2020 Kentucky Derby Contender: Art Collector
Age: 3 year old Colt
Owner(s): Bruce Lunsford
Trainer: Thomas Drury Jr.
Bred: Kentucky by W. Bruce Lunsford
Pedigree: Bernardini - Distorted Legacy by Distorted Humor
Record: 9-5-1-0
Earnings: $664,380
4-4 in 2020 will Art Collector play spoiler to Tiz the Laws dominate performance thus far and beat him in the Kentucky Derby? It hasn’t been surprising to see Art Collector thrive racing on dirt this season, with a 3 1/2-length victory in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland and a 3 1/4-length triumph in the Ellis Park Derby serving as the latest testaments to his talent. Bred in Kentucky by Bruce Lunsford, Art Collector is a son of Preakness (G1) winner Bernardini, the champion 3-year-old male of 2006. While Bernardini was a late-maturing runner who went unraced at two, at stud he’s sired all types—precocious juveniles, developing 3-year-olds, classy older horses, and Grade 1 winners on both dirt and turf.
In three starts this year, Art Collector has led from start to finish to post a win, rallied from just off the pace to take the Blue Grass, and closed from more than seven lengths back in victory. That type of versatility is invaluable in horse racing when adversity can come at you fast, especially in a 20-horse field on Kentucky Derby day. Consider Art Collector’s versatility a big positive when evaluating his Derby chances. Art Collector has now strung together four straight excellent races, he’s shown versatility both in running style and by winning on fast and sloppy tracks, and he has solid speed figures to support his case. He got a late start building his résumé, but Art Collector is looking better and better in a depleted division.
