Seeking the Soul highlights 4 possible Pacific Classic shippers

The latest list from the racing office of candidates for the Grade 1, $1 million TVG Pacific Classic on Aug. 17 includes four East Coast-based horses.

That quartet is comprised of Seeking the Soul for trainer Dallas Stewart, Quip (Rodolphe Brisset), War Story (Jorge Navarro) and Tenfold (Steve Asmussen).

Seeking the Soul and Quip have not raced since finishing 1-2 in the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 15, a race in which both received 104 Beyer speed figures.

Seeking the Soul is a multiple graded stakes winner, highlighted by the Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs in 2017, and has career earnings of more than $3.3 million for owner/breeder Charles Fipke.

Quip has Grade 2 wins in the 2018 Tampa Bay Derby and Oaklawn Handicap in April of this year with earnings of $1,054,100.

War Story, who finished seventh of nine in the 2016 Pacific Classic won by California Chrome, prevailed in last month’s Monmouth Cup (G3) to boost his earnings to more than $2.8 million in 35 career starts.

Tenfold, a 4-year-old son of Curlin, won the Jim Dandy (G2) last year at Saratoga and, in May, the Pimlico Special (G3) but was a no-factor ninth of 12 in the Stephen Foster.

Trainer John Sadler, who notched his first TVG Pacific Classic win last year with Accelerate, said Wednesday he will work three prospects – Catalina Cruiser, Campaign and Higher Power – on Saturday, a week ahead of the race, before making a decision.

Cougar II Stakes winner Campaign has previously been given “will run” status.

Among other candidates for the $1 million event are: Draft Pick, trained by Peter Eurton, Mongolian Groom (Enebish Ganbat), For the Top (Bob Baffert), Pavel (Doug O’Neill) and Paladar (Richard Baltas).

Nominations close Thursday for the race, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the fall at Santa Anita.

Supplementary nominations can be taken, at a charge of $10,000 until Tuesday morning.