Seek and Destroy Dominant in Soaring Softly

ELMONT, NY –  Seek and Destroy surged down the stretch to win the Soaring Softly Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. This was the third consecutive win for the three-year-old son of Verrazano and his second consecutive stakes score.

Entirely broke well and got out for the lead by the first call. My Galina also broke well and quickly sped past Entirely to get to the front leaving Entirely to drop back settle in with Stillwater Cove and Missmizz as they sat off of the leader. My Galina continued on along the rail with the lead and set fractions of :22.36 and :45.78. As they came out of the turn, Seek and Destroy made a huge wide move and hit the top of the stretch just a head behind the leader My Galina. Seek and Destroy continued on down the stretch to eventually win by about a length. Feel Glorious also made a nice move on the inside to pass the tiring My Galina. Feel Glorious finished second with My Galina in third and Stillwater Cove settled for fourth. There was an inquiry after the race into the stretch run of Feel Glorious, however, there was no change to the order of finish.

“The cutback helped. She was fresh today coming off a layoff, so I knew I could do anything with her,” jockey Kendrick Carmouche said. “She ran a wonderful race. There were a lot of horses wanting to get through to the inside, and I just wanted to get my horse a clear trip. Once I saw those guys stacking up inside, I asked her to run and she took off. I just had to hold them off from there.”

Seek and Destroy, a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is trained by Chad Brown and owned by e5 Racing. This was his first start since winning the Chelsey Flower Stakes at Belmont in October of last year.

“She did it well,” said trainer Chad Brown’s assistant Whit Beckman. “Kendrick took her back early and made a nice one-run move. I think she could stretch out a little bit.”

Seek and Destroy returned $22.20 to win, $6.80 to place, and $5.00 to show. Feel Glorious brought back $3.70 to place and $2.90 to show, while My Galina paid $4.70 to show.