Art Collector heads field of nine in Kelly’s Landing

Today’s Churchill Downs barn notes by Kevin Kerstein (Coady Photography photo of Art Collector winning last summer’s $200,000 RUNHAPPY Ellis Park Derby under Brian Hernandez Jr.):

LOUISVILLE, KY (Sunday, June 20, 2021) – Bruce Lunsford’s Blue Grass (GII) stakes winning-homebred Art Collector leads a field of nine colts and geldings that were entered in Friday’s $110,000 Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs – the penultimate card of the 38-day Spring Meet.

          The seven-furlong Kelly’s Landing was carded as Race 10 with a post time of 5:26 p.m. The 11-race program begins at 12:45 p.m.

          Art Collector, a now 4-year-old son of Bernardini, is slated to make his seasonal debut in Friday’s race following more than seven months away from the races. Trained by Tommy Drury Jr., Art Collector has been regularly training with Drury’s string of horses at Churchill Downs and will once again be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr.

          “We’ve done everything we can right now for his first race back,” Drury said. “He worked a really good half-mile (Saturday in :47.40). He’s ready to go and we’re excited to get him back to the races.”

          Art Collector was the early Kentucky Derby (GI) favorite in 2020 following his 3 ½-length Blue Grass (GII) win and 3 ¼-length score in the Ellis Park Derby. Drury and Lunsford had to scratch Art Collector the day of the Derby post position draw because a minor foot issue developed. He returned to run in the Preakness Stakes (GI) but finished fourth after tracking the early pace. Art Collector closed his 3-year-old campaign with an eighth-place effort in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

          The five-time winner drew post No. 9 in the Kelly’s Landing.

          Another accomplished colt entered in the Kelly’s Landing is Tamaroak Partners’ six-time winning homebred Bango. The Greg Foley-trained son of Congrats held off fellow Kelly’s Landing rival Long Range Toddy in the $150,000 Aristides (Listed) in his last start. Bango has recorded five of his six lifetime victories beneath the Twin Spires. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post 6.

          The complete Kelly’s Landing field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Mucho (Gabriel Saez, John Ortiz); Strike Power (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Bourbon Calling (Julien Leparoux, Ian Wilkes); Long Range Toddy (Jon Court, Dallas Stewart); Home Base (Manny Esquivel, Cipriano Contreras); Bango (Gaffalione, Foley); Aloha West (Florent Geroux, Wayne Catalano); Relentless Dancer (Martin Garcia, Mike Maker); and Art Collector (Hernandez, Drury).

RSLP RACING, HILES CLAIM TRIO OF HORSES TOTALING $300,000 SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – In a partnership group headed by Louisville-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Brook Smith, RSLP Racing and trainer Jeff Hiles claimed a trio of horses from Race 4 Saturday at Churchill Downs – a maiden $100,000 claiming event for 2-year-olds.

          Smith’s RSLP Racing, which stands for Rocket Ship Launch Pad, will be using former trainer Billy Denzik as their racing manager and Hiles as their trainer. The group claimed the duo of former Norm Casse trainees Just Call Ray and Braggadocio (FR), along with a former Ian Wilkes-trainee Versatile.

          RSLP Racing has claimed seven horses so far this meet at Churchill Downs totaling $480,000.

          Smith’s RSLP Ventures focuses on empowering fellow entrepreneurs, according to his website. He actively participates in multiple organizations including the Purses for a Purpose program at the Churchill Downs Backside Learning Center where a portion of his horse’s earnings are donated to help backside workers and their children.

          Hiles is currently based at HighPointe Farm and Training Center in La Grange, Ky., located about 40 minutes north east of Churchill Downs. Hiles, a former sergeant in the U.S. Marines, is the son of veteran trainer Rick Hiles and former assistant to Kenny McPeek.

STAKES PROBABLES – Saturday’s spectacular 11-race closing day program features seven stakes events headlined by the $600,000 Stephen Foster (Grade II) and $300,000 Fleur de Lis (GII). Here are the probable entrants to all seven races, according to assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork:

·        $600,000 Stephen Foster (GII), run at 1 1/8 miles for 4-year-olds and up, Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Classic Division: Empty Tomb (Mike Maker); Maxfield (Brendan Walsh); Silver Dust (Bret Calhoun); Warrior’s Charge (Brad Cox). Possible: American Dubai (Robertino Diodoro); Visitant (Bill Morey).

·        $300,000 Fleur de Lis (GII), run at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up, Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Distaff Division: Envoutante (Kenny McPeek); Latruska(Fausto Gutierrez); Point of Honor (Shug McGaughey); Singita Dreams (Phil Bauer); Spice Is Nice (Todd Pletcher); Vault (Brad Cox).

·        $300,000 Wise Dan (GII), run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 4-year-olds and up: Field Pass(Mike Maker); In Love (BRZ) (Paulo Lobo); Ride a Comet (Mark Casse); Set Piece (GB) (Brad Cox); Somelikeithotbrown (Mike Maker). Possible: Spooky Channel (Jason Barkley)

·        $150,000 Bashford Manor (GIII), run at six furlongs for 2-year-olds: Double Thunder(Todd Pletcher); Glacial (Norm Casse); Kavod (Jimmy Chapman); Landsdowne (Dallas Stewart); Whatstheconnection (John Ennis); Whistlewhileyoumow (Jon Arnett).

·        $150,000 Debutante (Listed), run at six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies: Bandits Warrior(John Robb); Classiness (Jason Barkley); Mi Estrella (Genaro Garcia); Mollie Kate (John Ennis); Ontheonesandtwos (Norm Casse); She’sgotattitude (John Ennis); Sommer Velvet(Kevin Boniface); Take the Backroads (Tom Amoss).

·        $150,000 Tepin, run at one-mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies: Adventuring (Brad Cox); Arm Candy (Steve Asmussen); Barista (Jimmy Baker); Bullseye Beauty (Andrew McKeever); Fairchild (Mark Casse); Invincible Gal (GB) (Graham Motion); New Boss (Bret Calhoun).

·        $150,000 War Chant, run at one-mile on turf for 3-year-olds: Accredit (Pavel Matejka); DynO Mite (Keith Desormeaux); Helium (Mark Casse); Royal Prince (Brad Cox).

DOWN THE STRETCH – Sunday’s Father’s Day program at Churchill Downs had a first post of 12:45 p.m. and featured a $142,533 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 and $6,140 carryover in the $1 Super Hi 5. All betting pools will have a mandatory payout on Saturday’s Closing Day of the Spring Meet. … After dark days on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, racing continues Thursday for the final Twilight Thursday presented by Blue Moon of the Spring Meet. Fans can enjoy the eight-race program along with $1 domestic and Blue Moon beer, local food trucks and live music from Scott T. Smith.