NOTES Seeking the Soul in good shape

By NYRA

Trainer Dallas Stewart reported Monday morning that graded stakes-placed Seeking the Soul exited his wide, late-running win in an allowance optional claiming race on Sunday at Saratoga in fine shape.

A 4-year-old by Perfect Soul, Seeking the Soul was an impressive maiden winner when he made an unsuccessful jump up in class in the 2016 Belmont Stakes, finishing 12th of 13. He went on to finish third in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones and the Jefferson Cup later that season. Stewart was pleased with how the Charles Fipke homebred handled the stretch out to 1 1/8 miles around two turns on Sunday following a pair of sprint races this spring.

“He came in here ready to roll,” said Stewart. “He ran at Belmont in a shorter race and just ran out of distance. It looks like he can handle the mile and an eighth here. We might try something with him later on, we’ll see how he does.”

Stewart said that multiple graded stakes winner Forever Unbridled is likely to make a return appearance at the Spa in the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign on Travers Day, August 26. The 5-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song has remained at Churchill Downs following her 1 ¾-length victory in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap on June 17 and will ship to Saratoga in the coming weeks.

Forever Unbridled was third to Cavorting in last year’s Personal Ensign and bounced back with a 2 ¼-length win in the Grade 1 Beldame that fall at Belmont Park. She got a freshening after finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and returned to action more than seven months later in the Fleur de Lis.

“She’s been very good since her win at Churchill, we’re looking forward to making the race,” Stewart said.