Art Collector Leads Cast of Kentucky Derby Workers

Art Collector completed his final workout before the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) with a smooth five-furlong breeze Aug. 28 in 1:00 4/5 at Churchill Downs.

The Bernardini  colt's work was one of nearly a dozen across the country by Derby hopefuls, though not all exited their activity without a hitch. Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) runner-up Caracaro was withdrawn from Derby consideration with an apparent injury to his right front leg after working six furlongs in 1:12.26 Friday morning at Saratoga Race Course.

EHALT: Caracaro Withdrawn from Kentucky Derby Consideration

The morning was busy at Churchill Downs, where some trainers of Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) prospects chose to work on a fast racetrack Friday morning rather than risk the possibility of a wet or drying-out track Aug. 29. Showers hit the Louisville area Friday afternoon and were forecast to continue into the evening. 

Few horses looked better than Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) winner and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby winner Art Collector, though others, such as Major Fed, worked faster, zipping five furlongs in a bullet :59.

The Bruce Lunsford-owned Art Collector was steady throughout his drill under regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr, covering his first three furlongs in :36 4/5 before finishing his final quarter-mile in :24. Hernandez largely sat motionless on the colt, who galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 and seven furlongs in 1:27 1/5. The Tommy Drury Jr. trainee swapped leads in midstretch but quickly corrected. 

WATCH: Art Collector breezes 5 furlongs in 1:00.80. pic.twitter.com/lRgHcJHExi

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) August 28, 2020

"He just goes out there and does his thing," Hernandez said. "Like Tommy said, perfect (12-second eighths) again this morning. Just kind of stayed out of his way and let him do his thing. He's a happy horse and he knows what he is doing."

The colt is the first Derby starter for Lunsford and also for Drury. Hernandez has ridden the classic twice, finishing 12th on Tom's Ready in 2016 and eighth on McCraken  the following year.

"I think Art Collector is making it easier on all of us just because we have so much confidence in him, knowing that we believe he is such a good horse," Hernandez said. "He's made it easier to where we are sleeping well at night and just enjoying it."

Unlike Art Collector, who worked during the exclusive mid-morning training period for Derby and Oaks horses, Major Fed breezed soon after the track opened Friday during his regular early morning training time. He was sharp, finishing his final eighth in :12 under jockey James Graham. Graham nudged him crossing the wire, leading to a spirited gallop out in 1:12.

He was joined in early morning training by Winning Impression, who is expected to be one of the biggest longshots in the Derby. The Dallas Stewart trainee also breezed five furlongs, covering the distance in :59 1/5.

Necker Island and Rushie also worked Friday at Churchill with moves of :48 2/5 for a half-mile and 1:01 3/5 for five furlongs, respectively.

Rushie, third in both the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (1) and Blue Grass for owners Jim and Donna Daniell, is not definite to start in the Derby. Trainer Michael McCarthy is alternatively considering the $500,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU (G2) on the Derby undercard.

McCarthy called the breeze by Rushie a "leg stretcher."

Because he was not nominated earlier to the Triple Crown, if Rushie runs in the Derby he will have to be supplemented to the race at a cost of $45,000 in addition to the entry and starting fees that total another $50,000. Entries for both races are Tuesday.

"We'll kind of watch him over the next 24-48 hours and see where we are at," McCarthy said. "I'll speak to Mr. and Mrs. Daniell and we'll kind of go back and forth from there."

Elsewhere around the country, confirmed Derby prospects Ny Traffic went five furlongs in :59.45 at Saratoga and Sole Volante covered the same distance in :57.80 on the grass at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida under his Derby jockey, Luca Panici and in company with Kelsey's Cross.

"I'm excited to be there," Panici said of the Derby. "I'm thankful to the connections for giving me this opportunity with a good horse. I'm very, very happy to be a part of this team. I'm very, very proud and proud of the people who work with me."

Sole Volante, trained by Patrick Biancone and owned by his daughter, Andie, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, will ship to Churchill Downs Saturday evening, according to Gulfstream Park publicity.

An hour before the withdrawal of Caracaro, Churchill Downs racing secretary Ben Huffman said he envisioned 18 starters for the Derby "if we were drawing this second. There are still people on the fence."

McCarthy also worked a 3-year-old filly Friday morning at Churchill toward the Oaks—Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables' Speech, who went a half-mile in :47 3/5. The Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) winner is expected to be the third choice in the Oaks behind Gamine and Swiss Skydiver.

"That was a very good work. Textbook, what we've been seeing from her," McCarthy said.

Also breezing Friday at Churchill Downs were the Brad Cox-trained pair of Bonny South (half mile in :48 1/5), Shedaresthedevil (five furlongs in 1:01 2/5), and the Stewart-trained Tempers Rising (half mile in :47).

At Del Mar, Oaks hopeful Donna Veloce went five-eighths in 1:00 4/5.