Lunsford Longs for Preakness Win With Art Collector

Breeder/owner Bruce Lunsford missed a life-changing opportunity to run Art Collector in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Given a month to move on, he's optimistic his bay colt will show his best in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1)—and beyond.

In the game for the long run, one race doesn't define Lunsford or any runner from his program.

"We've taken a lot of time to make this horse a 4-year-old," Lunsford said from his home in Louisville.

Patience is Lunsford's strong suit in business and racing. Missing the Derby—Art Collector grabbed a quarter the Monday before the race and was withdrawn while being the second choice on the morning line—is part of the sport.

"I've been through a few heartaches before," he said. "Donald Dizney always told me it's the lows that make the highs so good, and I think that is pretty accurate. Art Collector's injury wasn't like he broke down or wasn't going to race again, so I didn't have those kinds of feelings. Most of my horses have been able to last through their 4-, 5-, 6-year-old seasons. Basically, I had horses with good trainers who knew how to take care of them, and I'm hopeful we have a really good one here. We'll see."

Art Collector is certainly a "really good one here" for the Preakness. He came to hand later in the spring and summer, which dovetailed perfectly with a COVID-19 delay to the Triple Crown series. A son of Bernardini , Art Collector won a pair of allowance optional claiming races at Churchill Downs before a commanding 3 1/2-length victory July 11 in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. He prepped for the Derby with a solid 3 1/4-length tally Aug. 9 in the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby.

After a strong 1:00 4/5 drill Aug. 28 at Churchill Downs for trainer Tommy Drury Jr., Art Collector hit the bulb of his left front heel with a hind hoof while galloping Aug. 31. Though that quashed the team's Derby dreams, he's bounced back with a series of solid works and is back in a customary position: second on the morning line for a classic race.

"He's doing terrific," Lunsford reported. "You always know you are only one step away, but he's probably had the two best works I've seen him do. Tommy had the same comment, and I think he is going to get better.

"I feel good about the horse. I like the way he runs. He looks like he's special, and it looks like the smart bettors like him, too, because he's gone from whatever, 4-1, to 5-2, and (Authentic) has gone up a little."

While Lunsford has won some big races with big horses—grade 1 winners First Samurai , Madcap Escapade, and Belmont Stakes (G1) runner-up Vision and Verse come to mind—he's trod lightly in Maryland and especially at Old Hilltop north of Baltimore. He'll get his indoctrination in the Preakness at 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday afternoon.

"I've been to Pimlico, but I've never run there," he said. "I was at Pimilco at the Preakness when Bill Young's horse went down, and they had to put him down."

In the 1993 Preakness, Overbrook Farm's homebred Union City broke down while in midpack down the backstretch under Pat Valenzuela.

"I learned a lot about grace and poise and everything from Bill over the years. That was another example," Lunsford said.

On a much brighter note, Lunsford was involved in a milestone race in Maryland. In 1989, jockey Kent Desormeaux set the mark for most wins in a year, 598. Desormeaux's final mount of the year, on New Year's Eve, came aboard a Bruce Lunsford- and Greg Hudson-owned gelding in the Inner Harbor Stakes at Laurel Park.

"It was one of my biggest thrills, really," Lunsford said. "I was just starting in the business, and we had this horse named East Royalty that ran on the last day of the year and won a three-horse photo with Kent Desormeaux up. It was his last race of the year and he won—and when I talk about him winning it, he got a head-bob win against two other horses. At the time, it was the most exciting experience I had ever had—and I haven't really raced in Maryland since."

Lunsford, Drury, and rider Brian Hernandez Jr. will get the unique opportunity on a fall afternoon at Pimlico.

"I always thought my favorite place to win was Keeneland and Saratoga," Lunsford said. "This being the Preakness, it would be a great thrill for me, and great for Tommy and Brian. We might make a comeback here. We'll have a good time."