Senor Buscador winning the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Breeders’ Cup Notes
From the disappointment of an eighth-place finish in last year’s Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland, Joey Peacock’s SENOR BUSCADOR is primed to set his hooves on center stage in Saturday’s $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
“It was very disappointing last year in the Dirt Mile,” trainer Todd Fincher said. “But he washed out, which he had never done before and also bled for the first time. It was a legitimate excuse. I was expecting a big race from him last year. He’s definitely a Classic horse and I envisioned him getting here one day.”
Senor Buscador is the third foal to race for Peacock’s mare Rose’s Desert.
“When my father was alive, he planned all the matings for Rose’s Desert,” Peacock said. “Senor Buscador is the last horse we bred together. I have been planning all the matings since Senor Buscador.”
Rose’s Desert raced from 2010 to 2013 and compiled a 15-10-5-0 record, winning seven stakes and earning $626,035.
“Her pedigree is sneaky good for a New Mexico bred,” Peacock said. “All of her foals that have made it to the track are stakes winners and we own every one of her offspring.”
Fincher trained Rose’s Desert, who has produced six-time stakes winner and $783,509 earner Runaway Ghost by Ghostzapper and three-time stakes winner and $603,681 earner Sheriff Brown by Curlin.
“She was one of the best fillies I’ve ever had to train and to race,” Fincher said. “She has had unbelievable success as a broodmare. To get one as good as her is unbelievable. Hard to find one that produces as well.”
Senor Buscador has spent the summer in Southern California, starting at Del Mar with a victory in the San Diego Handicap (G2) at a mile and sixteenth and a fourth in the Pacific Classic (G1) at a mile and a quarter. In his most recent start, he was third in the Awesome Again (G1) at Santa Anita going a mile and an eighth.
Aboard for all three rides was 32-year-old Giovanni Franco, who will be seeking his first Breeders’ Cup victory this weekend.
“I worked him last year at Churchill Downs before he won the Ack Ack (G3),” said Franco, who was aboard Thursday morning when Senor Buscador worked a bullet 5 furlongs in 59 2/5.
“I filled in one morning for Francisco Arrieta and Senor Buscador worked in 58 (and 1) with Todd’s good filly Slammed. I came to California and one morning at Del Mar, I introduced myself to Todd and told him I had filled in that one morning at Churchill.
“He said, ‘I owe you one.’ A minute later, my agent called and said, ‘you got the mount.’”
Their first pairing was a success with the victory in the San Diego Handicap.
“He had an incredible run the last three-eighths,” said Franco, who has 994 career victories. “In the Pacific Classic, things didn’t work out the way I wanted it to and would have liked a better trip. In the Awesome Again, he was the only horse that closed ground that day … all day. He is going to have to bring his ‘A’ game, but I feel he is ready to run big.”
Franco’s most recent Breeders’ Cup ride came in 2021 at Del Mar when he finished second on Lieutenant Dan in the Turf Sprint (G1) behind Golden Pal.
“If I could have one race back …” Franco said, replaying the race in his head. “I broke like a bullet, and I should have gone after Golden Pal. Then we see who gets tired first.”
This story is not close to ending.
“I have a Candy Ride 2-year-old filly and a yearling Hard Spun filly coming,” Fincher said.
And for Franco, whose 1,000-win milestone looms close. Just what if that 1,000th win came in the Classic?
“Hmmmmm,” Franco said, pondering the thought. “That would be like a movie story. It would be sweet.”
