Weekend leaves Stewart with plenty to celebrate
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Life is good these days for Dallas Stewart. The 59-year-old trainer had three wins and three seconds from six combined starts here Friday and Saturday, then zipped up Interstate 71 with his wife, Yvette, on Sunday to watch his beloved New Orleans Saints romp to a 51-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Great game,” Stewart said.
Moreover, Stewart is excited about the prospect of Seeking the Soul defending his title in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, the post-Breeders’ Cup highlight of the fall meet. Seeking the Soul will be stretching out off a runner-up finish behind City of Light in the BC Dirt Mile when the Clark is run Nov. 23 at 1 1/8 miles. Nominations for the Clark and the other five graded stakes to be run here Thanksgiving weekend closed Saturday.
In addition, Stewart is looking forward to returning to another winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where he grew up and maintains close ties.
“Can’t beat it,” he said.
Cold front settles in
Unseasonably cold settled in last weekend and remains in the local forecast for the foreseeable future, but track officials are hoping there will be no stoppage in action despite overnight lows dipping below freezing (the low for Tuesday night into Wednesday was predicted to be 24). For the record, the last time Churchill canceled because of cold was Nov. 19-20, 2014.
Assuming racing proceeds as scheduled, two allowances scheduled for turf (races 7 and 9) will serve as co-features on a 10-race Wednesday card. There’s a jackpot carryover of $100,322 in the 20-cent Single 6 (races 5-10) and a $20,501 carryover in the $1 super high five (race 10). First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.
Landes to be honored
Bill Landes, the longtime general manager of prestigious Hermitage Farm outside of Louisville, will be honored Saturday night with the 2018 Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award at the 31st annual Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners’ Awards dinner at the Kentucky Derby Museum.
The event is open to the public. Tickets and further information are available at (502) 458-5820.
