Senor Buscador squares off against brother in Curribot
Senor Buscador will make his first start since the Breeders’ Cup on Sunday in the $75,000 Curribot Handicap at Sunland Park. It also will be his first start against his half-brother Sheriff Brown.
The Curribot, which is for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles, shares a card with the $100,000 Peppers Pride Handicap for fillies and mares bred in New Mexico.
Senor Buscador exits the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 5 at Keeneland. He finished eighth, one start after earning a berth into the race for his victory in the Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs. Todd Fincher, who trains Senor Buscador, said the horse’s temperament was tested on Breeders’ Cup Saturday.
“He wasn’t prepared for the pre-race stuff, in the holding barn 30 minutes, in the paddock 30 minutes,” he said. “It was too much. He gets himself amped up. He left the paddock, got on the track, and was perfect through warm up. Back at the gate, he completely washed out. We really, really thought he would win that race, he was doing so good. He was done, obviously.”
Following the start, Senor Buscador was found to have bled and was given time off, Fincher said.
Fincher had been so confident heading into the Dirt Mile because of the outstanding race Senor Buscador ran in the Ack Ack.
“He ran great,” he said. “He made the lead very early, and a horse came up on his inside down the lane. Once he got close, he just drew back off from that horse. That was the real Buscador that day. I think he had plenty more in the tank that day.”
Senor Buscador is the 126-pound highweight for the Curribot, and stablemate Sheriff Brown is weighted next at 124. The horses are out of the multiple stakes-winning mare Rose’s Desert. Senor Buscador, who is 5, is a son of Mineshaft who races for Joe Peacock Jr. Sheriff Brown is a 7-year-old by Curlin who races for Peacock Family Holdings.
“Sheriff Brown is a really good, solid, solid horse,” Fincher said. “He’s not quite the talent as Buscador, but he’s been a darn good one.”
Sheriff Brown is a multiple stakes winner of more than $500,000. He will break from post 5 under Luis Fuentes, who won four races Tuesday at Sunland.
Senor Buscador will start from post 7 under Alfredo Juarez Jr. He will be racing at Sunland for the first time, but has been working over the surface. Senor Buscador will remove blinkers for the Curribot.
Fincher, who won six races Tuesday at Sunland, including all four stakes on the card, has a chief contender in the Peppers Pride with Bye Bye Brandi.
“She’s a big, tall filly,” Fincher said. “She’s got a huge stride, a lot of speed.”
Bye Bye Brandi will be looking for her third straight win when she takes on a field that includes multiple stakes winner Corrina Corrina.
Fuentes has the mount on Bye Bye Brandi from the rail. The 4-year-old by Marking is making her stakes debut for B4 Farms.
◗ Fincher said last week that Slammed, a New Mexico-bred daughter of Marking, was nearing her first work since the Breeders’ Cup. She finished 12th in the Filly and Mare Sprint after setting a quick, contested pace. Following the race, a foot abscess revealed itself and Slammed was given time off, Fincher said. Slammed had won the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland one start out from the Breeders’ Cup. She is 9 for 13 lifetime.
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