Art Collector Returns to Work Tab, Points to Saudi Cup
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Trainer Bill Mott (right) leads Art Collector with Neil Poznansky up through the paddock at Del Mar
Two of Bill Mott's star pupils are gearing up for their 2022 campaigns. The now 5-year-old Art Collector will be looking to make a bid in the third running of the Saudi Cup (G1) in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse and leading turf heroine War Like Goddess , who's had a winter break after ending 2021 as the leading U.S. turf female by earnings, will begin under tack in a short time.
Bruce Lunsford's homebred Art Collector posted his first work back Jan. 1 at Payson Park, breezing three furlongs in 38. The Bernardini son's last outing was the Nov. 6 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar, where he was outrun to sixth by victorious Knicks Go .
"He's doing well," Mott said. "We want to get him ready first, and then we will nominate him for several of the big races this year. We plan to make a nomination to the Saudi Cup, but we are in the beginning process of getting him ready for that. The nominations for that race are still a little off, but we will have a look at that one first."
Art Collector goes into his 2022 campaign with 16 starts and a record of 8-1-0 with an impressive bankroll of $1,655,305. In 2021 after a change of trainer in August he won the Alydar Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2), and Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.
Fellow stablemate and grade 1 winner War Like Goddess will resume training after a well-deserved vacation. Her accolades of 2021 led her to be U.S. leading turf female with earnings at $800,620. The now 5-year-old mare was third in her last start, the Nov. 6 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).
War Like Goddess trains ahead of the 2021 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar
"She's good. She is still probably a week away before she will go back into training. She has been turned out and doing fine," Mott said.
George Krikorian's daughter of English Channel earned graded status in 2021 with a win in the Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park (G3T) in March, then followed with wins in the Bewitch Stakes (G3T) in April at Keeneland, Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) in August, and Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T) the following month, both of the latter races at the Spa.
Ever the realist, especially when training horses, Mott said, "It's one at a time" when it comes to goals for each of his horses.