Senor Buscador much the best in Springboard Mile

Dec 19, 2020 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Senor Buscador utilized an eye-catching turn of foot, accelerating past rivals on the far turn, and drew off impressively to capture Friday’s $200,000 Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park. A convincing winner in both career starts, Senor Buscador is campaigned by Joe Peacock Jr. and trained by Todd Fincher.

Luis Quinonez was up on the Mineshaft colt, and Senor Buscador completed the mile in 1:37.87.

The Springboard Mile is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, which now restricts qualifying points to horses that race without Lasix. Runner-up Cowan (four points) was the only finisher among the top four to compete without Lasix.

Breaking from the rail in a 10-horse field, Senor Buscador left the starting gate as the 3.90-1 third choice. The early fractions (:23.52, :47.22 and 1:12.51) were moderate, and the bay 2-year-old rated in last, about a dozen lengths off the pace through the opening half-mile, before launching a bold rally.

He circled foes on the far turn, striking the front in upper stretch, and scored by a widening 5 3/4-length margin.

Cowan rallied from off the pace for second, 3 3/4 lengths better than third-placer Red N Wild. Saffa’s Day came next in fourth. Outadore, Joe Frazier, Vim and Vigor, Number One Dude, Flash of Mischief, and Gushing Oil completed the order.

Bred in Kentucky by the Peacocks, Senor Buscador opened his racing career with a 2 1/2-length, last-to-first victory over 5 1/2 furlongs at Remington on Nov. 6. He’s out of seven-time stakes winner Rose’s Desert, a New Mexico-bred daughter of Desert God, and Senor Buscador counts 2018 Sunland Derby (G3) winner Runaway Ghost as a half-brother.