Senor Buscador (pictured), a Kentucky-bred son of Mineshaft with solid New Mexico connections, is scheduled to make his next start in the February 24, $20-million Saudi Cup (G1).
Senor Buscador is trained by Todd Fincher for owner Joe R. Peacock Jr. The homebred stallion is out of Rose’s Desert, a New Mexico-bred daughter of Desert God who won seven state-bred stakes from 2010-13, including two runnings of the Peppers Pride New Mexico Classics Distaff Championship (R) at Zia Park, and two runnings of the New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap (R) at Sunland Park.
Senor Buscador made his final prep for the Saudi Cup with a 4-furlong work at Gulfstream Park near Miami, Florida, on February 11. The stallion breezed the distance in :50.14 under jockey Junior Alvarado, who is scheduled to ride Senor Buscador in the Saudi Cup.
“It went just the way Todd and I wanted,” Alvarado told the Gulfstream Park press office. “He went out there and stretched his legs. We wanted to keep him happy. He went around the track very happy, enjoying his workout and gallop out on his own.”
Alvarado rode Senor Buscador in his most recent start, his second-place finish, a neck behind winner National Treasure, in the January 27, $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park. All told, the stallion has won six of 17 races and has earned $1,496,427, and his four stakes wins include the 2022 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, and last year’s San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. He also won last year’s 1 1/16-mile, $75,000 Curribot Handicap at Sunland Park.
“He showed up,” said Alvarado of Senor Buscador’s runner-up effort in the Pegasus World Cup. “He came down the lane running hard. He just came up a couple of jumps short. He showed up. He proved that he was at the same level with these horses.”