Stewart to run Long Range Toddy, Awe Emma in Churchill stakes

Trainer Dallas Stewart, newly arrived at Churchill Downs for its abbreviated Spring Meet, has his eye on stakes races for Long Range Toddy and Awe Emma.

Grade 2 winner Long Range Toddy, who is winless in two starts this year, is pointing to the $100,000 Blame Stakes, a one-mile race for older horses on May 23.

The most recent win for the 4-year-old son of Take Charge Indy was in last year's Rebel Stakes (G2). He followed that with a sixth-place finish in the 2019 Arkansas Derby (G1) and a 16th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Owned by Willis Horton Racing, he has a career record of 14: 4-1-2 and earnings of $922,309.

Awe Emma, also campaigned by Horton is pointing toward the $100,000 Shawnee Stakes on May 23. It's a 1 1/16-miles race for older fillies and mares.

The last outing for the 5-year-old daughter of War Front was a ninth-place finish in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn on April 18. That was preceded by a score in a one-mile allowance optional claiming race on April 5. Before that, she threw her rider in the Azeri Stakes (G2) before chasing Serengeti Empress unofficially in second until the far turn. Awe Emma has a career record of 10: 4-0-0 with earnings of $214,488. 

Another Stewart trainee, 7-year-old Seeking the Soul, probably won't run during this meet, Stewart said. The son of Perfect Soul has been stabling at Margaux Farm in Midway, Ky., since a seventh-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream in January.

"He's doing well, so when he's ready, he's ready," Stewart said.

Owned and bred by Charles Fipke, Seeking the Soul has a career record of 32: 7-6-7 and earnings of $3.5 million.