If Senor Buscador goes to be outstanding within the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Offered by Baccarat Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, search for him within the late levels of the 1 1/8-mile race.
The 7-year-old son of Mineshaft has proven he refuses to be rushed within the early levels of a race, it doesn’t matter what his coach, Todd Fincher, or his jockey want. His deep closing type generally is a pleasure to behold when he will get the tempo and the journey he wants.
That was the case when Senor Buscador, the final horse Joey Peacock Jr. bred along with his late father, Joe Sr., gained the world’s richest race with an incredible rally within the $20 million Saudi Cup final February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
The flip aspect of his manner of doing issues is that he could make an enormous run that leaves him simply quick. That was the case in final yr’s Pegasus World Cup, when he got here from far again and missed overtaking Nationwide Treasure by a neck.
Senor Buscador enters the Pegasus with seven wins, two seconds, and three third-place finishes from 23 begins and earnings of $12,944,427 as he winds down a profession that has taken him far and vast from his New Mexico base. Peacock Jr. has mentioned he would love the horse to make the ultimate begin of his profession within the Saudi Cup looking for a repeat victory if he produces a strong effort within the Pegasus.
Peacock Jr. mirrored on Senor Buscador’s outstanding journey throughout a question-and-answer session carried out on behalf of America’s Finest Racing:
PEDULLA: What has the trip been like with Senor Buscador?
PEACOCK: The trip’s been superb. That’s the one phrase to explain it. He’s been a horse that’s had expertise his complete profession, even beginning as a 2-year-old. He simply had a variety of issues alongside the way in which that we needed to be affected person and work by way of and it took him loads longer to recuperate from that Center East journey final yr than we anticipated.
PEDULLA: Historical past reveals that horses react very in another way to such journey.
PEACOCK: He’s such a very good traveler that we didn’t suppose it could actually trouble him. However it simply took him slightly longer to get again to kind.
PEDULLA: How is he doing now?
PEACOCK: He’s doing properly. He’s coaching nice.
PEDULLA: He completed ninth of 10 within the Cigar Mile Handicap Offered by Twinspires.com. Beneath the circumstances, do you draw a line by way of that begin?
PEACOCK: We thought the horse would run properly however, gosh, he stumbled so badly popping out of the gate. I’m simply grateful Joel Rosario was capable of keep on the horse. I imply he went down and his nostril hit the bottom. He stumbled badly. We are able to write that race off. My greatest worry was that he damage one thing both taking place or getting himself again up. However that doesn’t appear to be the case. He got here out of the race positive.
PEDULLA: You had beforehand mentioned that the Pegasus could be Senor Buscador’s closing begin. What led you to re-think that?
PEACOCK: His working type. The one-turn, mile-and-an-eighth race [in Riyadh] is an ideal set-up for him. It simply matches him so properly. Assuming that he’s wholesome and he runs properly within the Pegasus, we predict he deserves one other alternative [in the Saudi Cup].
PEDULLA: Is there any temptation to run him past that since he completed a very good third in final yr’s Dubai World Cup?
PEACOCK: We might not go on to Dubai. We might come again to the U.S. and retire him and get him began on his subsequent profession as a stallion.
PEDULLA: I do know you want to stand him in Kentucky and have been speaking to varied farms. The place do issues stand?
PEACOCK: We don’t have a deal but. We’re assured we’ll get there.
PEDULLA: I do know you’ve gotten been shopping for mares particularly to ship to him. Could I ask you to debate that?
PEACOCK: I purchased eight and I already had one other that we will breed to him which might make 9. My goal, extra is much less, is 15.
PEDULLA: Why do you imagine in him as a stallion?
PEACOCK: I give a variety of credit score to our bloodlines. Rose’s Desert, Senor’s mama, each single horse she had so far has been a implausible racehorse so I’ve confidence within the backside aspect. In the event you take a look at the highest aspect, Mineshaft was a really, very helpful sire, possibly not an elite sire. And if you happen to go previous Mineshaft to A.P. Indy, now you’re speaking actually superior bloodlines.
PEDULLA: He benefitted from a really robust tempo within the Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional final November at Del Mar and completed fifth. Was that disappointing?
PEACOCK: I wouldn’t say it was a disappointment. He beat 9 actually good horses. He couldn’t catch the opposite 4 and people horses are one of the best horses on the planet. In hindsight, I’d say he wasn’t 100% match following the layoff we gave him after the Center East tour. He got here again with a 103 Beyer [Speed figure]. That’s not a nasty outing.
PEDULLA: Your father and now you stayed loyal to coach Todd Fincher by way of the years. Why is that relationship so robust?
PEACOCK: Todd educated Rose’s Desert, Senor’s mama. That was the very first horse he educated for our household. Since then, he’s educated each Thoroughbred racehorse we’ve had that’s gone to the racetrack. I simply have whole confidence in Todd. He’s trustworthy. He tells it like it’s. He doesn’t take possibilities with the horses. In the event that they want break day, they want break day. If they’ve an harm, they’ve an harm. If it comes at an inconvenient time, that’s simply too dangerous. Each resolution he makes is in one of the best pursuits of the horse. I belief him implicitly.
PEDULLA: Since you reside in Texas, how does it have an effect on your operation to have it based mostly with Todd in New Mexico?
PEACOCK: In the event you’re working on the larger stage, which we need to do, it undoubtedly works towards you since you’ve bought to journey. Most individuals will let you know they might somewhat run races out of their dwelling steady than journey. However there’s a tradeoff and I’m proud of the tradeoff as a result of we get Todd along with his eyes on our horses every single day, and that’s extra essential to me than attempting to beat the journey burden.
PEDULLA: Are there any benefits past Todd?
PEACOCK: Once you’re getting younger horses began, you begin them off and they don’t seem to be working towards as stiff competitors. That helps construct their confidence stage and it lets you assess whether or not they’re able to competing on the larger venues.
PEDULLA: Does final yr’s Pegasus provide you with confidence coming into this yr?
PEACOCK: He ran an incredible race. He misplaced by a neck to Nationwide Treasure, who’s a finalist for an Eclipse Award. If it had been slightly bit farther, he might need gotten there. Who is aware of? However it was a really thrilling race.
PEDULLA: How do you deal with such a troublesome beat?
PEACOCK: It’s robust to get beat by a neck in a race that huge, however that’s horse racing.
PEDULLA: As Senor Buscador’s profession nears an finish, how a lot do you consider your father and the function he performed with this horse?
PEACOCK: I give it some thought on a regular basis. It makes it actually particular not just for me however for my complete household. Senor Buscador is a third-generation homebred for us. My father began the bloodline we’re racing right this moment again within the ’80s. It makes it very particular.
