Preakness Profile: Art Collector
In the days leading up to Saturday’s 145th Preakness, usracing.com will be publishing profiles of the 11 horses entered in 2020’s final leg of the Triple Crown.
By Ed McNamara
Art Collector – Courtesy of Churchill Downs/Coady Photography.
A minor foot issue kept him out of the Kentucky Derby, in which he probably would have been the second choice behind odds-on Tiz the Law. There was far more confidence about Art Collector’s chances than in eventual winner Authentic’s.
Trainer Tommy Drury Jr. was disappointed in being denied his first Derby start, but he did what was right for the horse.
“We’d have loved to have been in the Derby because Kentucky is home for us, but gosh, to be able to run in the Preakness four weeks later,” Drury said. “That’s the one thing that gave me comfort, knowing we’ve got a huge race coming up right around the corner.”
This late bloomer emerged as a Derby contender with five straight wins, including romps in the Blue Grass and Ellis Park Derby. He’s 4-for-4 this year, has tactical speed and a nice turn of foot. Best performance: Crushing superstar filly Swiss Skydiver by 3 1/2 lengths in the Blue Grass.
Art Collector
Odds: 5-2
Post position: No. 3
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Trainer: Tommy Drury Jr.
Owner: Bruce Lunsford
Career record: 9-5-1-0
Career earnings: $664,380
Top Equibase speed figure: 106
Pedigree: Bernardini-Distorted Legacy, by Distorted Humor
Color: Bay
Running style: Front-runner, stalker
Notes: Art Collector’s sire, Bernardini, won the 2006 Preakness, which is remembered far more for the breakdown of undefeated Derby hero Barbaro … Drury was encouraged by Art Collector’s 5-furlong move in 59.40 seconds Sept. 19 at Churchill Downs. “We knew going into the work that it needed to be a pretty stiff one because we’re going into the Preakness,” he said. “And the gallop-out was huge.”
2020 Preakness Horses and Field
| 1 | Excession | Sheldon Russell | 30-1 |
| 2 | Mr. Big News | Gabriel Saez | 12-1 |
| 3 | Art Collector | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 5-2 |
| 4 | Swiss Skydiver | Robby Albarado | 6-1 |
| 5 | Thousand Words | Florent Geroux | 6-1 |
| 6 | Jesus’ Team | Jevian Toledo | 30-1 |
| 7 | NY Traffic | Horacio Karamanos | 15-1 |
| 8 | Max Player | Paco Lopez | 15-1 |
| 9 | Authentic | John Velazquez | 9-5 |
| 10 | Pneumatic | Joe Bravo | 20-1 |
| 11 | Liveyourbeastlife | Trevor Mccarthy | 30-1 |
Ed McNamara is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about thoroughbred racing for 35 years. He has handicapped races for ESPN.com, Newsday and The Record of New Jersey. He is the author of “Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown” and co-author of “The Most Glorious Crown,” a chronicle of the first 12 Triple Crown champions.