Art Collector Repeats in Alydar

Bruce Lunsford’s homebred Art Collector  proved to be an excessive amount of for his 4 rivals Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course, repeating within the $130,950 Alydar Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile dust take a look at for older horses who haven’t received a stakes apart from state-bred in 2022.

Skilled by Corridor of Famer Invoice Mott, Art Collector has been on fairly a journey because the final time he received the 2021 Alydar, making journeys to West Virginia, California, and a last-out journey to Saudi Arabia in February when he completed off the board within the Saudi Cup (G1) earlier than finally returning to the scene of his 3 1/2-length rating final 12 months.

Art Collector delivered an analogous efficiency to 2021, taking his place on the entrance of the sphere and by no means wanting again. Regardless of two off-the-board finishes in his final two outings, he returned to run as robust as ever as Luis Saez sat immobile aboard the son of Bernardini down the lane, they usually cruised dwelling to a two-length victory.

Posting straightforward fractions of :24.60, :49.23, and 1:13.77, Art Collector held a cushty benefit down the backstretch and into the flip for dwelling. Masqueparade , who tracked in second all through, made a bid on the prime of the lane however could not catch Art Collector, who hit the wire underneath wraps in a time of 1:51.84 for the 9 furlongs.

Masqueparade accomplished the exacta, 7 1/2 lengths forward of Chess Chief .

Art Collector has proven versatility in his 9 wins and has received from off the tempo in addition to on the lead. Mott stated he was ready for a possible problem up entrance.

“We thought perhaps if the skin horse (Masqueparade) needed to go to the lead, we would let him go, and we would have a goal,” stated Mott. “However because it labored out, he was on the lead by himself. It appeared like he was going simply sufficient, and it appeared like each time that horse ran to him, he simply maintained the identical benefit.”

Saez echoed Mott’s sentiments.

“He is a fairly cool horse to journey. He is fairly sensible,” Saez stated. “He broke and managed the tempo. He switched leads on the level he is speculated to by himself, and he did every thing stunning.”

Art Collector used his earlier Alydar win as a springboard to graded stakes success within the Charles City Basic Stakes (G2) and Woodward Stakes (G1) later that fall at Belmont Park. Mott stated each of these races are spots circled as probably targets for Art Collector.

Lunsford and Mott have shared some memorable moments collectively, together with a detailed second within the 1999 Belmont Stakes (G1) with Lunsford’s homebred Imaginative and prescient and Verse. Lunsford went on to personal and breed a stakes-winning, grade 1-placed half sister to Imaginative and prescient and Verse named Distorted Legacy , who produced Art Collector.

“He’s a particular horse. I like the horse. I like his rider,” Lunsford stated. “Luis and I am going method again along with his ex-agent (Richard DePass) and his present agent Kiaran (McLaughlin). It is only a nice thrill for me to have a horse of this high quality and the brothers and sisters and the mom.”

Art Collector elevated his whole purse earnings to $1,729,555 and improved his document to 9-1-0 in 18 begins. He returned $3.60 for a $2 win wager.

The dam has produced three starters and one different winner in Legionnaire  (Into Mischief  ), a maiden winner at Ellis Park July 16 who’s pointed subsequent to a first-level allowance. 

The dam’s unraced foals are a 2-year-old Into Mischief colt named Basic Legacy, a yearling filly by Justify  , and a Medaglia d’Oro   filly foaled this 12 months. 

Video: Alydar S. (BT)

This press launch has been edited for content material and elegance by BloodHorse Employees.