Kentucky Derby second-favorite Art Collector out of race; favored Tiz the Law draws dreaded Post 17

The chances of heavy favorite Tiz the Law winning Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs likely improved Tuesday with the news that the second-betting favorite for the 146th Run for the Roses, Art Collector, will not race because of a minor foot issue. The colt "nicked the bulb of his left front heel with a hind hoof while galloping Monday at Churchill Downs," according to a release by the track. 

The release added that because of the sport's strict medication rules, the horse could not be treated with an anti-inflammatory this close to the race. The hope is that Art Collector can run in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

"It's a minor deal, but it's just enough to go, do we really want to run a race of this magnitude if he's not 100%?" said owner Bruce Lunsford. "And you can't really give him any medication until 48 hours out. And it's just too long to wait. And we also had a case of (jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.) tested positive (for COVID-19), and so there was just so many things going wrong, it was like a sign, let's just make the right move here and try to move in the Preakness."

Art Collector is trained by Louisville-based Tommy Drury, and Drury said this about pulling his contender: "As the trainer, it's my responsibility to be the voice for the horse. That's just not fair to him (to run). He's been too good to us, and we're going to make sure he's taken care of first."

Art Collector, a son of 2006 Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini, had won all four of his races in 2020, last the Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 9. SportsLine expert Jody Demling had written that the previous +450 second-favorite "might be the only one with a chance at Tiz the Law."

The news about Art Collector came just a few hours before Tuesday's draw for what is usually the first leg of the Triple Crown run on the first Saturday of May. 

Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law starts from Post 17 in the field of currently 18 (South Bend was a late add). No horse has ever won the Derby from Post 17 – every other post position has had at least one winner. The best finish from Post 17 was second by Forty Niner in 1988. The top three choices for Saturday drew the three outside posts.

Derby Post Positions & Morning-Line Odds

1. Finnick the Fierce, 50-1

2. Max Player, 30-1

3. Enforceable, 30-1

4. Storm the Court, 50-1

5. Major Fed, 50-1

6. King Guillermo, 20-1

7. Money Moves, 30-1

8. South Bend, 50-1

9. Mr. Big News, 50-1

10. Thousand Words, 15-1

11. Necker Island, 50-1

12. Sole Volante, 30-1

13. Attachment Rate, 50-1

14. Winning Impression, 50-1

15. Ny Traffic, 20-1

16. Honor A.P., 5-1

17. Tiz the Law, 3-5

18. Authentic, 8-1

Before you bet this race, you NEED to see what Jody Demling has to say. The famed horse racing expert enters the Kentucky Derby on a major heater: He has the picked the winner of six straight races: the Saudi Cup, Gotham Stakes, Rebel Stakes, Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes.