Señor Buscador could try Saudi Cup again before retirement

Look for Señor Buscador to defend his title in the Group 1, $20 million Saudi Cup after all.

Plans had called for the 7-year-old son of Mineshaft to be retired after he competes in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. But the chance to take one more shot at the winner’s $10 million share may prove impossible for breeder-owner Joey Peacock Jr. and trainer Todd Fincher to resist.

“If he runs well in the Pegasus, if he comes out of the race in good order, we’re leaning heavily toward going back to Saudi with him,” Peacock told Horse Racing Nation.

Señor Buscador, sent off at 13-1, unleashed a tremendous late kick to run down Ushba Tesoro of Japan by a head last Feb. 24 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. He went on to be third in the Dubai World Cup (G1).

Peacock ruled out going on from the Feb. 22 Saudi Cup in Riyadh to the Dubai World Cup, which will be run April 5. “We would not go on to Dubai,” he said. “We would come back to the United States and retire him and, hopefully, get him started on his next career as a stallion.”

He has been in lengthy discussions with a number of Kentucky farms without being able to strike a deal. Señor Buscador, the last horse he bred with his late father, Joe, will take into the Pegasus a record of 23: 7-2-3. The horse has earned $12,944,427.

Señor Buscador has lost five straight races since his dramatic Saudi Cup upset and Peacock acknowledged that the horse was slow to return to form after his extended stay in the Middle East. He ran a respectable fifth in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, then wound up ninth of 10 in the Dec. 7 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Racetrack. He can be forgiven the latter because he stumbled badly at the break, nearly unseating Joel Rosario.

Señor Buscador has been preparing for the Pegasus at New Mexico’s Sunland Park. He covered five furlongs in 1:02.33 on Jan. 3 in his most recent work with the hope that he can produce another big effort in the Pegasus at Gulfstream Park. His customary late kick fell a neck short of overtaking National Treasure in last year’s 1 1/8-mile edition.

Peacock said Saudi Cup officials had maintained communication with him since last year’s race. “When we sat down and looked at the calendar, they open the breeding sheds in mid-February,” he said. “The Saudi Cup is Feb. 22 this year so we are missing call it two weeks at the start of breeding season. I don’t think it’s necessarily a big setback for him.”

Everything about the Saudi Cup appeals to the connections. “The one-turn, mile-and-an-eighth race is a perfect set-up for him,” Peacock said. “You could not script a better setup for him than a one-turn mile-and-an-eighth with his closing style and taking the second turn out of it.”

The owner added, “He’s proven he’s capable of competing against the best horses in the world.”

Last year’s windfall helped Peacock purchase eight broodmares specifically to send to Señor Buscador with an eye toward the horse’s stallion career. He intends to purchase at least several more.

Fincher’s employees undoubtedly are eager to make another run at the Saudi Cup. They received a $1 million bonus from the $10 million winner’s share last year.