2023 San Diego Handicap Replay & Analysis | Senor Buscador Circles Field, Wins Pacific Classic Prep

Senor Buscador won the 2023 San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, circling the field in the far turn before drawing away late to win the local prep for the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1).

Is the Todd Fincher trainee a serious threat for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, a race where he finished 8th in last year’s running? Watch the replay for the Racing Dudes’ expert analysis, then tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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Watch the official race replay here:

The press release:

Peacock Family Holding’s Senor Buscador came running late to pull off a $29 surprise in the 82nd edition of the Grade II San Diego Handicap.

Geovanni Franco rode the 5-year-old horse by Mineshaft who turned in a strong run on the outside in the lane to finish up a length and quarter to the good. The horse is trained by Todd Fincher, who was winning his first stakes race at Del Mar.

Finishing second in the Grade II feature was Reddam Racing’s Slow Down Andy, while a length and three quarters farther back was pacesetter Brickyard Ride, who races for owner-breeder Alfred Pais.

Final time for the mile and one-sixteenth was 1:42.54 and the winner picked up $180,000 from the total purse of $302,000.

Senor Buscador was capturing his sixth victory in his 12th trip to the post. He now has banked $667,427.

Quotes:

GEOVANNI FRANCO (Senor Buscador, winner) – “I had a really good trip. The trainer (Todd Fincher) told me he liked to be outside away from horses when it came time to run. So early on I had a good spot inside; they were all coming together and we just stayed back on the rail. Then on the backside I eased him out toward the middle and we were going easy. When I asked him at the three-eighths (pole), he just went. He really dug in. We got it done.”

TODD FINCHER (Senor Buscador, winner) – “I told him (Franco) to just let the horse do his thing, don’t panic and start riding early. He’s got one strong kick. He’ll start picking them up at the half mile pole on his own. Wait as long as you can then push the button. He’ll never do anything but fall back out of the gate so we needed a good set-up.”