DEL MAR, Calif. – The fog that enveloped Del Mar on Friday morning was an apropos setting on the morning Senor Buscador was to have his final workout in preparation for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2. Despite a sensational start to his 6-year-old season, Senor Buscador’s status as a win candidate in the Classic is hazy at best. Perhaps Friday’s workout at Del Mar, which, despite the fog, Daily Racing Form was able to time in 58.84 seconds, was a sign that the Senor Buscador who won the $20 million Saudi Cup in February is about to show himself again. From last December to March, Senor Buscador put in four solid efforts – a second in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct; a second, beaten a neck, in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in January; a win in the Saudi Cup at Riyadh in February; and a third in the Dubai World Cup in March. When he came back from the Middle East, Senor Buscador got a well-deserved break at Peacefield Farm in Temecula, Calif. :: ON SALE NOW: DRF Breeders' Cup Packages! Get everything you need to win and save 41% off the retail price. Trainer Todd Fincher was hoping to have Senor Buscador on his game for the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in late July, but he just didn’t have him ready in time for that race. Instead, Senor Buscador returned in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien, a seven-furlong race on Aug. 24 at Del Mar, where he finished fourth, 6 3/4 lengths behind Raging Torrent. Five weeks later, Senor Buscador finished a non-threatening fifth in the Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita. “He ran good in the Pat O’Brien,” Fincher said. “It was a speed-biased track. They went a slower pace and they zinged home. Those horses really finished that day. I wasn’t disappointed, his gallop-out was huge. “His Santa Anita race was terrible,” Fincher added. “That wasn’t the first time he ran bad there. He’s definitely not a fan of Santa Anita. We’re going to throw that last race out.” Senor Buscador is just 1 for 5 at Del Mar, the win coming in the Grade 2 San Diego in July 2023. He ran a creditable fourth in the Pacific Classic a year ago as well. Senor Buscador is a stone-cold closer and Del Mar, at this summer meet in particular, favored front-runners. “Whatever order they were at the three-eighths pole is how they finished,” Fincher said. “Hopefully, they get that corrected and it’s a more fair track.”  Jockey Armando Ayuso worked Senor Buscador last week at Santa Anita and again Friday at Del Mar. He believes the horse prefers Del Mar’s surface. “He gets a hold of the track better,” Ayuso said after Friday’s work. “It’s only the second time I’ve been on him and the first time I was on him was last week at Santa Anita and he did really good. I liked it, but this time he was even better.” Fincher has not yet confirmed a rider for Senor Buscador. Junior Alvarado, who won with him in Saudi Arabia, is committed to Arthur’s Ride in the Classic. Joe Talamo, who has ridden Senor Buscador the last two starts, is taking a sabbatical from riding. :: BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more Among the riders without a Classic mount is Joel Rosario. Meanwhile, across the country, at Saratoga, under crystal clear conditions, Classic contender Fierceness worked a half-mile in 48.98 seconds over the Oklahoma track. Fierceness worked outside of Illuminaire, shading 24 seconds for his first quarter and was taken in hand by his exercise rider while kept two paths outside of his workmate in the lane. Saratoga clocker David Norton had Fierceness galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.20 and six furlongs in 1:15.40. “Another excellent move,” said Pletcher, who didn’t want the horse to do too much. “The closer he gets to another horse, probably the more competitive he’ll get. Just trying to keep him relaxed. They broke off solid, 12 and a tick or two, I [told him] on the radio to keep him in hand throughout.” Also at Saratoga, Skippylongstocking went a half-mile in 47.80, in company with the 2-year-old filly The Queens M G. Skippylongocking was pre-entered in both the Classic and Dirt Mile, but trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said he will run in the Dirt Mile. With Skippylongstocking running in the Dirt Mile, Pyrenees now makes the Classic field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.