Senor Buscador expected to make return in Pat O'Brien

Senor Buscador, winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia in February, is scheduled to have his summer debut in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 24.

Trainer Todd Fincher said on Friday that Senor Buscador will not run in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 27, a race the now 6-year-old horse won in 2023.

“We’ll miss the San Diego,” Fincher said. “We’ll aim for the Pat O’Brien. I think I’ve got him on schedule.”

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Senor Buscador has not started since he finished a well-beaten third in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March. After returning to the United States, Senor Buscador was given a brief vacation before he resumed training in May.

Owned by Joe Peacock Jr., Senor Buscador has had four workouts since late May and is scheduled for another on Tuesday, Fincher said. Senor Buscador has not accomplished enough in recent training to be ready for the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.

“It was going to be pushing it,” Fincher said of the timeline.

“He’s getting back in shape and looking good.”

The winner of the $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2. Fincher said he has the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles as a long-range goal for Senor Buscador, with a start in the Grade 1 California Crown at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 as a possibility.

Senor Buscador finished seventh of 12 in the BC Classic at Santa Anita last November, but has been in much sharper form in four subsequent starts, including second-place finishes in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct last December, and the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January.

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