Seeking the Soul training strongly for Dubai World Cup

NEW ORLEANS – Trainer Dallas Stewart seriously believes Seeking the Soul can get 1 ¼ miles and win the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 30, but there was nothing especially serious about Seeking the Soul’s half-mile workout Friday morning at Fair Grounds.

“Just maintenance,” said Stewart, who trains Seeking the Soul for owner Chuck Fipke.

Seeking the Soul now has logged two works here at Fair Grounds since closing steadily to finish second Jan. 26 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. Seeking the Soul came into that race in roaring form and Stewart thinks he’s come out of it in similar fashion.

“I think he’s right back where he was,” Stewart said.

Stewart put some very fast drills into Seeking the Soul before the Pegasus, and while a stronger work is planned for next weekend, Stewart plans to take a milder approach now with Seeking the Soul fully fit and in a good rhythm. Other than a failed try in the Belmont Stakes, Seeking the Soul never has raced longer than 1 1/8 miles, but his trainer has confidence he’ll stay 2,000 meters, about 1 1/4 miles, in Dubai.

Fipke and Stewart had a World Cup starter last year when Forever Unbridled ended her career with a fifth-place finish. Seeking the Soul is among five known possible World Cup runners from the U.S. along with Yoshida, Battle of Midway, Audible, and Bravazo.