Kentucky Derby: Art Collector one of five Friday workers to beat the rain

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With the remnants of Hurricane Laura expected to douse this region later in the day, a handful of contenders for Kentucky Derby 146 led by Art Collector were out for their final pre-race workouts Friday morning at Churchill Downs amid humid but dry conditions.

Art Collector continued to strike an imposing presence when gliding through a five-furlong solo breeze in 1:00.80 over a fast track. Brian Hernandez Jr., who has ridden the Bernardini colt in the last six of his nine starts, was aboard during the special training session reserved for Oaks and Derby runners.

“It was pretty much what we were looking for,” said Tommy Drury, who trains Art Collector for owner-breeder Bruce Lunsford. “Not so much thinking about time as much as letting him do it on his own, let him just go along and be happy.

“I really don’t know if there’s a thing in the world we’d change at this point. He was good, seemed to come back good. On to the next week. We’ll just stay out of his way as much as we can.”

Hernandez also was pleased with the work.

“He just kind of goes out there and does his thing,” said Hernandez. “He went off smoothly in 12 and some change and just picked it up as he went along. He galloped out as he always does around the turn, well within himself. We’re very happy with where he is.”

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According to Churchill clocker John Nichols, Art Collector went in splits of 25 and 36.80 seconds, with gallop-out times of 1:13.80 and 1:27.20. It was the colt’s second work since he remained unbeaten in four 2020 starts by winning the Aug. 9 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby.

Art Collector is expected to contend with Honor A. P. for second wagering choice Saturday in the $3 million Derby behind Tiz the Law, who is expected to be one of the heaviest Derby favorites of the last three decades. Tiz the Law, a New York-bred colt trained by Barclay Tagg, was expected to work Saturday or Sunday at Saratoga before being flown here Monday via equine charter.

Entries for the Derby, which was postponed more than four months from its original May 2 date because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be drawn Tuesday at 11 a.m. Eastern in the Aristides Lounge. As of Friday, it appeared the 20-horse maximum may not be reached, especially with the defection of Travers runner-up Caracaro, and with trainer Todd Pletcher continuing to express doubt as to whether he will send Dr Post here on one of the two charter flights from New York.

Also, Rushie is more likely for the Pat Day Mile than the Derby, although trainer Michael McCarthy acknowledged Friday morning that the availability of jockey Javier Castellano following the Caracaro defection might factor into a final decision.

Art Collector was one of five Derby hopefuls to breeze Friday at Churchill ahead of a forecast of steady rain in the local area. Rushie was among those other workers, going five furlongs in 1:01.60 after the second harrow break around 9 a.m.

“It was a maintenance kind of move after a pretty demanding work before we left Del Mar,” said McCarthy.

Major Fed and Winning Impression both breezed five furlongs shortly after the track opened at 5:15 a.m., going solo in 59 and 59.20, respectively. Also, Necker Island, in company with his older Chris Hartman-trained stablemate Kurilov, went a half-mile in 48.40 seconds with Miguel Mena up during the same Oaks-Derby session as Art Collector.

Churchill will open the five-day Derby week portion of its September meet with a nine-race Tuesday card. Because of the ongoing pandemic, no spectators are being allowed here all week, including on Derby Day in a historic first.

Derby post time is set for 7:02 p.m. Eastern as the last of 14 Saturday races. The first race goes at 11 a.m. both Friday and Saturday.

◗ Sole Volante on Friday worked five furlongs in a swift 57.80 seconds on turf for trainer Patrick Biancone at the Palm Meadows training center in Florida.