For Senor Buscador, The Pat O’Brien A Starting Point

For a horse that has won the richest race in the world, Saturday’s $250,000 GII Pat O’Brien S. at Del Mar might not seem like an overly difficult spot. But when Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) heads to the post for Saturday’s race, he probably won’t be the favorite and there will no doubt be some wiseguys who throw him out altogether.

The problems are threefold: He’s not a seven-furlong horse; he will not have run for 147 days; he’ll be facing the best sprinter on the West Coast in the California-bred marvel The Chosen Vron (Vronsky).

None of this has escaped trainer Todd Fincher. Yes, he’d like to win this race but the bigger goal is to take a step forward on his way to the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

After winning the Feb. 24, $20 million G1 Saudi Cup, Senor Buscador was third in the G1 Dubai World Cup on March 30 and has not run since. A more conventional route to the Breeders’ Cup would have been to start Senor Buscador off in the July 27 GII San Diego H., but Fincher said he didn’t have the horse ready for the race.

“When he came back from the Middle East I turned him out and gave him a little break,” Fincher said. “We brought him back and listened to him. If he had been ready for the San Diego we would have run him in that race. We were waiting on him. This race, the Pat O’Brien, was always a possibility from the beginning.”

Senor Buscador has not sprinted since running third in the 2022 Pat O’Brien. The Saudi Cup is a mile-and-an-eighth race and the Dubai World Cup is contested at a mile-and-a-quarter.

“Obviously, we want to run the classic distances,” Fincher said. “It’s a good race for him to come back in. He’s ready to run now and we are happy with him. He wasn’t ready for the San Diego. His fitness wasn’t there.”

Todd Fincher | Coady

He will also have a new jockey. Joe Talamo will replace Junior Alvarado, who will be in Saratoga to ride Batten Down (Tapit) in the GI Travers S. for his main client Bill Mott. Talamo has been riding Senor Buscador in the mornings since he returned to Fincher’s barn. A win could prove to be a big boost for the jockey, who is just 14-for-229 on the year.

After the Pat O’Brien, Fincher will target the Sept. 28 GI California Crown S. at Santa Anita and then the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“This is the best horse I’ve ever trained and it’s always exciting to have a horse like that running for you. He’s a fantastic horse. It’s not just me, everybody is excited to see him run again,” Fincher said.

The Pat O’Brien could come down to a race between two of the sport’s most beloved blue-collar heroes. Senor Buscador, who is 6-years-old, has not always been this good. The Saudi Cup was his first top level win. Prior to that, the 2023 San Diego marked his biggest career score.

To pick up another graded victory in the Pat O’Brien, Senor Buscador will have to defeat one of the most popular horses in the sport. The Chosen Vron has won 19 of 24 career starts, including 17 stakes races, defeating both Cal-breds and open company. At seven furlongs, he appears to have a big advantage over Senor Buscador.

“He’s a great horse and a great outstanding Cal bred,” Fincher said. “I’ve admired that horse for a long time. It will be a good matchup between two fan favorites. Like the Cowboys vs. the 49ers. I have nothing bad to say about The Chosen Vron. He’s looked like an awesome horse for a long time. I like great horses, whether they are in my barn or someone else’s.”

Others expected for the Pat O’Brien include Big City Lights (Mr. Big), Happy Jack (Oxbow), Moose Mitchell (Danzing Candy), Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), See Through It (Curlin to Mischief) and Arrowthegreat (Arrogate).