Bruce Lunsford has been in a bright spotlight before, having lost a 2008 general-election bid to unseat Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell. Lunsford immediately left politics after that defeat, returning to endeavors he liked more – including breeding and racing Thoroughbreds. Lunsford will soon find himself in a spotlight he’s going to relish far more as the breeder and owner of Art Collector, a fast-improving colt who figures as one of the favorites for the 2020 Kentucky Derby following an emphatic triumph Saturday in the Grade 2, $600,000 Blue Grass Stakes at spectator-free Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Getting a perfect trip under Brian Hernandez Jr., Art Collector stayed close to the pacesetting 2-1 favorite, the standout filly Swiss Skydiver, before surging past her in the final 150 yards to win the 96th Blue Grass by 3 1/2 lengths. Swiss Skydiver easily held second, another 4 3/4 lengths before Rushie, who narrowly bested Enforceable and Attachment Rate for third in a three-way photo. Art Collector, by Bernardini, returned $6.60 as a close second wagering choice after finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.11 over a fast track. He earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure. “We’ve got one of the Derby favorites now,” said Hernandez, “so you’ve got to be excited.” The Blue Grass was worth 170 points (100-40-20-10) toward the Derby, to be run Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. This was the first Derby points qualifier Art Collector had contested. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Lunsford, 70, made a fortune in the health-care business. His primary residence is in Louisville, where he long has employed Tommy Drury as the trainer of some of his horses, although typically not his first string. That has changed in recent times. Drury, based at the Skylight training center just east of Louisville, had won 13 stakes – but never a graded event – in 30 years of training until Art Collector proved clearly best Saturday. “I’m at a loss for words,” Drury said in a televised post-race interview. “It takes a village to get these things over here. I’m just honored to share this with my staff and Bruce and everybody else.” Art Collector earned a spot in the Blue Grass when posting one of the highest Beyer Speed Figures among all 3-year-olds this year (100) when dominating a June 13 allowance at Churchill in his previous start. He now has won four of eight (and also finished first in another race only to be disqualified for a medication violation when with a previous trainer). “He’s just a good horse – classy, versatile, the whole package,” said Drury. Asked what his plans toward the Derby might entail, Drury quickly replied: “It took me my whole life to get this one. We’ll enjoy this now and think about all that tomorrow.” Swiss Skydiver, with Mike Smith riding for trainer Kenny McPeek, was just the second filly to run in the Blue Grass since the race was first run at Keeneland in 1937, following Hattie Sue (fifth in 1944). Already the runaway points leader toward the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks, the filly acquitted herself very well, cutting out fractions of 23.26, 46.61, and 1:10.63 before giving way late. Swiss Skydiver, owned by Peter Callahan, earned 40 Derby points and therefore figures on the cusp of eligibility to make the 20-horse field, although McPeek had said beforehand he was inclined not to proceed to the Derby unless she won. “More than likely, we’ll go back to fillies,” McPeek said after the Blue Grass. “I do think she ran a great race. Tommy’s horse was the one I was worried about, and he just ran super.” After the top five, the order was Mr. Big News, Finnick the Fierce, Tiesto, Hard Lighting, Basin, Shivaree, Hunt the Front, and Man in the Can. The $2 exacta (3-7) paid $24.20, the $1 trifecta (3-7-10) returned $61.20, and the 10-cent superfecta (3-7-10-12) was worth $44.28. The Blue Grass ended an all-graded-stakes pick five (5-13-6-4-3) that returned $360.85 on a 50-cent ticket. Handle was $1,395,051. The last Blue Grass winner to win the Kentucky Derby was Strike the Gold in 1991. The last Derby winner to have run in the Blue Grass was Street Sense, second by a nose in 2007. Sunday is closing day of this specially arranged five-day July meet at Keeneland, with two grass stakes, the Grade 2 Elkhorn and Grade 3 Transylvania, serving as features. Three-day weekends at Ellis Park resume July 17.