As of the first of December – some 10 weeks from the start of the Northern Hemisphere breeding season – a pair of major "free agents" were still on the board. Grade/Group 1 winners Senor Buscador and Rich Strike remained without announced stallion deals, with their connections intending to stand them at stud in 2025. Senor Buscador, who blossomed at this point last season, finished ninth in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct. His connections announced intentions to target the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park before beginning a stallion career the following month, at age 7. The son of Horse of the Year Mineshaft races as a homebred for Peacock Family Racing Stable, which has not yet confirmed a stud deal for him, but is preparing to support him as a stallion. Buying with the moniker Senor Buscador Mares, the group picked up eight horses for a combined $477,000 at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Senor Buscador, who last month was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, sports a career record of 22-7-2-3, with earnings of $12,941,427. Although already a multiple graded stakes winner, he hit a new high with a solid winter campaign last season. In succession, he was second in the Cigar Mile and Pegasus, won the Group 1 Saudi Cup, and was third in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup. Senor Buscador has four other stakes wins, including the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in 2023 and Grade 3 Ack Ack in 2022. Rich Strike, who pulled off the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history when rallying to victory in 2022, has been retired for the final time. The 5-year-old son of Keen Ice last raced when finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill in May 2023. Owner Rick Dawson has repeatedly stated his desire to secure a domestic stud deal for the horse. Rich Strike, who placed in three other stakes along with his 2022 Derby win and earned more than $2.5 million, has had a roller-coaster 18 months since his last race. The week after the Alysheba, Eric Reed resigned as his trainer due to differences with Dawson over media deals to document their story and image rights. Rich Strike was subsequently moved to Margaux Farm in Midway, Ky., where Dawson said he was diagnosed with nagging suspensory ligament issues. Rich Strike was rested and then began light training, with Dawson stating his plan was to eventually turn the horse over to Bill Mott. Last fall, Dawson said the issues had not progressed satisfactorily enough for a return to serious training and announced Rich Strike’s retirement, entering him in the 2023 Keeneland November sale as a stallion prospect. However, Dawson had a change of heart owing to a lack of interest in the horse from major farms. The owner turned to stem-cell treatments to address the suspensory issues. Rich Strike was ultimately cleared to return to training and joined Mott in late June, breezing four times for the barn, most recently Aug. 7. After that work, an ultrasound exam showed a slight tear to the suspensory ligament in his left front leg, in a different area from the previous issues. Rich Strike was shipped back to Kentucky while his future is being determined.