Joe Peacock, Jr.'s Senor Buscador (Mineshaft), who earned a berth in the field for next Saturday's GI BigAss Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile via his mild upset in the GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 1, tuned up for that engagement with a 'solid' five-furlong work in the company of his GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-bound stable companion Sheriff Brown (Curlin) beneath jockey Francisco Arrieta at Keeneland Thursday morning.
“We got what we wanted,” trainer Todd Fincher said. “Senor Buscador started about six lengths back and got to the target a little faster and caught up by the three-eighths. He waited a bit not wanting to go by too fast and really started working at the quarter pole.”
Fincher surmised that Senor Buscador, who finished three lengths clear of his company, covered his final three furlongs from the eighth pole to the three-quarter pole in :34 and change.
“Sheriff Brown is better with a target, but he was the hunted today,” said Fincher, whose GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint contestant Slammed (Marking) is set to breeze Friday morning.
Also on the Thursday morning tab was Hot Peppers (Khozan), who went five furlongs on her own in 1:02.20 in :12.60, :24.80, :38 and out three-quarters in 1:16. Family Way (Uncle Mo), pre-entered for the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, went five-eighths in 1:00.80, the fastest of seven at the distance Thursday morning.
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