Runhappy Ellis Park Derby | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bruce Lunsford's 3-year-old Art Collector, winner of Keeneland's Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in his last start, worked an easy half-mile in 49 seconds Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for the $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 9. Regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard.

Trainer Tommy Drury said by phone that he shipped Art Collector to Churchill Downs because the track at his Skylight Training Center base in Oldham County is being resurfaced. He said Art Collector will stay at Churchill Downs until shipping to Ellis Park the morning of the race.

“He's fit; we weren't looking for much today,” Drury said. “Just a little maintenance half-mile, let him stretch his legs a little. Brian said he couldn't have been happier, kind of had his ears thrown up. Just cruised along. I think Big John (Churchill clocker John Nichols) had him galloping out in 1:01 and change. It was really nice, just what I wanted. I think he got off the first eighth-mile in 13 (seconds) and just kind of picked it up from there. He's on the same schedule he's been on. He'll come back and work next Friday or Saturday and that should pretty much set us up for the race.”

“Everything was good,” Hernandez said. “Just a maintenance move, nice and smooth.”

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Bruce Lunsford’s GII Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Art Collector (Bernardini) will run in the $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby Aug. 9, trainer Tom Drury told the Ellis Park notes team.

The Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, with its purse doubled and distance extended from a mile to 1 1/8 miles, this year carries GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The winner receives 50 points toward qualifying for the Sept. 5 Derby, a number that virtually assures a spot in the 20-horse field at Churchill Downs. The runner-up receives 20 points, with 10 for third and five for fourth. Art Collector, by virtue of his 100-point win in the Blue Grass, is safely in the Derby field already, which had Drury considering training the colt up to the Run for the Roses.

“Bruce kind of left the decision up to me,” Drury said. “I felt we needed to go somewhere, and that was our only option. Before I said too much, I just wanted to make sure my horse came out of the Keeneland race OK and everything was in good order. Now that we’re back on the track and seeing him train, gosh, if anything it seems like he’s better. The timing of it is going to be good leading up to the Derby. That’s the ultimate goal, and we’re going to try to take our best shot.”

Added Lunsford, “You could try to train him up to the Kentucky Derby. That’s a long eight weeks. You don’t want to start working horses quick; you might as well just have a race. We’ve got four weeks to get ready. There are a lot of things I love about Ellis anyway, and it gives me a chance to give back. They’ve always been good to me. Every time I’ve been in politics, I’ve won every time in Henderson. I know a lot of people down there. And I think [jockey] Brian [Hernandez, Jr.] and Tommy are excited about doing this.”

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