Abel Tasman Faces Tough Task in Personal Ensign

Whenever trainer Bob Baffert starts waxing poetic about champion Abel Tasman, there are always a few moments when one could question whether he's speaking about a five-time grade 1 winner or if he has digressed into talking about a recently acquired Labrador retriever.

"She is so loved on. She's sweet and she has those big ears on her," the Hall of Fame conditioner declared, adding for good measure, "She's like a pet."

Her affable, gentle ways in the shedrow have made Abel Tasman a favorite to everyone fortunate enough to work around the daughter of Quality Road . Those who have to face her in the starting gate don't gush so freely however as she is not nearly as generous to those trying to deny her another accomplishment.

The latest big prize Abel Tasman is looking to add to her collection comes Aug. 25 when the 2017 champion 3-year-old filly takes on rival Elate and four other challengers as the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

It was just over a year ago that Abel Tasman came to the Spa and used her time there to put the stamp on what would go down as an Eclipse Award-winning campaign. After capturing the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Acorn Stakes (G1) and moving herself to the forefront of her division, the bay filly had the full measure of her class tested when she held off Elate by a head in last year's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).

Ending her sophomore run with second-place outings in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) and Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), Abel Tasman was given a deserved break in preparation for taking her ability to another level in her 4-year-old season. When she finished fourth during her seasonal bow in the May 4 La Troienne Stakes presented by  Twinspires.com (G1) at Churchill Downs—the first time she had been worse than second since running fifth in her career debut—Baffert felt she had a legitimate excuse, not that it made the nagging questions in his head any easier to answer.

"I think a lot of it was she needed that race, but she didn't really get tired. That track was very speed biased all weekend there and they just weren't closing," Baffert said. "I thought she would win that race but ... she just didn't really bring it that day. That happens sometimes."

True to her sweet nature, Abel Tasman didn't let Baffert or owners China Horse Club and Clearsky Farms stress for too long. Though it was understandably lost in the shuffle of stablemate Justify's Triple Crown sweep later that evening, Abel Tasman uncorked arguably the most visually impressive effort June 9 at Belmont Park hen she took command shortly after the opening quarter-mile and dropped the hammer from there en route to a 7 1/2-length victory in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1).

"I remember (jockey) Mike (Smith) said that day 'Man, no one can beat her if you keep her like this,'" Baffert said. "That was very comforting, so hopefully she'll stay the same. But it's going to be tougher now. (Trainer) Bill (Mott) has been bragging on his filly and that means he's got her sharp and ready to go."

The Mott filly in question is none other than Elate, who gave Abel Tasman all she could handle here last summer. In the wake of that defeat, Elate was able to elevate her form to a level that inspired the betting public to send her off as the favorite in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff, winning the Alabama Stakes (G1) and Beldame Stakes (G1) before running fourth in the year-end clash.

The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro  had her training interrupt by a minor splint issue earlier this year, but returned in spectacular form with a 3 1/4-length win in the July 14 Delaware Handicap (G2).

"She's run well this year, so we have reason to believe she is doing well,'' Mott said.

Multiple graded stakes winner Farrell is a threat to knock off the top two after holding on by a neck to beat Wow Cat in the July 29 Shuvee Stakes (G3) at Saratoga.

"She is doing great, and that's good because this will be an extremely tough race,'' said Farrell's trainer Wayne Catalano. "We're expecting her to run well. She's won over this track and has performed great while she's been here."

Entries: Personal Ensign S. (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 25, 2018, Race 7

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $700,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:59 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Abel Tasman (KY)	Mike E. Smith	123	Bob Baffert	6/5
2	2She Takes Heart (KY)	Eric Cancel	117	Peter R. Walder	50/1
3	3Fuhriously Kissed (KY)	Jose A. Bracho	117	Anthony T. Quartarolo	20/1
4	4Wow Cat (CHI)	John R. Velazquez	123	Chad C. Brown	4/1
5	5Farrell (KY)	Channing Hill	119	Wayne M. Catalano	6/1
6	6Elate (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	123	William I. Mott	7/5