Art Collector's plans are unchanged by HISA suspension

Art Collector was among horses suspended for a violation of the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit rule regarding intra-articular injections.

The suspension came amid adjustments in enforcement policy by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Administration, something that owner Bruce Lunsford said he understands.

“Having done enough startups myself over the years and seeing things happen, it takes a while to get everything in sync with that many people from all directions coming, your staff and everything,” the Louisville, Ky., businessman told Horse Racing Nation on Tuesday. “But I think their hearts are in the right place. And I think it'll get us there. That's what I'm hopeful of.”

HIWU handles enforcement of HISA’s anti-doping and medication control program.

Art Collector, the 6-year-old winner of five graded stakes, was found to have received an intra-articular injection on June 21, followed by a five-furlong work at Saratoga five days later.

HISA rules prohibit intra-articular injections within seven days before a timed and reported workout. He was provisionally suspended through Friday.

HISA changed its enforcement policy for violations of the injection rule ahead of a workout. Violations before Saturday result in the suspension of the horse for 30 days. HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said late last month that there had been confusion about the rule, so trainers of horses found to be in violation before Saturday were not subject to suspension.

Art Collector, who won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January, was listed as probable for Saturday’s Monmouth Cup (G3) at Monmouth Park. Even though he would be eligible, Lunsford said, he will not be entered. The Charles Town Classic (G2) on Aug. 25 is the goal.

Lunsford said that when he and trainer Bill Mott decided to run Art Collector in the Pegasus, “it might be he'd run first or second, we'd stick around with occasional races to get to the Charles Town, and that's kind of still our same thing. With all the action going on in Saratoga and everything, I think it's just better just to move to that date, because he's a great come-off-of-rest horse. You saw that in the race in January.”

Art Collector has run twice since the Pegasus, finishing second in the New Orleans Classic (G2) in March and the Alysheba (G2) in May.

“I'm not in any hurry,” Lunford said, adding, “we enjoy going to Charles Town, we've won two years in a row and had a lot of fun. And might as well try to get three of them. That sounds like fun to me.”