Pegasus Winner Art Collector benefits from much needed rest.

 Before January 28th 2023, Art Collector won his last race on August 26th, 2022 in the grade 2 Charles town Classic at Charles town.

Sometimes it is so easy to dismiss these horses when they lose a race or two forgetting that they are living creatures that need time to recover from the races.  This is a similar story with the now Pegasus winner Art Collector who won this year's race for fun while being ignored by the public judging by his final odds on the board.  

2023 Pegasus champion - Art Collector

Bruce Lunsford who is the breeder and owner of Art Collector must be more than happy about what this horse has done to this point with earned money.

Art Collector who didn't win any of America's major races including triple crown races is clearly a winner judging by performance.  After skipping the Kentucky derby in 2020 Art Collector was entered into the Preakness and finished fourth.   He ran one more race that year in the breeder's cup dirt mile and finished 8th in the field.

In order to fully understand this picture painted by Art Collector you have to go back to his past performance which tells the tale clearly of decisions made to benefit this horse .  

Making the trip to the grade 1 Saudi Cup at the King Abdulaziz racecourse should have told you something about what the connections to this horse envisioned but the result of the race may have muddle the trajectory slightly, if you are looking in from the outside. Giving the horse six months away from racing allowed Art Collector to pick up the victory in the Alydar stakes at Saratoga Park and then the grade 2 Charles town classic almost three weeks later.

There wasn't any talk about Art Collector even coming close to winning the Pegasus because other stars were making their names heard and in a sport where winning means everything one loss could put you out of the picture making you almost forgotten.  Horses don't always win every race but it seems almost necessary to have a plan for them when they are that good.  

Is Art Collector the new found star at six years old?  

I highly doubt it but like fine wine when left alone he can leave your head spinning in a very good direction and putting you on top of the world.

derek.barntrack@gmail.com