Zipse: 1-turn Cigar Mile should suit Señor Buscador

Beaten just over five lengths by the winner White Abarrio, the patented late run of Señor Buscador did not have its normal punch down the Santa Anita stretch. He could do no better than mid-pack at the finish of the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

Perhaps the level of competition had something to do with it, but I’ve always believed that the son of Mineshaft is better at shorter distances. We'll find out when he takes on a one-turn mile at Aqueduct in Saturday’s $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap.

A four-time stakes winner, Señor Buscador will be looking for his biggest win yet in the Grade 2 test. Based in California, it also will be his first career start on the East Coast.

Shipped to New York last week by trainer Todd Fincher in preparation for the big day at the Big A, the 5-year-old horse got in a local workout on Saturday. His sharp move over the Belmont Park training track was timed in 1:00.90 for the five furlongs and was the fastest of 27 at the distance.

It’s been a while, but the last time Señor Buscador raced around only one turn came in the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs last October. The result was an impressive victory as he took command early in the lane on his way to a facile score.

In the seven races since that victory, Señor Buscador has run strictly in two-turn races. It makes sense in that he is a capable older male often running well enough to cash a check and there is much more opportunity running longer, but it will be good to see him around one-turn again.

He was a winner in two of those seven races, but even those came at 8 1/2 furlongs, as opposed to many of his recent races at nine furlongs or more.

The biggest win to date for the Joe Peacock Jr. homebred came four starts back when he rallied from last in the San Diego Handicap (G2) at 1 1/16 miles. Sent off at odds of 13-1 that July afternoon at Del Mar, he demonstrated what he could do with a solid pace and at a middle distance as he rolled by good horses Slow Down Andy, Brickyard Ride and Defunded.

Señor Buscador followed that up with three solid efforts in Grade 1 races, finishing fourth in the 10-furlong Pacific Classic, third in the 9-furlong Awesome Again and then seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Although none of his last three results sound overly promising, he rallied each time against strong competition and was not embarrassed. It tells me that the horse, who earned his first stakes victory three years ago, is in good form and continues to try.

Entered in the right spot, Señor Buscador should be ready to break through with another stakes victory. The lucrative Cigar Mile trip likely will suit him well. Aqueduct is a track on which a horse can rally. He is always better when the pace is solid, but Señor Buscador does not need to come from the clouds to win.

The bay late runner has been a nice horse since day one. He missed some time in his career, but now nearing 6 years old, he is going well and has proven himself a class horse.

Cutting back to a distance I believe he prefers after a tough assignment in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Señor Buscador should have every opportunity to shine in Saturday’s Cigar Mile.