# Senor Buscador

Senor Buscador (foaled May 6, 2018) is an American thoroughbred racehorse most famous for winning the 2024 Saudi Cup. He has competed at 11 different racetracks in the United States, as well as in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. His name is an homage to his lineage; "Señor Buscador" roughly translates in English to "Mr. Prospector," who who traces to both sides of his pedigree.

## Background

Senor Buscador is one of seven G1 winners sired by 2003 American Horse of the Year Mineshaft. His dam, Rose's Desert, was a multiple black type winning New Mexico bred.
Trainer Todd Fincher (a retired Quarter Horse jockey) and owner/breeder Joe Peacock, Sr., found success in Rose's Desert's previous foals, including Sunland Derby winner Runaway Ghost.
Senor Buscador was bred by Joe Peacock, Sr., and his son Joe Peacock. He was the last horse bred before Joe Peacock, Sr.'s death.

## Racing career
### Two-year-old season

Senor Buscador's two starts as a juvenile were at Remington Park. The original plan had been to run him at Sunland Park, where Todd Fincher and the Peacock family were based. However, the track was closed due to the COVID pandemic and he was shipped to Remington Park. On November 6, 2020, he made a winning debut in a 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight.
One month later, he secured a maiden stakes victory in the Remington Springboard Mile. The race carried 10 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby for the winner. However, Senor Buscador was ineligible for those points having raced on Lasix.

### Three-year-old season

The 2021 Kentucky Derby was the primary goal for Senor Buscador in his three-year-old season. He made his seasonal bow in the Risen Star Stakes where he sustained a suspensory injury to his right front leg immediately putting him off the derby trail. A subsequent injury to a hock in a stall accident further delayed his return and he wasn't seen again until his four-year-old season.

### Four-year-old season

Despite a long layoff, Senor Buscador made a winning return at Lone Star Park. He subsequently contested the San Diego Handicap and the Pat O'Brien before winning the Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs. This was his first graded stakes victory and put him on equal status with his older half-brother, Runaway Ghost. It was the second graded stakes victory for Joe Peacock Sr and trainer Todd Fincher.
The Ack Ack Stakes guaranteed Senor Buscador entry into the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He broke slowly and never threatened the eventual winner Cody's Wish.

### Five-year-old season

The entire's five-year-old campaign commenced in winning fashion at Sunland Park in the Curibot Handicap.That four length victory was a pipe opener to the Oaklawn Handicap and the Hollywood Gold Cup. Senor Buscador was unplaced in both events before a then career best performance delivered victory in the San Diego Handicap.
The Breeders' Cup Classic was singled out as Senor Buscador's end of season target. He returned to Del Mar a month after the San Diego Handicap for the Pacific Classic, where he closed from last to finish fourth. He then finished third on a wet track in the Awesome Again Stakes.
For the second successive season, Senor Buscador contested a Breeders’ Cup race, but could only manage seventh in the Classic. He shipped across the country to Aqueduct Racetrack, the 10th racetrack he’d competed at in only 16 career starts, and finished second in the Cigar Mile Handicap.

### Six-year-old season

Senor Buscador arrived early for the 2024 Pegasus World Cup. While his connections were confident that he could run well, there was some concern about the suitability of his racing style at Gulfstream Park, a racetrack with a reputation for favoring speed horses and not closers.
Despite this, Senor Buscador rallied from 12 1/2 lengths off the pace to close to within a neck of leader and eventual winner National Treasure. It was one of the best performances of his career and earned him an invitation to the 2024 Saudi Cup, the richest horse race in the world
The Friday before the Saudi Cup, a deal was completed that would see Sharaf Mohammed S. Al-Hariri lease a minor share in the racing interests of Senor Buscador while he was competing in the Middle East. The deal was exclusive of any stake in his potential breeding value.
On race day, he was considered an outsider at 13-1 with the 6-5 favorite being another American horse, White Abarrio, who had defeated Senor Buscador by 5 1/4 lengths in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Other Saudi Cup contenders included 2023 Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro, 2023 UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake, and the horse who beat him in his previous start, National Treasure.
Saudi Crown and National Treasure set a fast pace. Senor Buscador settled last. With 300 yards to run, Senor Buscador still had most of the field to pass. He and Ushba Tesoro were hitting top gear. With 50 yards still to race, Senor Buscador was fourth, Ushba Tesoro second with Saudi Crown still in front. Ushba Tesoro surged past Saudi Crown temporarily taking the lead before he was claimed in the shadows of the post by Senor Buscador.
The 2024 Saudi Cup was the fastest edition of the race with Senor Buscador setting a stakes record time 1:49.50. The race was also won by the smallest winning margin in the event's history.
It was the first Grade 1 win for the horse, trainer, and owner and their first victory outside of America.
Trainer Fincher was quoted after the race, "I'm about to cry, It's amazing. He's never got the credit he deserves, I'm so proud of the horse. I didn't believe, something always happened to him. He always runs well and hard. We knew he'd run good, we had to hope for the right set-up and we got it.”
Senor Buscador's next race was the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse where he was attempting to become the first horse to win both the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup - the two richest dirt races in the world. He finished third to long margin winner Laurel River.
Senor Buscador raced four more times in 2024, placing fourth in the Pat O'Brien Stakes before finishing off the board in the California Crown Stakes, Breeders' Cup Classic and Cigar Mile Handicap.

## Retirement and stud career

On January 19, 2025, owner Joe R. Peacock Jr. wrote on X that Senor Buscador, who was preparing for the Pegasus World Cup and a potential seven-year-old season, had retired after his team were not satisfied with how the horse pulled up after a workout.
Senor Buscador was shipped to Lexington, Kentucky for the 2025 breeding season, although a stud deal had not been announced. He will stand his first breeding season in 2025 at Lane's End Farm for $7,500, LFSN alongside his sire, Mineshaft.

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Senor Buscador :
| Sire Mineshaft dk.b. 1999 | A.P. Indy dk.b. 1989 | Seattle Slew | Bold Reasoning |
| Sire Mineshaft dk.b. 1999 | A.P. Indy dk.b. 1989 | Seattle Slew | My Charmer |
| Sire Mineshaft dk.b. 1999 | A.P. Indy dk.b. 1989 | Weekend Surprise | Secretariat |
| Sire Mineshaft dk.b. 1999 | A.P. Indy dk.b. 1989 | Weekend Surprise | Lassie Dear |
| Sire Mineshaft dk.b. 1999 | Prospectors Delite ch. 1989 | Mr. Prospector | Raise a Native |
| Sire Mineshaft dk.b. 1999 | Prospectors Delite ch. 1989 | Mr. Prospector | Gold Digger |
| Sire Mineshaft dk.b. 1999 | Prospectors Delite ch. 1989 | Up the Flagpole | Hoist the Flag |
| Sire Mineshaft dk.b. 1999 | Prospectors Delite ch. 1989 | Up the Flagpole | The Garden Club |
| Dam Rose's Desert dk.b. 2008 | Desert God b. 1991 | Fappiano | Mr. Prospector |
| Dam Rose's Desert dk.b. 2008 | Desert God b. 1991 | Fappiano | Killaloe |
| Dam Rose's Desert dk.b. 2008 | Desert God b. 1991 | Blush With Pride | Blushing Groom |
| Dam Rose's Desert dk.b. 2008 | Desert God b. 1991 | Blush With Pride | Best in Show |
| Dam Rose's Desert dk.b. 2008 | Miss Glen Rose | Peaks and Valleys | Mt. Livermore |
| Dam Rose's Desert dk.b. 2008 | Miss Glen Rose | Peaks and Valleys | Strike a Balance |
| Dam Rose's Desert dk.b. 2008 | Miss Glen Rose | Snippet | Alysheba |
| Dam Rose's Desert dk.b. 2008 | Miss Glen Rose | Snippet | Pert |
* Senor Buscador is inbred 3x4 to Mr Prospector and 4x5 to Blushing Groom, meaning both horses' names appear twice on a five-generation pedigree.