Crown Royal American Turf (gr. III) winner Senor Swinger tuned up for his return to the grass in Saturday's $200,000-added Jefferson Cup (gr. III) with a blistering five furlong work over the Churchill Downs main track on Monday.Robert and Beverly Lewis' son of El Prado, a Bob Baffert-trainee who finished fifth to Visa Triple Crown contender Funny Cide in the Preakness (gr. I) in his most recent start, covered the distance over a fast track in :58.60. Jockey Robby Albarado, who will ride Senor Swinger in the Jefferson Cup, was aboard for the move, which was the fastest of 23 at the distance and only two of those were below the one-minute mark."I worked him on the grass last week and I see no difference between the grass and the dirt work," said Albarado. "I thought they were both pretty good works. Obviously his Crown Royal race was pretty impressive, so that's why they're leaning toward the Jefferson Cup.""He's always been a good work horse anyway, but today he was rolling around there," said John Good, the assistant who handles trainer Bob Baffert's Churchill Downs stable. "He was just enjoying himself and he finished up strong."Good said that Senor Swinger may be tried on the dirt again in the future, but the strength of his victory in the Crown Royal American Turf on Kentucky Oaks Day made the 1 1/8 miles Jefferson Cup a natural spot for the dark gray colt."He does have an awesome kick and he's displayed maybe more of kick on the turf than he has on the dirt," said Good. "That aspect probably makes him look a little better in the Jefferson Cup than any other spot.
The way he works he acts like could handle the dirt. He's just a very talented horse and he does everything easy, but in a race situation I think the turf is more to his liking because he just has that kick."
