Art Collector could go to Breeders' Cup or wait for Clark
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Art Collector is back in training following a disappointing run in the Preakness as trainer Tommy Drury ponders a suitable next spot for a colt who incurred his first defeat as a 3-year-old when finishing fourth last Saturday in the final leg of the 2020 Triple Crown.
Drury said the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic or BC Dirt Mile are the logical choices for a next race, although he also will consider waiting for the Nov. 27 Clark at Churchill Downs, depending on how the colt trains in the coming days and weeks.
“It seems like he came out of it fine,” Drury said early Friday from his Skylight training center base just east of Louisville. “We haven’t nailed anything down for now. We’re going to let him train on and see how he’s doing.”
Art Collector, bred and owned by Bruce Lunsford, won his first four starts this year, all by open lengths, before finishing 10 lengths behind Swiss Skydiver and Authentic as the 2-1 second choice in the Preakness at Pimlico.
“I guess it’s the old trainer excuse that he just didn’t get the best trip,” Drury said. “He got stuck there between horses, not necessarily where he wanted to be, and just didn’t fire when he needed to. We’ve got nothing but respect for the horses that beat us. We’ll just have to reload the gun and try again.”