One of the most prestigious races in America for older fillies and mares, the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Saturday at Saratoga Race Course is an important prep on the road to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Todd Pletcher, winner of a record eight Eclipse Awards as the leading trainer in North America, learned invaluable lessons as a top assistant to the late Hall of Fame member D. Wayne Lukas.
Saratoga Race Course is famous for a lot of reasons: it’s the oldest sporting venue in the United States, it’s host to some of the best horse racing in the world, and it’s a summer playground for titans of industry and celebrities.
There is no denying that some horses have a special affinity for certain racetracks and perform better at those tracks. This is particularly notable in Europe, where the style, shape, and design of the courses varies widely, but the scenario is also seen on a smaller scale in the United States, where some horses display a fondness for the dirt and conditions at a particular track.
The 157th edition of the $1 million DraftKings Travers Stakes Saturday at Saratoga Race Course shapes up to be the defining race in determining 3-year-old male champion honors for 2026 at January’s Eclipse Awards. The storied “Mid-Summer Derby” is unquestionably one of the most prestigious prizes in North American Thoroughbred racing.
