Bruce Lunsford's homebred Art Collector had an easy time of it on Friday evening, reprising his 2021 victory in the Grade 2, $1-million Charles Town Classic in Charles Town, W.Va.
Under Luis Saez, the 5-year-old son of Bernardini trained by Bill Mott went to the front at the start, shook off a pesky Muad'dib on the turn for home, then drew off for a 4 1/4-length victory, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.30. Art Collector set all the fractions: :24.46 for the opening quarter mile, :48.70 for the half, 1:13.16 for six furlongs, and 1:38.12 for the mile.
Sent away as the 1-2 favorite in the field of eight, Art Collector paid $3 to win and collected $588,055 for the winner's share of the purse.
Muad'dib held second under Arnaldo Bocachica, with Mind Control and John Velazquez third. They were followed by Officiating (Javier Castellano), Last Samurai (Jon Court), Jalen Journey (Angel Arroyo), Plot the Dots (Angel Cruz), and Treasure Tove (J. Acosta).
The win was the 10th in 19 lifetime starts for Art Collector, whose previous graded stakes victories were in the G2 Blue Grass in 2020 and the G1 Woodward in 2021 (along with the G2 Charles Town Classic). He finished 12th in the G1 Saudi Cup in his 2022 debut in February, then returned with a wire-to-wire victory at Saratoga on Aug. 4 in the Alydar Stakes in his prep for the Charles Town Classic.
Lunsford and Mott were both on hand for the Charles Town Classic win.
Society Resumes Winning Ways In Oaks
Society, a Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds homebred filly trained by Steve Asmussen, won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks by 6 3/4 lengths under Tyler Gaffalione. Sent off as the 7-5 favorite, the Gun Runner filly was winning for the fourth time in five career starts, her only defeat coming last out when fourth behind Nest in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.
She paid $4.80 to win after running the seven furlongs in 1:23.42, winning wire to wire. Fractions were :23.28, :46.54, and 1:10.60.
Free Like a Girl finished second, with Midnight Stroll third in the field of eight.
Society earned $294,055 from the $500,440 purse.
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