Seeking the Soul retired last week due to a tendon injury. Over the course of his 5 year career, the horse had established a respectable record of seven wins, six seconds, and seven thirds in thirty-two starts plus over $3.4 million in earnings.
While the industry awaits the news of where Seeking The Soul will stand stud, we wanted to reflect on this gallant horse with ten facts about his life and career.
Seeking The Soul is a true homebred for his owner Charles Fipke. Fipke had bred and raced the colt’s dam Seeking The Title (Seeking The Gold), who won the Iowa Oaks (G3) and was Grade 1 placed. He also bred the colt’s sire Perfect Soul (IRE), who most notably won the Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes (G1).
Seeking The Soul was originally entered into the OBS Two-Year Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2015, but his reserve price was not reached and he remained with Fipke.
He was trained by Dallas Stewart throughout his entire career. Stewart is known for training Forever Unbridled to a Breeders’ Cup Distaff win.
The Clark Handicap (G1) is one of Churchill Downs’ premier races and Seeking The Soul ran in it three times. He won the race in 2017 (his first Grade 1 victory), hit the board in 2018, and finished off the board in the 2019 edition.
Churchill Downs is the track where Seeking The Soul broke his maiden in 2016 and is also the track where he seemed to perform the best.
Trainer Dallas Stewart adored Seeking The Soul, telling BloodHorse, “He came to us as a 2-year-old and stayed with us a long time. He was a real aggressive-type horse. He showed up and trained hard every day. He had the heart of a lion—a great horse to be around, for sure."
Horses who run for many years are often referred to as “warriors” and Seeking The Soul was one of those horses who often received that title. Dallas Stewart himself referred to the horse as a warrior, stating in early 2020 that the horse could run for a few more years (though we now know this won’t be the case).
Seeking The Soul showed his best form in late 2018 and 2019, notably winning the Ack Ack (G3) and Stephen Foster (G2).
The horse had two incredible runner-up finishes to City of Light in 2018 and 2019, first in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in Nov. 2018 and then in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in Jan. 2019.
Seeking The Soul was a globetrotter. He raced in Kentucky, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Canada, and even Dubai.
Seeking The Soul had a long and wonderful career. He took his connections and fans on many unforgettable journeys around the world. The hope is that one day his foals will be able to do the same.
[Video: Watch Seeking The Soul win the Stephen Foster (G2) in 2019]
About: Champions of the Track is dedicated to growing the popularity of horse racing by sharing stories, photos, and videos of the sport. We provide engaging content to generate new fans whilst entertaining the sport’s loyal supporters.
If you feel connected to our mission and would like to support us, you can make a contribution on Ko-Fi. These contributions help us accomplish our mission of creating new fans of horse racing and are what keeps our community growing! We send our supporters gifts of booklets and photos.
Connect with Champions of the Track:
Like on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Follow on Instagram
Subscribe onYouTube
Comments