Art Collector Team Awaiting Many 'Firsts' of Derby Day

Top sophomore Art Collector has already given trainer Tom Drury and his team their first-ever graded stakes victory. Now they, along with owner Bruce Lunsford, await the first Saturday in September for their first entrant in the GI Kentucky Derby.

After earning 100 points toward the Derby at Keeneland, it was initially uncertain if the son of Bernardini would see the starting gate again before the first Saturday in September.

When Art Collector streaked past the rest of the field to win the Aug. 9 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby by more than three lengths, Drury said it was exactly the final prep they were hoping for.

The win marked a monumental day for Ellis Park. Announcer Jimmy McNerney noted it as “the biggest day in the track's 98-year history.” The victory had similar resonance with Drury, who has shipped many horses down to Henderson over his 38-year career, and remembers making his second career start there with the first horse he ever trained.

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