Saratoga 2022: Clairiere holds edge in Personal Ensign
Of the names expected to enter the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, Clairiere is the most exciting one to watch after two key wins in recent months. Compared to Malathaat, Letruska and Search Results, Clairiere has been the most consistent and well-rounded filly of the group.
What are those two key wins?
In June, Clairiere took advantage of a fast pace thanks to Letruska and Search Results in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont. Although they closed late together, Clairiere beat Malathaat by a head to pick up her second career Grade 1 win.
Yes, the pace setup helped Clairiere prevail in the Ogden Phipps. But in Clairiere’s second key win this year, she overcame adversity in the Shuvee Stakes (G2) to defeat Malathaat again. This time, Malathaat had every advantage and could not take advantage of her position.
Watch the far turn as Malathaat moves up on the outside in the clear and Clairiere remains trapped behind the three runners. Joel Rosario tries to push Clairiere through a hole that is not there and then pulls her back.
Meanwhile, Malathaat wasted no energy while running on the outside of an overmatched Crazy Beautiful. But even though John Velazquez went to the crop, Malathaat failed to capitalize on Clairiere’s traffic problems.
Clairiere switched to the inside of Crazy Beautiful and started to rally back as they straightened out in the stretch. Surprisingly, Crazy Beautiful battled between them longer than expected and Malathaat continued to hang in the same position as Crazy Beautiful without making a significant move forward.
Finally, Clairiere and Malathaat went by Crazy Beautiful late in the stretch. Clairiere found more than Malathaat and won by 1 1/2 lengths.
The moment when Clairiere took up on the far turn was Malathaat’s opportunity to secure the lead and force Clairiere to mow her down. But Malathaat took the entire stretch to pass Crazy Beautiful, and by that time Clairiere recovered from the incident and held the momentum near the wire.
After those two races, there is no reason to like Malathaat better than Clairiere in the Personal Ensign. Clairiere gives the impression of a 4-year-old filly who has grown and matured while Malathaat did not move forward.
Speaking of not moving forward, Letruska came into the Personal Ensign last year with three straight graded wins, including a memorable Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) and Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2).
This year, Letruska tries to rebound after a difficult pace situation in the Ogden Phipps, where Search Results forced the speedy mare to work for the lead through fast fractions. Letruska folded to fifth and last by 35 3/4 lengths.
Before the Ogden Phipps, Letruska defeated Clairiere as she captured a second Apple Blossom Handicap (G1).
As for Search Result’s record this year, her only two wins came in the Ruffian Stakes (G2) and Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3). To give Search Results notable pace credit, she did hang around longer than Letruska after the grueling pace in the Ogden Phipps and lost by only 2 1/4 lengths in third.
Clairiere and Letruska each show one Grade 1 win this year. Malathaat and Search Results show none at this point, although that could change.
With a younger age, Clairiere holds the edge over Letruska heading into this weekend. Clairiere is likely hitting her peak as a 4-year-old filly, but Letruska can only at a high level for only so long as a 6-year-old mare. Furthermore, Clairiere owns a more patient style than Letruska, but if forced to, Clairiere can move up slightly to become a stalker too.
If Letruska is left alone on the lead, she can possibly take them all the way again. But as a bettor, it can get frustrating to bet this type of one-dimensional mare because all it takes is another horse such as Search Results or Crazy Beautiful getting brave enough to force Letruska to run.
The momentum belongs to Clairiere. In a race with big Eclipse Award implications, expect Clairiere to turn in a big effort in the Personal Ensign.