Best Bet of Labor Day weekend

Aug 31, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Close followers of Churchill Downs racing in recent seasons should be familiar with several candidates in the $750,000 Woodward (G1) at Saratoga, the historic 1 1/8-mile feature for older horses that attracted one of its largest fields in years — 14 — for its renewal on Saturday.

A contentious race on paper, there is one candidate that figures to be primed for a top effort. Trainer Dallas Stewart has been taking a 'less is more' approach with #10 SEEKING THE SOUL (9-2), much as he did last season to good effect with champion mare Forever Unbridled. The colt has run only twice this year, with an emphasis geared toward having him ready for the major fall events.

A relative late bloomer, Seeking the Soul peaked for the first time last November when springing a mild upset in the Clark H. (G1) at Churchill for his first graded stakes tally. He returned in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream in January, and while no threat to Horse of the Year Gun Runner and champion West Coast, finished less than a length behind Gunnevera, one of his primary Woodward rivals, despite breaking from disadvantageous post.

Off more than five months, Seeking the Soul returned to action in a $100,000 stakes at Indiana Grand on the Indiana Derby undercard. The 1-2 favorite, his loss by a head was hardly a disappointment. The winner, Pioneer Spirit, held a notable pace advantage on paper and gamely held off Seeking the Soul after leading all the way. The performance by the latter was strong for rust-shaking purposes, especially so as the one mile and 70 yards was arguably shorter than his ideal trip.

A track-and-distance allowance winner last summer, expect Seeking the Soul to make his presence felt at the finish. We'll bet him to Win and key him in Exactas over #9 Gunnevera, a Grade 2 winner who was a solid second in the Travers (G1) in his last trip to the Spa, and #14 Rally Cry, a distant second to Gun Runner in last year's Woodward.

The Woodward is the 11th race on the Saratoga program with an approximate post time of 6:47 p.m. (EDT). You can watch and wager at TwinSpires.com.

(Coady Photography)