Adriano Update
RightAngle
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Heard today that connections still believe that despite his pedigree the colt favors the grass/synthetic surfaces over the dirt. They do plan to drill him a few times over the dirt to see if he has "changed his mind" at all. He is still being pointed towards the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and another strong effort will leave them with a very tough decision to go on to the Derby or not.
He is 20-1 on the morning line of the latest Ky Derby pool. Still way underpriced IMO.
Edward
He is 20-1 on the morning line of the latest Ky Derby pool. Still way underpriced IMO.
Edward
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ADRIANO
Pat Lang photo
by Jeff Lowe
Trainer Graham Motion and owner Donald Adam are warming to the idea of running Lanes End Stakes (G2) winner Adriano in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 3.
After Adriano registered his first stakes win in the Lanes End on March 22, Motion initially targeted the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) on April 19 at Keeneland Race Course as a more likely destination than the Kentucky Derby. Motion cited Adrianos ninth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on February 24 at Gulfstream Park in his only start on a conventional dirt surface.
The A.P. Indy colt arrived at Keeneland Race Course on Tuesday from South Florida. If the weather cooperates, Motion will send Adriano to Churchill Downs this weekend for a workout on the dirt.
We wouldnt run him in both races, Motion said. Id say at this point were leaning a little bit more toward the Derby than the Lexington.
I was told that worked never happened and Keenland has retracted the work. Read my above post and you will see where they are working him over the Churchill strip to see if he likes it or not.
FB
Thanks,
Edward
Disappointing time but hard to tell what was going on without hearing a visual report.
Updated: April 13, 2008
(edited Churchill Downs release)
Courtlandt Farms homebred Adriano is now considered likely for a run in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) following a four-furlong workout April 13 at Churchill Downs.
The Graham Motion-trained chestnut son of A.P. Indy, winner of the Lanes End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park March 22, had jockey Edgar Prado in the saddle as he breezed a half-mile in intermittent rain over a fast surface in :50.
Adriano is out of the Mr. Prospector mare Gold Canyon. The Kentucky-bred has won three of seven starts and has earned $387,700.
The 3-year-old colt breezed in company with Longley, a 4-year-old Courtlandt Farm stablemate. Longley broke off in front of Adriano, but the duo raced as a team through the turn and into upper stretch before Adriano and Prado pushed past in the final furlong to finish a length in front of his workmate.
Motion planned to discuss the colts future later in the day with Courtlandt Farm owner Donald Adam, but felt Adriano had shown enough in the easy work over the track to earn a start in the Derby. He had said earlier that a good work over the surface could earn Adriano entry into the Run for the Roses, but the colt could run in the Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) April 19 at Keeneland if he did not handle the Churchill Downs surface well.
Im pretty sure were going to go for it after this I dont know why we wouldnt, Motion said. Believe me, I want to win the Derby as much as anybody else does, but I dont think its engraved in my mind that Ive got to get there. I want to get there for the right reasons, and when we analyze it and we talk with Mr. Adam and with Edgar, I think it is the right thing to do at this point. That was depending upon what happened today, and I think it went well.
Churchill Downs clockers caught Adriano in fractions of :13, :25.40, and :37.80 and the colt galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.40. Longley was timed in :50.40 for his four-furlong move. Adrianos move ranked 29th among 42 at the distance.
He went nice, said Prado, one day after having won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) aboard Monba. He started nice and easy, and he finished good. When I called on him, he was there. Graham was happy and I was happy with him.
Motion had expressed reservations about Adrianos handling of traditional dirt courses like the one-mile oval at Churchill Downs after the colt turned in a disappointing ninth-place finish behind Cool Coal Man Feb. 24 in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park. That was his first race on traditional dirt after Adriano had raced on grass or Polytrack in his five previous starts.
Motions concern about the colts capability on dirt was one reason Adriano turned up in the Lanes End, where he romped by 2 ½-lengths over the Polytrack surface. Motion brought Adriano to Churchill Downs to see how his colt would handle the dirt footing under the historic Twin Spires, and was pleased with what he saw as he watched the move from a seat atop his stable pony.
He seemed to handle it fine, said Motion. I dont think the time was real flashy, but, to be honest, I really wasnt asking him to do that. And it (the track) was kind of cuppy Im guessing they didnt put a lot of water on the track because of the rain, so it just looked like it was a little loose.
I pretty much told Edgar he had a free rein to do what he wanted, within reason. He kind of smooched to him at the eighth pole and he really lengthened his stride. He just seemed to accelerate like he would on any surface. I couldnt say he went a lot differently than he would have gone on the turf or the Polytrack.
If Adam and Motion make the expected decision to point Adriano toward the Kentucky Derby, Prado will have a decision to make. In addition to Monba, he also won the Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 5 aboard Tale of Ekati. Motion indicated that Prado would need to make a decision on whether he would stick with Adriano for the Derby within 24 hours.
Hes got to make up his mind, and I dont want to miss out on getting somebody else, said Motion. If Edgar is not the money rider right now, hes certainly one of the two or three.
Motion planned to take Adriano back to Keeneland after Sundays work. If the ultimate decision is to point Adriano toward the Derby, Motion said the colt would likely return to Churchill Downs late this week.
Prado chose Adriano over Monba and Tale of Ekati, whom he rode to victories in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and Wood Memorial Stakes (G1), respectively.
One of the reasons I worked Adriano at Churchill Downs this week was to let Edgar get a feel for him on the track and see what he thought. It was as much for his benefit as for mine. He wanted to see for himself before he made his decision, and I wanted to see for myself before I made my decision. I was tickled when he turned into the stretch and he showed that extraordinary stride when Edgar asked him. I let him do as he pleased, sort of like taking out a new car for a spin. He let him roll the last part, and I clocked him in :11 and change for the final eighth. When Edgar asked him he really took off from his workmate, who is a very useful stakes winner.
12503 ADRIANO +2300
Might be close, but have to think he goes off lower than 35-1 on race day. Of course he still has to get to the starting gate.
I have to think he goes off at higher odds than that on race day.
Just a thought