Personal Ensign

With Two Trail Sioux (Indian Charlie) lose on the lead in Friday's $400,000

Personal Ensign H. (G1) at Saratoga, William S. Farish's homebred SHADOW CAST

(Smart Strike) was content to race near the back of the pack under Robby

Albarado, just waiting on post-time favorite Ashado (Saint Ballado) to pounce on

the front runner. When the champion three-year-old filly failed to fire, Shadow

Cast rolled right past her en route to a 2 3/4-length score. Dismissed at 14-1,

the four-year-old chestnut returned $31, $12.60 and $9.70.

The Wally Dollase-conditioned Two Trail Sioux stumbled at the start before

regaining her footing to grab the lead under Gary Stevens, with Ashado giving

chase into the first turn. After an opening quarter in :23, jockey John

Velazquez let his mount relax as Stevens and Two Trail Sioux opened up a 5

1/2-length advantage. That filly lead through a half-mile in :46

4/5, three quarters in 1:11 1/5 and 1:36 2/5 for the mile. Velazquez gave Ashado

her cue entering the turn and the dark bay responded, accelerating away from the

pack and into Two Trail Sioux's lead. But the four-year-old lacked a solid

closing punch, and began to back up entering the stretch. Shadow Cast was simply

there to pick up the pieces, collaring the leaders in upper stretch and kicking

clear late to stop the clock in 2:02 for the 1 1/4-mile fast track test.

"The race unfolded like I needed it to," Albarado said. "I know when I got to

Johnny on Ashado that he was riding her. My filly was waiting on me to call on

her. When I did I was just a passenger. Those were top-quality fillies in the

race and she got by them pretty easy."

Personal Legend (Awesome Again) ran on late for second, giving back $11 and

$9.70 at 14-1 while completing the $220.50 exacta. Two Trail Sioux, another 9

1/2 lengths back in third, was worth $7.40 for the show and finished the $1,116

trifecta. Next came Ashado and Delaware H. (G2) winner Island Sand (Tabasco Cat)

in a dead heat for fourth, with A Song in A Minor (Real Quiet) rounding out the

order of finish. Isloa Piu Bella (Chi) (Rich Man's Gold) was scratched.

Trained by Neil Howard, Shadow Cast improved her mark to 21-9-1-6, $923,751

and earned her first Grade 1 victory. The versatile miss owns wins in the Louisville

Breeders' Cup H. (G2), Silverbulletday S. (G2) and Truly Bound H. on the dirt as

well as the grassy Bayou Breeders' Cup H. (G3) and Pago Hop S. Out of the

unraced Dayjur mare Daily Special, Shadow Cast counts a 2005 colt as a full

brother.