Art Collector wires field in Woodward, setting him up for Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. -- At every turn, Art Collector continues to improve his standing in the older male dirt division.

After wins in the two-turn Alydar Stakes, a listed race at Saratoga, and the three-turn Charles Town Classic, a Grade 3 stakes, Art Collector scored his most significant victory to date, winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward Stakes, a one-turn, 1 1/8-mile race, in front-running fashion at Belmont Park.

The victory likely earned Art Collector a spot in the starting gate for the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, a 1 1/4-mile race run around two turns at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

“I’m not afraid,” said Bill Mott, who took over Art Collector’s training earlier this summer and has saddled him to three consecutive victories. “I don’t know what we have to lose.”

Art Collector, who won for the eighth time in 15 starts, beat the best field he’s faced to date, turning back Maxfield, a five-time graded stakes winner who had to settle for second, one length ahead of Dr Post. Code of Honor, a multiple Grade 1 winner, finished fourth followed by Forza Di Oro and Mo Gotcha.

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“I’d say today he beat the best group of horses he beat so far,” Mott said.

Saez, who has been aboard for Art Collector’s last two victories, said he was intent to go to front even though longshot Mo Gotcha appeared to also have speed. Art Collector was a half-length in front of that longshot through a quarter in 24.02 seconds, a half-mile in 47.78 before Mo Gotcha dropped back and Forza Di Oro -- also trained by Mott -- and Maxfield, the 4-5 favorite, picked up the chase.

Saez said he felt he had horse all the way around and when he asked Art Collector to run turning for home he responded, opening up a two-length lead before setting for a 1 1/2-length victory.

“My horse has a lot of tactical speed. We tried to break good from the gate, he did it, he got the lead, he controlled the pace, he felt very comfortable,” Saez said. “When we came to the top of the stretch we took off.”

Art Collector, a son of Bernardini owned and bred by Bruce Lunsford, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.22 and returned $7.50 as the second choice. He earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, a career best.

Mott will likely have to find a new rider for Art Collector for the Breeders’ Cup as Saez is the regular rider of multiple Grade 1 winner Essential Quality, who is also targeting the Classic.

Maxfield, equipped with blinkers for the first time, was an up-close fourth and along the inside early under Jose Ortiz. He moved into second at the head of the lane, but couldn’t run down Art Collector through the lane. Still, trainer Brendan Walsh was happy enough with the performance to continue on to the Breeders' Cup Classic.

I think today’s race is going to set him up for Del Mar,” Walsh said. “I like the way he sat in the pocket today, a little more aggressive. I think it’ll set him up good, you’re not going to need to be too far away out there.”