senor buscador | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fincher Looks To Oaklawn, Santa Anita Preps For Late-Running Senor Buscador

Fifth as the second-favorite in last weekend's Grade 2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds, the late-running Senor Buscador will be aimed toward another Kentucky Derby prep race at at different track. Trainer Todd Fincher told drf.com that the 3-year-old son of Mineshaft, winner of the Remington Springboard Mile in just his second career start, needs a pace setup and track surface that suit his closing style.

“I think he ran a way better race than it looks on paper,” Fincher told drf.com. “He made a big burst in the turn. The way everything was playing it was death to him. Watching all day, nothing closed, really. And the pace wasn't fast to begin with. Everything was against him. When you've got a horse like him, things have to go your way.”

Options on the table for the Joe Peacock homebred include the G2 Rebel at Oaklawn Park on March 13 and the G1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

Weekend Lineup Presented By Laurel’s Winter Sprintfest: First 50-Point Derby Prep Held At Fair Grounds

The Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes headlines a six-stakes card billed as Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Saturday and will offer a total of 85 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers with 50 points going to the winner. The $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes is also part of the card and will have 50 points to the winner up for grabs toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks.

The thirteen-race Fair Grounds card will air on TVG. In addition to racing from Fair Grounds and Santa Anita, TVG will be featuring racing from Tampa Bay Downs, Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

Live racing from Aqueduct Racetrack, Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay Downs will also comprise Saturday's broadcast of America's Day at the Races, the national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will air from 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET on FS2, including four graded stakes from Fair Grounds, highlighted by the Risen Star.

Due to winter weather expected in Hot Springs, Oaklawn canceled its extended Presidents' Day weekend and is rescheduling the three graded stakes and one listed stakes. The Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes, Grade 3 Razorback Handicap, and Grade 3 Southwest Stakes will now be run Saturday, Feb. 20, and the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes and $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes will be run Sunday, Feb. 21.

Saturday, Feb. 13

2:34 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

Leinster looms as a solid favorite in Saturday's Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint on the strength of a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland last November. The Rusty Arnold trainee is set to make his 2021 debut in the five-furlong turf sprint for 4-year-olds and up. Leinster, a 6-year-old son of Majestic Warrior, finished a length behind victorious Glass Slippers and a half-length behind runner-up Wet Your Whistle in the 5 ½-furlong Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in his 2020 finale.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP021321USA6-EQB.html

3:23 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Stakes at Laurel Park on TVG

With few remaining gaps on Hello Beautiful's resume, trainer Brittany Russell will seek to achieve a significant milestone for both herself and her stable star when they go up against seven rivals in Saturday's Barbara Fritchie. A graded win would fill an important blank on an otherwise stellar ledger for Hello Beautiful, a Maryland-bred daughter of Golden Lad that has won five career stakes and takes a three-race win streak into the richest and most prestigious event of the winter meet. Sporting a perfect 7-0 record over Laurel's main track, Hello Beautiful is three-for-four at seven furlongs including wins in the Maryland Million Nursery and Safely Kept last fall to cap her sophomore campaign.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL021321USA7-EQB.html

3:53 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 General George Stakes at Laurel Park on TVG

Grade 3 winner Majestic Dunhill, exiting a pair of disappointing efforts off a career-best performance, trades the South Florida sunshine for Maryland's winter chill as he attempts to regain his winning form in the General George. Majestic Dunhill has placed in three stakes since, including the 2019 Polynesian at Laurel, and beat Share the Ride by a head to capture the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Stakes in the mud on Halloween at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL021321USA8-EQB.html

5:16 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

Multiple graded-stakes winner Mischevious Alex is expected to be a short-priced favorite to capture Saturday's Gulfstream Park Sprint. Mischevious Alex, who is owned by Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC, joined trainer Saffie Joseph's stable for his 2021 campaign after a productive 3-year-old season that included victories in the Grade 3 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Making his first start since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes last August at Saratoga, the son of Into Mischief made a sweeping move into the stretch and drew off to win by 3 ¾ lengths in a Jan. 10 optional claiming allowance race.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP021321USA11-EQB.html

5:44 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes at Fair Grounds on FS2 and TVG

Godolphin's unbeaten homebred Maxfield, who was forced to miss the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2019 and the Kentucky Derby last year, starts as a prohibitive favorite in the Mineshaft at 1 1/16 miles, which should serve as a perfect launching pad for what his connections hope will finally be a season-long campaign. Trainer Brendan Walsh has had to endure some obvious disappointments with Maxfield as he's started just four times in what is now his third season of racing. The son of Street Sense captured the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity in 2019 but missed the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a minor foot injury and then got derailed off the Derby Trail last year when he came out of a June workout with a condylar fracture of his right front cannon bone.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG021321USA10-EQB.html

6:16 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes at Fair Grounds on FS2 and TVG

Trainer Brad Cox is hoping a return to Cajun Country will inspire a return to form for Factor This, who figures to start as a solid favorite when he looks to defend his title in Saturday's Fair Grounds Stakes over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course. Factor This started his rise to national prominence in last year's Fair Grounds for Cox, as he set the pace and posted a surprise 8-1 win. He used that score as a springboard to another local tally in the meet's turf highlight, the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial, then followed that up with wins in Churchill Downs' Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes and then the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup at Ellis Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG021321USA11-EQB.html

6:47 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds on FS2 and TVG

The path to the Kentucky Oaks begins in earnest Saturday at Fair Grounds when Travel Column starts as what figures to be a strong favorite in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Travel Column announced her presence in the Grade 2 Golden Rod when she was sandwiched at the start, raced last-of-9 early, then got caught in traffic entering the far turn. She couldn't get out until midstretch, then hit another gear in an instant and won going away.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG021321USA12-EQB.html

7:18 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on FS2 and TVG

Trainer Todd Fincher rolls into town with the undefeated Senor Buscador, who rates as an exciting newcomer in a sterling renewal of Saturday's Risen Star. Senor Buscador went from an unraced maiden in early November to a wise guy Kentucky Derby contender a little more than six weeks later, as he parlayed a 5 ½-furlong maiden win at Remington November 6 into a 5 ¾-length win in the Springboard Mile there Dec. 18. Among his chief contenders figures to be Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon, who led every step of the way in the Grade 3 Lecomte on the Jan. 16 and has shown plenty of versatility in his career as well.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG021321USA13-EQB.html

7:20 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A longshot winner of the opening day Grade 1 La Brea Stakes, trainer Eoin Harty's Fair Maiden will seek to validate that victory as she heads a solid field of 12 older fillies and mares going seven furlongs in Saturday's Santa Monica Stakes. Dismissed at 20-1 in the La Brea, Fair Maiden rallied for an emphatic 2 ¼ length win, as a pair of Bob Baffert fillies, Golden Principal and Merneith, ran second and third. She will have to again contend with those two plus yet another Baffert runner, Qahira, who will be making her first Grade 1 appearance on Saturday.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA021321USA8-EQB.html

Sunday, Feb. 14

6:30 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

An impressive winner of her U.S. debut going six furlongs on turf on January 2, trainer Phil D'Amato's Majestic Steps (IRE) figures tough right back among a competitive field of 12 sophomore fillies going the same distance out of Santa Anita's turf chute in the Sweet Life Stakes. D'Amato will also be represented by another Irish-bred in the Sweet Life, Going Global (IRE), who has been idle since defeating 13 rivals in open company going seven furlongs on synthetic Nov. 11 in Ireland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA021421USA7-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup Presented By Laurel’s Winter Sprintfest: First 50-Point Derby Prep Held At Fair Grounds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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This Side Up: Proxy Steps In to Try that Unique Fit

Derby dreams at this time of year can prove as ephemeral as the vapours rising into the glacial air of Hot Springs. But the owner of the champion juvenile knows perfectly well that plans, with Thoroughbreds, can only ever be provisional–and that the postponement of Monday's Oaklawn card is a relatively trivial inconvenience to Essential Quality (Tapit). To recall the graver vexations that can unravel a Derby colt, Sheikh Mohammed needs only rewind to the last cycle, and the last colt that offered to requite perhaps the greatest single ambition still animating the biggest bloodstock empire in the breed's history.

Anyone with a sophomore of elite potential knows the highwire that axiomatically permits every Thoroughbred foal one opportunity, and one only, to contest the Kentucky Derby. If, with the approach of his third summer, he is not fit and well on the first Saturday in May, then fortune will never indulge him with a second chance. There might yet be greatness, a Travers or a Breeders' Cup. But there will be no Derby.

In 2020, however, the unprecedented (and arguably unnecessary) disordering of the Classic calendar offered some horses a reprieve even as it destroyed the fortunes of others. Nadal (Blame) and Charlatan (Speightstown) showed their readiness for the appointed hour, when the same track that is frozen this weekend salvaged an appropriate Grade I for sophomores on Derby day. Both colts, however, were sidelined by the time Churchill eventually staged a September Derby. In contrast, Maxfield (Street Sense) had appeared to be thrown a lifeline after a layoff that would have made a normal Derby very tight, if not impossible–only to be derailed by another setback in the summer.

Happily, Maxfield made a seamless resumption before Christmas to nourish hope the patience of all involved can be vindicated, and his full potential finally explored, by an uninterrupted campaign at four. Fitting, then, that he should be resuming Saturday in the GIII Mineshaft S.–a race honoring the 2003 Horse of the Year, who built with maturity on foundations laid so carefully in his European nursery.

Maxfield | Horsephotos

Among horsemen, after all, hope springs eternal. And while Maxfield provides a cautionary context, Godolphin certainly has some exciting young colts. Besides Essential Quality, there's the eye-watering Gulfstream maiden winner Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro); while in yesterday's edition colleague Steve Sherack highlighted the prospects, down the line, of Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). Closer to hand, meanwhile, the deferral of the champion's reappearance switches attention to the aptly named Proxy (Tapit).

The GII Risen Star S. pitches this colt into a rematch with the pair who sandwiched him not only on the GIII Lecomte S. podium, but more or less from the moment the gate opened. That was not so much a horserace as a procession, all three basically holding their positions throughout as Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) controlled a light pace. Seemingly Proxy's rider was intent on engaging Mandaloun (Into Mischief) in the stretch, which possibly helped the leader to hold out. Be that as it may, Proxy gets Johnny V. this time while stretching out to serve a pedigree lavishly seeded by Classic influences. As yet another string to the Tapit bow, alongside Essential Quality and Greatest Honour, Proxy is getting a solid grounding to help add mental maturity (has shied under pressure) to the palpable progress he is making in physical terms.

'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun | Coady

It remains to be seen whether things can play out quite so conveniently for Midnight Bourbon this time, while Mandaloun must excel not to get caught wide again from gate 11. He certainly has the kind of family that is now supporting his sire, freshly gilded by Authentic, as a bona fide Classic stallion. Indeed, beyond the mare who became agent of its transfer to Juddmonte (bred first three dams), there's an unbroken Whitney line going back to 1918!

The big story bubbling under this race, of course, is Senor Buscador (Mineshaft). Joe Peacock, Jr.'s homebred looks an explosive talent and could put a smile on many faces at Remington Park, in the weeks leading up to May 1, if banking 50 Derby points here. He's a half-brother to Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper), whose GIII Sunland Derby a couple of years ago remains the solitary graded stakes win among 1,158 overall for Todd Fincher. Veteran racetrackers everywhere would be thrilled to see Fincher consoled for the way Runaway Ghost had to leave the Churchill trail with injury.

Senor Buscador | Dustin Orona

It's not just Sheikh Mohammed, then, who knows how precarious a trek these horses are trying to make. So far as Godolphin is concerned, however, I hope it's right to perceive a wholesome shift in the way their Derby quest is viewed. Whether through its owner or the media, there was always something a little too politicized about winning the race “from the desert.” The Sheikh would still be deservedly gratified to realize that dream, but it would be no less a consummation of his unprecedented Turf career to get the job done from an American barn.

Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), himself a G2 UAE Derby winner, subsequently confirmed himself as eligible a Derby runner as Godolphin has found–yet his deranged antics on breaking were a bewildering reminder that nobody has ever cracked this challenge until that garland is over your horse's withers.

Proxy | Hodges Photography

Suffice to say, for now, that the Sheikh must be delighted with the work of his Stateside team. Maybe none of these horses will reach a sufficient peak to seize the hour on May 1, but right now nobody can know that. Godolphin, remember, have not even had a dozen Derby runners. People who talk of “failure” or “frustration” are forgetting the exorbitant ratios involved, just to get any colt out of the global crop into the Derby gate. They also need to remember that the more difficult this man finds a challenge, the more he enjoys it; and the more he will persevere.

The post This Side Up: Proxy Steps In to Try that Unique Fit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Equibase Analysis: Santa Cruiser Poised To Upset Risen Star

The Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes will be the 13th race on the 13th day of February with a field of 13 going to post at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.. If you don't have a case of triskaidekaphobia, defined as fear or superstition about the number 13, this is a fantastic race.

Midnight Bourbon leads the field off his win in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes last month, the local prep for the Risen Star. Proxy finished one length behind in second behind the wire-to-wire winner, with Mandaloun another head back in third, and both attempt to turn the tables on Midnight Bourbon in the Risen Star. Similarly, Santa Cruiser will try to improve off his troubled fourth place effort in the race.

Senor Buscador won the Springboard Mile Stakes impressively by five and three-quarter lengths in December at Remington Park and will attempt to win his second stakes in a row. Then there are a number of recent maiden or allowance winners stepping into stakes company and hoping to make their mark as they head into the Louisiana Derby next month, and hopefully earn points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. That group consists of Carillo, Defeater, O Besos, Rightandjust, Sermononthemount and Starrininmydreams. Beep Beep rounds out the field coming into the race off a fourth place effort behind Rightandjust in an allowance race at Fair Grounds.

I'm going to pick Santa Cruiser for the upset in the Risen Star, even after finishing fourth and nearly 10 lengths behind the top three finishers in the Lecomte Stakes last month. The reason is a simple one: I feel if not for significant trouble at the start of that race Santa Cruiser would have at least finished second. Additionally, he had been off for two months prior to the Lecomte so he has improving to do second off the layoff. Last summer, Santa Cruiser debuted at six furlongs and finished third, then stretched out to seven furlongs and improved to finish second. When stretched out again to a mile in November, Santa Cruiser won while leading from the start but it was not an easy win as he was headed after six furlongs and had horse come to him on both sides in the stretch, digging in and drawing off. That effort earned a strong 95 Equibase Speed Figure, the best maiden winning figure in the field.

Rested to return as a 3-year-old off that win, Santa Cruiser was decently regarded by bettors at seven to one in the Lecomte Stakes but got bumped and shut off at the start, losing more than a few lengths. Not asked for any speed while last of eight for the first half-mile, Santa Cruiser showed a decent amount of ability and instinct, passing all but the three who were well ahead when the field turned for home. Getting a jockey change to Adam Beschizza, who is fighting for the riding title head and head with James Graham, and with a clean start and better early position as compared to the Lecomte, Santa Cruiser can be in the thick of the action from the start and post the upset win in this year's Risen Star.

Midnight Bourbon has done little wrong in five career starts to date, finishing second in the Iroquois Stakes in only the second start of his career last summer then winning the Lecomte Stakes last month. The 99 figure is the second best earned by any horse in the Risen Star field to date and it is likely to be improved upon as Midnight Bourbon is making his second start after three months off. Although he won the Lecomte leading from start to finish, Midnight Bourbon has shown the ability to pass horses such as in the Iroquois when fifth in the early stages then first with an eighth of a mile to go before settling for second. Being a half-brother to 2017 Louisiana Derby winner Girvin, there's little doubt this colt can run as well or better at the nine furlong trip of the Risen Star as he did in the shorter Lecomte Stakes and as such Midnight Bourbon could be a formidable opponent once more.

Senor Buscador stretched out off a visually impressive seventh to first win at five and one-half furlongs in his November debut to win the Springboard Mile Stakes just as impressively in his second career start the next month. In that race, Senor Buscador was last of 10 for the first half-mile and more than 10 lengths back, but went from eighth to first on the turn while circling the field wide, eventually drawing off to a five and three-quarter length win. The 107 figure is by far the best earned by any horse in the Risen Star field and being as this race will be only the third start of his career, Senor Buscador has every right to improve off the effort. His pedigree also suggests the mile and one-eighth trip will be within his reach, as he is a half-brother to 2018 Sunland Park Derby winner Runaway Ghost. Additionally, a STATS Race Lens query shows how well trainer Todd Fincher does keeping his horses in top form, having won eight of 27 (30%) dirt route races over the past few years when his horse won its previous start.

A number of other horses have a chance to finish second or third, including the Lecomte second and third place finishers, Proxy (97 figure) and Mandaloun (97 figure), respectively. However watching the race not only were they no match for Midnight Bourbon I felt both ran pretty evenly in the last eighth of a mile and I don't expect enough improvement to turn the tables in the Risen Star.

The rest of the field, with their best representative Equibase Speed Figures, is Carillo (86), Defeater (84), O Besos (94), Rightandjust (90), Sermononthemount (72), Starrininmydreams (88) and Beep Beep (91).

Win Contenders:
Santa Cruiser
Midnight Bourbon
Senor Buscador

Risen Star Stakes – Grade 2
Race 13 at Fair Grounds
Saturday, February 13 – Post Time 7:18 PM E.T.
One and One Eighth Miles
3-Year-Olds
Purse: $400,000

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