Dual Grade 1 winner Art Collector was euthanized on Thursday after developing laminitis, reported first by Horse Racing Nation. Bred and owned by Bruce Lunsford, the 6-year-old son of Bernardini had been based at Saratoga with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott this summer in preparation for an attempt at a third straight win in the G2 Charles Town Classic.
“He started to develop laminitis a couple of days ago and he went in a hurry,” Mott told the Thoroughbred Daily News. “He had a very good work on the fifth of August and was fine the next day. Then he developed what appeared to be a small foot abscess two days later. We were soaking it and treating it. We didn't think it was going to be anything serious, but it developed into laminitis in all four feet. He was with us in Saratoga and was in his stall. He started to get real uncomfortable on Tuesday. Yesterday was a bad day and it was getting worse and we had to make the decision to put him asleep.”
Art Collector began his career in the barn of trainer Joe Sharp, breaking his maiden at second asking at Kentucky Downs. He finished off the board three times before getting a break and resuming his career in the care of trainer Tommy Drury, Jr. Art Collector won two allowance races before giving Drury a career victory in the G2 Blue Grass Stakes during the COVID-postponed Keeneland meet, then the Ellis Park Derby, and was pointed for the 2020 Kentucky Derby before a minor hoof issue forced his scratch shortly before the race. The colt did make it to the Preakness Stakes, finishing fourth behind champion filly Swiss Skydiver, and later ran in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
Transferred to Hall of Famer Bill Mott in mid-2021, Art Collector won Saratoga's Alydar Stakes before capturing his first G2 Charles Town Classic. He then won the G1 Woodward before finishing sixth in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic.
After a failed tilt at the G1 Saudi Cup, Art Collector resumed racing in 2022 with another pair of wins in the Alydar and Charles Town Classic, but finished an uncharacteristic fifth in the G2 Lukas Classic next out. Art Collector rebounded valiantly with a win in the 2023 G1 Pegasus World Cup, and this year ran second twice in the G2 New Orleans Classic and G2 Alysheba.
“He had a magnificent career,” Lunsford told HRN. “I've been in the game a long time, and he's one of the best I've ever had the fortune of being associated with. He took me to great heights and moments in this game. He was a member of the family, and obviously, we're heartbroken.”
The post ‘We’re Heartbroken’: Art Collector Euthanized Due To Laminitis appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
