races I remember the most in Julie’s career,” Bradley said. “In the GIII Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park, she was much the best that day and came out of that race as good as a horse could come out. She was on her toes and in her feed tub, and we had high hopes coming into the GI La Troienne on Oaks Day. And she just did it. She ran her race. She came running from the three-eighths pole and got up in a great, gut-wrenching finish.”

Co-owner Tim Cambron echoed Bradley’s sentiments on the monumental day.

“The highlight of her career in my opinion was on Oaks Day when she ran on the undercard in a Grade I and won,” he said.”Being in the Champagne Room just before they presented the trophy for the Oaks was quite a treat.”

She’s a Julie got her second Grade I win this summer at Belmont in the GI Odgen Phipps S.

“She was genuine all the time, but the race she put in for the Ogden Phipps was her quintessential race,” Bradley said. “She had a lot to do coming down the stretch. Ricardo Santana fit her like a glove. He asked her for everything she had and she gave it to him. She was remarkable. She refused to lose that day.”

She’s a Julie retired this fall after a four-year campaign as a millionaire with five graded stakes wins on her resume. She ran in the money in over half of her starts, including four Grade I contests.

“It’s been a lot of fun to go to various tracks and watch her run,” Cambron said. “She always was in the game. You didn’t know if you were going to win, but you knew you were going to be there at the end. But most of the time she won.”

Bradley added, “The thing about Julie was her consistency. She absolutely laid it on the line every time she ran. Her first Grade I on Oaks Day last year was something special, but the fact that she came back and won a Grade I this year was just icing on the cake.”

She’s a Julie will be offered as Hip 208 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Nov. 8 with the Denali Stud consignment.

“People are going to say, ‘wow’ when they come see She’s a Julie,” said Fasig-Tipton’s Boyd Browning. “She’s just an awesome physical. When they lead her out, people are just going to kind of smile and grin and say, ‘that’s almost like the perfect conformation that you would design for a racehorse or for a broodmare. She’s got great balance. She’s got great presence. She’s just one of those wow physical horses that will have everyone’s eye.”

Bradley added that the 5-year-old’s pedigree will be another attractive feature for buyers.

“Not only does she have the looks, but she’s got the pedigree. Uniquely, she is one of some 35 fillies out of a Dubai Millennium mare, and her dam is a half-sister to the dam of [GISW and sire] Bodemeister (Empire Maker). The family is just deep with racing quality.”

“I think it’s a great package being by Elusive Quality, who’s emerging as a broodmare sire,” Browning said. “He demonstrated ability on a racetrack with his speed, and his progeny are demonstrating the ability to carry speed over distance. She’s a Julie has been a top-class performer for several years now. She’s certainly demonstrated her talent and her ability in the right places when the world was watching. She’s been a pleasure to watch on the racetrack and it’s a great opportunity for someone to add her to their broodmare band.”

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