Time and time again, whether it be sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs or routing 1 1/16 miles, Senor Buscador has shown he can close, and close well, with the ideal race set up. In the July 29 $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2), just one of three Del Mar stakes he was nominated for that weekend, the race unfolded perfectly for the son of Mineshaft as he rallied to a 1 1/4-length victory.
#7 SENOR BUSCADOR ($29) under @franco_geo comes storming down the lane to win the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (GII). The son of Mineshaft is trained by @ToddFincher. Congrats to all the connections!
Watch more on @FanDuelTV and wager at https://t.co/nBYFHiPrdh. pic.twitter.com/87JZOXE6nI
— TVG (@TVG) July 30, 2023
“We nominated to the Bing Crosby, this, and the Eddie Read,” said trainer Todd Fincher. “This horse is super talented—the most talented horse I’ve ever trained, but he has his quirks, he needs a setup.”
Strolling out of the gate under Geovanni Franco, who was aboard the bay for the first time since breezing the 5-year-old at Churchill Downs last fall ahead of his Ack Ack Stakes (G3) triumph, Senor Buscador took up residence at the back of the 9-horse field.
California-bred star sprinter Brickyard Ride , attempting to stretch his speed to 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, rolled on the front end, throwing down early splits of :23.03, :46.30, and 1:10.36. Heavy favorite Defunded was set to a drive around the far turn and was scrambling to make headway into the pacesetter’s advantage as the field wheeled for home. Only Slow Down Andy , making his second start of the year for trainer Doug O’Neill, appeared to threaten Brickyard Ride, taking over the frontrunner in mid-stretch before Senor Buscador swooped by his rivals late down the center of the track.
Senor Buscador ($29), facing trouble in his last two prior starts, had no trouble in the San Diego, parlaying a five-wide run around the bend into an authoritative score in a final time of 1:42.54 on a fast main track.
“He’s had so many setbacks, so much bad luck,” said Joseph Peacock of his homebred Senor Buscador. “And we were just very patient with him because he has a ton of talent and we just knew eventually he would show up on the right day and it looks like today was one of those.”
Slow Down Andy and Brickyard Ride completed the trifecta while Gold Cup (G1) hero Defunded could only manage fourth.
Senor Buscador, bred by Peacock and his father Joe Peacock Sr. in Kentucky, is one of four stakes winners produced from the Desert Gold mare Rose’s Desert. The New Mexico-bred mare was a multiple stakes winner and earner of $626,035 for Peacock Sr. and Fincher. Rose’s Desert’s youngest progeny to date include a yearling filly by Hard Spun and a weanling colt by Authentic .
Earning his second graded win in the San Diego and his second tally of the year, Senor Buscador improved his record to 6-0-1 from 12 starts with a bankroll of $667,427.
Eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last year, a return trip to the event, this year at Santa Anita Park, could likely be in the cards for the improving Senor Buscador.
