Time and time once more, whether or not it’s sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs or routing 1 1/16 miles, Senor Buscador has proven he can shut, and shut properly, with the best race arrange. Within the July 29 $300,000 San Diego Handicap, simply one among three Del Mar stakes he was nominated for that weekend, the Grade 2 race unfolded completely for the son of Mineshaft as he rallied to a 1 1/4-length victory. 

“We nominated to the Bing Crosby, this, and the Eddie Learn,” coach Todd Fincher stated. “This horse is tremendous gifted — essentially the most gifted horse I’ve ever skilled, however he has his quirks, he wants a setup.”

Strolling out of the gate below Geovanni Franco, who was aboard the bay for the primary time since breezing the 5-year-old at Churchill Downs final fall forward of his Ack Ack Stakes triumph, Senor Buscador took up residence behind the nine-horse discipline.

California-bred star sprinter Brickyard Trip, making an attempt to stretch his velocity to 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, rolled on the entrance finish, throwing down early splits of :23.03, :46.30, and 1:10.36. Heavy favourite Defunded was set to a drive across the far flip and was scrambling to make headway into the pacesetter’s benefit as the sector wheeled for dwelling. Solely Sluggish Down Andy, making his second begin of the 12 months for coach Doug O’Neill, appeared to threaten Brickyard Trip, overtaking the front-runner in midstretch earlier than Senor Buscador swooped previous late down the middle of the observe.

Senor Buscador ($29), going through bother in his final two prior begins, had no bother within the San Diego, parlaying a five-wide run across the bend into an authoritative rating in a closing time of 1:42.54 on a quick fundamental observe.

“He’s had so many setbacks, a lot unhealthy luck,” stated Joseph Peacock of his homebred Senor Buscador. “And we have been simply very affected person with him as a result of he has a ton of expertise and we simply knew ultimately he would present up on the best day and it appears to be like like immediately was a type of.”

Sluggish Down Andy and Brickyard Trip accomplished the trifecta whereas Hollywood Gold Cup hero Defunded may solely handle fourth.

Senor Buscador, bred by Peacock and his father Joe Peacock Sr. in Kentucky, is one among 4 stakes winners produced from the Desert Gold mare Rose’s Desert. The New Mexico-bred mare was a a number of stakes winner and earner of $626,035 for Peacock Sr. and Fincher.

Incomes his second graded win within the San Diego and his second tally of the 12 months, Senor Buscador improved his file to 6 wins from 12 begins with a bankroll of $667,427.

Eighth within the Large Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Dust Mile final 12 months, a return journey to the occasion, this 12 months at Santa Anita Park, may very well be within the playing cards for the enhancing Senor Buscador.

The Chosen Vron Battles to Bing Crosby Victory

The Chosen Vron, coming off seven straight victories towards California-bred stakes competitors, earned a Grade 1 win towards the easiest of the West Coast dash division by digging deep to come back out on prime of a three-way photograph end with Anarchist and Dr. Schivel within the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

The winner earned a fees-paid berth to the Nov. 4 Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Dash at Santa Anita Park by way of the “Win and You’re In” Problem Sequence.

Favored Dr. Schivel, the 2021 Bing Crosby winner and Breeders’ Cup Dash runner-up, final seen ending fifth to Cody’s Want within the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, went widest into the stretch whereas The Chosen Vron, with Hector Berrios up, slipped inside off the flip and received closest to the rail.

The Chosen Vron, a 5-year-old gelding by Vronsky, paid $11. Eric Kruljac trains the Chosen Vron and co-owns him in partnership with Sondereker Racing, Robert S. Fetkin, and Richard Thornburgh.  

As gifted and deep because the West Coast sprinters are typically, the final Bing Crosby winner to take the Breeders’ Cup Dash in the identical 12 months was Kona Gold in 2000.—Tracy Gantz