Senor Buscador possible to return in San Diego Handicap

Senor Buscador, winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup in February and third in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in March, is tentatively scheduled to return to racing in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 27.

The 6-year-old Senor Buscador is currently based with trainer Richard Baltas at San Luis Rey Downs training center in northern San Diego county, not far from Del Mar. Senor Buscador will rejoin longtime trainer Todd Fincher’s stable next week when Fincher sends a group of horses to San Luis Rey Downs in advance of the Del Mar meeting that begins on July 20.

Senor Buscador will resume workouts in coming weeks for the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles, which is designed as a prep for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 31.

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“Hopefully we can get him ready for the San Diego,” Fincher said on Thursday afternoon. “I’m not sure we’ll have him 100 percent. If he runs good we can go to the Pacific Classic.”

Fincher said autumn goals are the Grade 1 California Crown at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2. The California Crown has a purse of $1 million and was previously known as the Awesome Again Stakes. The race had a $300,000 purse last year.

Senor Buscador, who races for Joe Peacock, was seventh in the BC Classic at Santa Anita last November, but has been in career-best form this year.

Senor Buscador was second by a neck in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational, a $3 million race, at Gulfstream Park in January before winning the Saudi Cup at about 1 1/8 miles in Saudi Arabia. In the Dubai World Cup, Senor Buscador was second in early stretch, but faded to finish third, nine lengths behind winner Laurel River.

Fincher said he plans to send “about a dozen” runners to California next week, including several 2-year-olds that could start at Santa Anita or Los Alamitos before the Del Mar summer meeting.

“We’ve got several pretty decent ones,” he said. “I hope someone steps up.”

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