Breeders' Cup veterans Three Technique, Senor Buscador going in Cigar Mile

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Three Technique, last of eight in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and Senor Buscador, seventh of 12 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, are among those expected for the Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 2.

Three Technique is based in Kentucky with trainer Jason Cook, but the horse has enjoyed success on the New York Racing Association circuit when he was with Jeremiah Englehart. Cook, who claimed Three Technique two years ago for $40,000, shipped him to Belmont Park in July to win the Grade 2 John Nerud Stakes, the only graded stakes victory on Three Technique’s résumé.

When he returned to Kentucky from New York after that race, Three Technique developed a bacterial infection in his neck, presumably from where he had blood drawn following the Nerud victory, according to Cook.

That caused Three Technique to miss a scheduled trip to Del Mar in July for the Bing Crosby. Three Technique returned to the races on Sept. 30 at Churchill Downs with a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Ack Ack before his eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Cook said the six furlongs of the Sprint is too short for Three Technique but the two-turn configuration of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile wasn’t right for him either.

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“He wants go one turn, he wants to go farther than six,” Cook said. “I’ve done pretty well putting him where he likes.”

Cook said Three Technique came out of the Breeders’ Cup in good order as evidenced by his five-furlong workout in 1:00.60 at the Churchill Downs Training Center last weekend. Regular rider Rafael Bejarano was aboard for the move, which was the fastest of 10 that morning at the distance.

“Bejarano worked him the other day and said, ‘These last two times he’s breezed have been the best since you’ve had him,’ ” Cook said.

Cook was undecided if he was going to work Three Technique again or just give him a strong gallop over the weekend. He will ship to New York by van next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Senor Buscador arrived in New York on Tuesday following a cross-country flight from California. Trainer Todd Fincher said he wanted to give Senor Buscador time to acclimate to a different climate.

Senor Buscador won the Grade 2 San Diego going 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar in July and then finished fourth in the Pacific Classic and third in the Awesome Again before the Breeders’ Cup, where he was beaten 5 1/4 lengths by White Abarrio.

“He got 18, 19 lengths back. He just didn’t do any running until he got out in the clear and he did too much running in the middle of the race,” Fincher said. “He ran good. He got beat five lengths, giving up too much ground to great horses.”

The last time Senor Buscador contested a one-turn mile, he won the Ack Ack in 2022 at Churchill. Three Technique finished third in that race.

Fincher had planned to work Senor Buscador last Saturday but, due to the threat of rain, the track was closed for workers. Fincher said Senor Buscador would likely work this weekend at Belmont.

Others pointing to the Cigar Mile include Accretive, Cascais, Castle Chaos, Dr Ardito, Everso Mischievous, Pipeline, and Winit. Ny Traffic is possible.

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