Persistently lived up to her name when she wore down reigning Horse of the Year and odds-on choice Rachel Alexandra for a one-length victory in the $294,000 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 29. In an ironic twist, the winning 21-1 shot is trained by Shug McGaughey, who also conditioned the undefeated Personal Ensign for the Phipps family, who campaign homebred Persistently.

The Personal Ensign was Rachel Alexandra's first try at 1 1/4 miles and the final furlong told on the champion filly, who could not hold off the Alan Garcia-piloted Persistently even though she had a 3 1/2-length lead mid-stretch. Jockey Calvin Borel urged Rachel Alexandra vigorously, but to no avail as Persistently swept past in the final strides.

A crowd of 23,347 sent Rachel Alexandra off as the 2-5 choice in her first start at the Spa since her thrilling win over older males in the Woodward last year.

Persistently is a a 4-year-old Kentucky homebred daughter of Smoke Glacken–Just Reward, by Deputy Minister, who registered her first stakes win in the Personal Ensign. Saratoga once again lived up to its reputation as the "The Graveyard of Favorites