Art Collector emerges from authoritative Ellis Derby win in good shape

HENDERSON, Ky. – Art Collector emerged from his fourth straight victory in good order as trainer Tommy Drury starts making plans to get the colt ready for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby.

Art Collector earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure as a front-running, 3 1/4-length winner of the $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby on Sunday. It was the fourth open-lengths triumph in as many starts this year for the son of Bernardini, as well as his third straight triple-digit Beyer.

“Everything seems fine this morning,” Drury said early Monday.

Bred and owned by Bruce Lunsford, Art Collector could wind up as the second choice in the Derby wagering behind Tiz the Law, who figures as one of the heaviest Derby favorites in years. Art Collector and Honor A. P. both were 8-1 last weekend behind Tiz Law (even-money) in Pool 7 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, but it’s worth noting the pool closed before Art Collector won the Ellis Derby.

Whatever the case, Lunsford and Drury are well aware that Tiz the Law is the horse to beat.

“He looked like Godzilla” in winning the Travers, Drury said. “You’ve got to be happy for them, you’ve got to be happy for us. They won their races on their home court, and we’ve been able to win some on ours. I’m just looking forward to it.”

“I do think Tiz the Law is a nice horse,” said Lunsford, “but did you notice how [Art Collector] floats over the ground, and [Tiz the Law] works hard? Now, whether that’s enough to make a difference, I don’t know.

“I will tell you this – it’s been a great ride so far, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of the next four weeks. More than anybody else, I promise you.”

Drury reiterated that Art Collector will remain at his primary training base, the Skylight training center just east of Louisville, until such time the colt is vanned to Churchill for a serious workout and for the days leading into the Derby.

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Meanwhile, Attachment Rate and Necker Island both could wind up in the Kentucky Derby as the respective second- and third-finishers in the Ellis Derby, depending on how many other horses remain in the hunt for the 20 starting slots.

Attachment Rate earned a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure when finishing 5 1/4 lengths clear of Necker Island (87 Beyer). Trainer Dale Romans did not fully commit to running Attachment Rate back in the Derby, although he’s always game, while trainer Chris Hartman said he believes owners Wayne Scherr and Ray Daniels “for sure” would want to run in the Derby if possible.

“It’s on Wayne’s bucket list,” Hartman said.

Trainer Brad Cox said he intended to talk Tuesday with the principals at Godolphin regarding the Kentucky Derby status of Shared Sense, fifth by 10 3/4 lengths in the Ellis Derby. Shared Sense, having earned 50 qualifying points by winning the Indiana Derby last month, could make the field if so desired.

Also, trainer Tom Amoss said Dean Martini, sixth in the Ellis Derby off a victory in the Ohio Derby, is no longer under consideration for the Kentucky Derby.

Mundaye Call to Eight Belles

Aside from Art Collector, the top performance of an eventful Sunday card was turned in by Mundaye Call, whose 7 1/4-length victory under Florent Geroux in the $100,000 Runhappy Audubon Oaks lowered the track record for seven furlongs to 1:21.71 and also equated to a 100 Beyer.

Cox said Mundaye Call most likely will race next in the Grade 2 Eight Belles, a seven-furlong race on the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks undercard. Mundaye Call earned 10 qualifying points to the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, but they probably will go unused.

“She’s still lightly raced,” Cox said.

Career best for Lady Kate

Lady Kate earned a career-high 89 Beyer in her 4 3/4-length score in the $100,000 Groupie Doll when giving Geroux back-to-back stakes romps Sunday. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Lady Kate, a 4-year-old Bernardini filly, now has won 5 of 11 starts, with this being her first stakes triumph.

In the two 2-year-old stakes, Crazy Beautiful got a 70 Beyer in winning the $100,000 Runhappy Debutante, while Pico d’Oro, previously a maiden, got a 66 Beyer in winning the $100,000 Runhappy Juvenile. Both could be headed to Churchill stakes in their respective divisions, the Sept. 3 Pocahontas and Sept. 5 Iroquois.

◗ Jockey Miguel Mena fulfilled all mounts Sunday, even after being thrown from the stricken Libertyrun in deep stretch of the Juvenile. Libertyrun, a Runhappy colt, suffered a catastrophic injury to his left foreleg and had to be euthanized after being vanned off the track.

◗ Apprentice rider Javier Padron-Barcenas is expected back in action Friday at Ellis after missing his Sunday mounts. Padron-Barcenas was thrown from his mount, Baroness Vontrappe, in the stretch run of the eighth race Saturday.

◗ All-sources wagering on the 10-race Sunday card was $5,241,601, eclipsing the former Ellis record of nearly $5 million bet on the Claiming Crown card in August 2007.