Sheriff Brown goes last to first in Downs at Albuquerque Handicap

Sheriff Brown surpassed a milestone of $500,000 in career earnings on Saturday night when closed from last for a neck win over Mine That Star in the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap.

It was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third to Fleetridge.

The race, for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/8 miles, was the meet’s most prestigious offering for Thoroughbreds. It’s counterpart for Quarter Horses, the $300,000 Fall Championship, will be run Sunday and the field of 10 includes world champion Danjer.

Sheriff Brown ($7) trailed the field of 11 on Saturday, as Offshore Affair set fractions of 23.71 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.01 for the half-mile. Astronomical, who was in close pursuit of the lead, took over through six furlongs in 1:11.29 as Sheriff Brown began to pick off horses. The eventual winner came at least six wide into the stretch, hooked up with new leader Mine That Star, and cemented his win in the shadow of the wire.

Sheriff Brown covered the distance on a fast track in 1:48.59.

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Oscar Ceballos rode the winner for trainer Todd Fincher.

Sheriff Brown was the 121-pound highweight, while Mine That Star toted 119. Sheriff Brown was winning the third stakes race of his career; among his other noted victories was the $100,000 Sunland Park Handicap in April.

Sheriff Brown is a son of Curlin who races for his breeder, Peacock Family Holdings. He is out of the mare Rose’s Desert, a seven-time stakes winner who earned more than $600,000. She has four foals to race and all are stakes winners, including Runaway Ghost and Senor Buscador.

Sheriff Brown is now 8 for 29 for earnings of $506,421.

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