Art Collector to make 4-year-old debut at Churchill Downs

Bruce Lunsford’s 2020 Blue Grass (G2)-winning homebred Art Collector will target the $110,000 Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs on Friday, June 25, to begin his 4-year-old campaign, according to trainer Tommy Drury Jr.

Art Collector has been on the sidelines since running eighth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. The colt went to the farm in South Carolina after the Breeders’ Cup but has been back on the work tab at Churchill Downs for the last four weeks. The five-time winning son of Bernardini worked a half-mile in :50.60 seconds on the turf Sunday at Churchill Downs with regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle.

“He has some turf in his pedigree and actually broke his maiden on the grass. Today’s work was just to keep our options open,” Drury said. “We’re going to target the seven-furlong Kelly’s Landing on dirt as his comeback race and take things from there. We’re very fortunate to have a horse like this in our barn. He’s shown his talent last year, and we’re very excited for what’s ahead this year.”

The Kelly’s Landing is one of eight stakes on closing weekend of the 2021 Spring Meet, headlined by the $600,000 Stephen Foster (G2) on Saturday, June 26.