Seeking the Soul on deck for Churchill Downs' Stephen Foster

Charles Fipke’s Grade 1-winning homebred Seeking the Soul remains on track for the Grade 2, $600,000 Stephen Foster on Saturday, June 15, following an easy half-mile move in :49.60 Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs.

“We’re on track for the Foster,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He’s a Grade 1 winner over this track and the Foster is in our backyard.”

Seeking the Soul, a 6-year-old son of Fipke’s stallion Perfect Soul, won the 2017 Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs and most recently finished third in the Alysheba (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day. 

“Maybe he was a bit short in that race,” Stewart said. “I thought he ran a good third that day and I think can get better from that.”

Seeking the Soul began his 2019 campaign with a runner-up finish behind City of Light in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Jan. 26. The six-time winner then traveled to Dubai for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) but finished eighth.

Nominations for the Stephen Foster – a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic  – close June 1. The other major race probable so far is Quip, who won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in his last start.