Barn Notes 1/10/2020 – “SEEKING” A RETURN TO FORM IN PEGASUS WORLD CUP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Grant LaGrange
Racing Media Relations Coordinator
Work: (504) 948-1255
Barn Notes: Friday, January 10, 2020
- SEEKING THE SOUL AIMING FOR PEGASUS WORLD CUP
- GO GOOGLE YOURSELF LOOKING TO KEEP THE MOMENUTM GOING IN 2020
- ALSO ON THE WORKTAB FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 10
“SEEKING” A RETURN TO FORM IN PEGASUS WORLD CUP
Still plugging along at age seven, Fipke homebred looks to rediscover his class
New Orleans (Friday, January 10, 2020) – In what was his fourth local breeze since finishing sixth in the Clark Stakes presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill Downs on November 29, Charles Fipke’s 7-year-old homebred Seeking the Soul stopped the timer in 1:12.60 for six furlongs over a fast track Friday morning at Fair Grounds. He continues preparation for a return run in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park on January 25, a race in which he ran second last year behind City of Light.
The son of Perfect Soul would win just once from eight tries in 2019, but he made it count, taking the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs in June. Since that time, he has finished no better than a distant fourth in a quartet of Grade One races. The winner of the 2017 of the Clark (G1) at Churchill, he was third in the same race last year, but in this season’s edition he managed only to pass tired horses in a sixth place effort. Despite his recent form, trainer Dallas Stewart is confident in a bounce back performance.
“He’s a really remarkable racehorse” Stewart said. “He bounces back year after year, race after race. He worked really well this morning. Visually he still does it so easily. He’s prepping for the Pegasus again and looks just as good as he did last year. He likes that track and he’s feeling good. I’m really happy with him. He’s trained consistently at Fair Grounds so just hoping for the best. We will see what happens in the race.”
According to Stewart, there is no stallion deal in place for Seeking the Soul. With over $3.4 million in the bank, he is far and away the most productive racehorse sired by Perfect Soul, who was pensioned at Darby Dan Farm in the spring of 2019.
“We are just taking it one race at a time,” Stewart said.
GO GOOGLE YOURSELF LOOKING TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING IN 2020
A graded stakes win was always the goal for Jay Em Ess Stable’s Go Google Yourself, but now that the 5-year-old mare has one on the resume, the connections are hungry for more.
A three-time winner from six starts in 2019, the Paul McGee-trained daughter of Into Mischief, scored the most important victory of her 18-race career two starts back in the Locust Grove (G3) at Churchill. She followed that up with a second place outing in the Falls City (G2) and entering 2020, one could argue that she’s never been better.
She’s posted three works since arriving at Fair Grounds in mid-December, most recently firing a five furlong bullet breeze in 1:00 3/5 (best of 26) on January 7.
“She had that nice bullet work the other day,” McGee said. “She’s likely to go to Oaklawn for the Bayakoa (G3) (February 17, 4yo and up f&m, 1 1/16th miles). She had a really good year last year. I think we’re going to try to follow the same path this year as last. We’ll go Oaklawn to Keenland and then to Churchill and try to get another graded stakes win.”
ALSO ON THE WORKAB ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 (track fast).
Bobby’s Wicked One (Stall, Jr.) – Four furlongs in :48 3/5 B. Graded stakes winning sprinter who captured the Thanksgiving Day Classic last out. Probable for the Duncan F. Kenner on January 18 at Fair Grounds.
Do Share (N. Casse) – Four furlongs in :50 4/5 B. Graded stakes winning sprinter. Second last out in a Churchill Downs allowance race. Probable for the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes on January 18 at Fair Grounds breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5.
Enforceable (M. Casse) – Four furlongs in :48 3/5 B. Third in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland (G2). Most recently fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill. Probable for the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds on January 19.
Lynn’s Map (M. Casse) – Four furlongs in: 51.80 B. Impressive maiden winner and winner of two-turn allowance race at Fair Grounds December, 21, defeating Mr. Monomoy. Probable for the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds on January 18.
Out for a Spin (D. Stewart) – Four furlongs in: 50.00 B. Winner of Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keenland in April. 10th in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. Second in the Bob Fortis Memorial at Fair Grounds last time out.
Skygaze (M. Casse) – Four furlongs in :49.40 B. 3-year old daughter of American Pharoah. Third in Mazarine Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.
Arklow (Cox) – Five furlongs 1:01.40 B. Multiple graded stakes winner, including the 2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont. Most recently 8th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita. Pointing towards Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park on January 25.
Blended Citizen (Cox) – Five furlongs 1:00.20 B. Graded stakes winner (Peter Pan Stakes (G3) in 2018) and multiple graded stakes placed. Second in Tenacious Stakes last out at Fair Grounds and listed as probable for the Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds on January 18.
Chocolate Kisses (M. Casse) – Five furlongs 1:00.08 B. Winner of Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Seventh in 2019 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. Third last out in Indiana Oaks (G3) at Indiana Downs
Mr. Misunderstood (Cox) – Five furlongs 1:01.40 B. Winner of River City Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs. Multiple graded stakes placed. Probable for the Colonel E. R. Bradley at Fair Grounds on January 18.
Mr. Monomoy (Cox) – Five furlongs 1:01. Half-brother to champion Monomoy Girl. Second in allowance last out. Probable for the Lecomte (G3) on January 18 at Fair Grounds.
Portrait (Cox) – Five furlongs 1:01 B. Third in Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Probable for the Silverbulletday on January 18 at Fair Grounds.
Shedaresthedevil (Callaghan) – Five furlongs 1:01.40 B. Third in the Sorrento Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. Second in the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita in October.
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