Seeking the Soul aims to rebound at top level in Woodward Stakes

Charles Fipke's Grade 1-winning homebred Seeking the Soul is expected to arrive in Saratoga Aug. 22 to finalize preparations for his next scheduled start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward Sept. 1.

Trainer Dallas Stewart said the 5-year-old son of Perfect Soul came out of his bullet five-furlong work in 1:00.20 Saturday at Churchill in good order. Seeking the Soul ran fifth in his seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, then went unraced until finishing second in the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial July 14 at Indiana Grand.

"He had a little injury in the Pegasus and it just took a long time. We just jogged him for 60 days but he's a real tough horse, and he got through it good," Stewart said. "He had a good comeback race and he's had some really good works since then. His fitness level for the Indiana race was maybe a little off but he got a lot out of it and he's moving forward.

"We were glad to get a race into him, trying to figure out the right place to start him," he added. "It was good. Hopefully it gets us to this spot. This is a major race. We'd like to win this one."

Seeking the Soul worked Saturday with multiple graded-stakes placed Givemeaminit, who Stewart said would make his next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy at seven furlongs Aug. 25. Third in the Grade 1 Hopeful last summer at Saratoga, the sophomore Star Guitar colt was most recently eighth in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby July 14 at Indiana Grand.

"Givemeaminit is coming for the Allen Jerkens. We like him at that distance better," Stewart said. "We tried him in the Indiana Derby and that didn't work out. He's better going one turn. He likes this track, so we're going to bring him up here and try him in there."