Workouts: Pegasus & Kentucky Derby contenders have breezes

Señor Buscador breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Thursday in preparation for a start in the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 27.

The multiple graded-stakes winner who is a 6-year-old son of Mineshaft was clocked at 1:01.08 on the main track at Gulfstream Park. He is coming off a late-closing, runner-up finish in the Dec. 2 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct.

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Júnior Alvarado was aboard for the veteran stakes campaigner’s fourth workout since arriving at Gulfstream since shortly after his strong effort in the Cigar Mile.

“Júnior was very happy with him. He said he galloped out strong. He said, ‘We went way past the wire and let him gallop out,” trainer Todd Fincher said from his training base at Sunland Park in New Mexico. “He said he wanted to keep going. He was very happy with him.”

Bred and owned by Joe Peacock Jr., Señor Buscador was beaten by 5 1/4 lengths while finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic before he returned in the Cigar Mile. He captured the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar in July.

Señor Buscador is on the final invitation list for the Pegasus World Cup that includes National Treasure, First Mission, Skippylongstocking, O’Connor, Ny Traffic, Dynamic One, Grand Aspen, Hoist the Gold, Il Miracolo, Saudi Crown, and Trademark.

Multiple-stakes winner Full Count Felicia put in her final work ahead of her scheduled start in the $500,000 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf (G2) on Jan. 27.

Owned by Gold Square and trained by Brittany Russell, the 5-year-old War Front mare went four furlongs in 48.50 seconds over the main track at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. It was the third-fastest of eight works at the distance.

“Felicia is a good-training filly. She doesn’t miss a beat. She’s the kind of girl that wakes up in the morning, and she goes to work,” Russell said. “She doesn’t have a bad day. She’s been full steam ahead training in the morning. A lot of things are going to have to go right for her, but she’s earned her way into this race.”

The 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf is one of the seven graded-stakes worth $5.2 million on the Pegasus World Cup program. Entries will be taken and post positions drawn between Sunday’s races at Gulfstream Park for all three Pegasus races.

There were 10 graded-stakes winners and three horses in the Las Vegas futures for Kentucky Derby 2024 who had timed workouts across America on Friday.

Graded-stakes winners

Señor Buscador (Mineshaft), a Grade 2 winner (2023 San Diego Handicap), worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 at Gulfstream Park on Thursday morning. It was the slower of two works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going five furlongs at Gulfstream Park. In his last start he placed second in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) going one mile on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 2 for trainer Todd Fincher.

Full Count Felicia (War Front), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Suwannee River), worked four furlongs in 48.5 seconds at Palm Meadows on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of eight works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Suwannee River (G3) going one mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 30 for trainer Brittany Russell.

Storm the Court (Court Vision), a Grade 1 winner (2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Tampa Bay Downs on Thursday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 25 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs. In his last start he placed second in an allowance race going five furlongs on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on Nov. 24 for trainer Bill Morey.

Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2023 Cigar Mile Handicap, 2023 Phoenix), worked five furlongs in 59.4 seconds at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of 11 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going six furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) going one mile on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 2 for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Trademark (Upstart), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Clark), worked five furlongs in 1:02.0 at Payson Park on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of five works at the distance. His previous work was 12 days ago going five furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he won the Clark (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24 for trainer Vicki Oliver.

Champions Dream (Justify), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Nashua), worked four furlongs in 52.3 seconds at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 23 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed sixth in an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 26 for trainer Danny Gargan.

Disarm (Gun Runner), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Matt Winn), worked four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the 18th fastest of 26 works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he placed second in the Travers (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 26 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Durante (Distorted Humor), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Bold Ruler), worked three furlongs in 39.9 seconds at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the eighth fastest of nine works at the distance. His previous work was four days ago going three furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed third in the Gravesend going six furlongs on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 30 for trainer David Jacobson.

Linda’s Gift (Arrogate), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Red Carpet), worked three furlongs in 38.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 11 works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going seven furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she won the Red Carpet (G3) going 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 23 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Zoffarelli (Zoffany), a Grade 3 winner (2021 La Jolla Handicap), worked five furlongs in 1:02.6 at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the 28th fastest of 34 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won an allowance race going six furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 1 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Kentucky Derby contenders

Bonus Move (Twirling Candy) worked four furlongs in 49.5 seconds at Gulfstream Park on Thursday morning. It was the 11th fastest of 19 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in a maiden race going seven furlongs on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 30 for trainer Mark Hennig.

Mission Beach (Curlin) worked four furlongs in 51.8 seconds at Laurel Park on Thursday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 17 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Laurel Park. In his last start he won an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Laurel Park on Dec. 22 for Russell.

Regalo (Maximus Mischief) worked four furlongs in 51.4 seconds at Laurel Park on Thursday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 17 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fourth in the Jerome going one mile on the main track at Aqueduct on Jan. 6 for Russell.