Churchill Notes: Stephen Foster Seeking the Soul Target

Charles Fipke's grade I-winning homebred Seeking the Soul remains on track for the $600,000 Stephen Foster presented by GE Appliances (GI) 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 I 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 (IRE), won the 2017 Clark Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs and, most recently, finished third in the Alysheba (GII) 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 (GI) on Jan. 26. The six-time winner then traveled to Dubai for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (GI) but finished eighth. 

Nominations for the Stephen Foster - a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) - close June 1. 

CHURCHILL DOWNS RACING CLUB HEADED EAST FOR $100,000 TOM RIDGE AT PRESQUE ISLE - Churchill Downs Racing Club's recent Keeneland allowance winner Distant Shore is headed to Presque Isle Downs for Monday's $100,000 Tom Ridge Stakes, a six-furlong contest over the synthetic track for 3-year-olds.

Trained by Tom Amoss, Distant Shore has not finished worse than fourth in six-career starts and has banked $95,290 in earnings. 

"This horse is so much fun to train for all of the club members," Amoss said. "The Churchill Downs Racing Club gives fans a great look into Thoroughbred ownership through a ($500) club fee and allows them to enjoy the experience. Distant Shore has been great and his career is just starting.

"We looked at this race and thought it could be a good option with the distance and the fact he already ran second over the synthetic at Arlington (in the Arlington Washington Futurity). Presque Isle is also a sister track now to Churchill Downs so we get to keep it within the family."

The Tom Ridge Stakes is Race 6 with a post time of 7:30 p.m. ET. Distant Shore will break from post No. 5 as the 9-2 morning line favorite in the field of 12.

The Churchill Downs Racing Club, which was inaugurated in the spring of 2016, is a low-cost, low-risk glimpse into the life of Thoroughbred ownership. Gary Palmisano represents the club's interest and serves as a liaison for the club's members. Benefits include regular e-mail updates on the horse, visits to the track in the early mornings and breakfast on select days to watch the horse train, trips to the paddock, watching the race in a group setting and hopefully experiencing the thrill of visiting the Woodford Reserve Winners' Circle. Each member will receive free general admission for two to Churchill Downs in 2019, and invitations to exclusive Churchill Downs Racing Club events at the track

A few spots remain for the 2019 Churchill Downs Racing Club where Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas will train an unraced 2-year-old. Interested parties are invited to register online at www.churchilldowns.com/racingclub.  

There are more than 700 Churchill Downs Racing Club members and 60 have moved on to join other Thoroughbred ownership groups, according to Palmisano.

MEET LEADERS - Jockeys Ricardo Santana Jr. and Gabriel Saez were tied atop the standings with 10 wins to begin racing Thursday at Churchill Downs. James Graham was on their heels in third with nine while Tyler Gaffalione and Corey Lanerie were tracking in fourth with eight wins. ... Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen held a 9-6 win lead over Mike Maker in the trainer standings with Tom Amoss and Rusty Arnold in third with five wins. ... Maggi Moss started the 2019 Spring Meet going 4-for-9 and led the owner standings by two wins over Calumet Farm, G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Klaravich Stables, PTK LLC, Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Whitham Thoroughbreds.