Mid-pack but well off the pace through the backstretch, Adriano finally made his assault on pacesetter Seeyouinthecity nearing the eighth-pole. He was in sixth at the top of the lane, but by mid-stretch he was one of three horses passing the longtime leader from the outside. Under Kent Desormeaux, Adriano was going best in the final yards. The final time on the ‘firm’ turf was 1:52.54.
Roman Tiger, sent off at odds of 53-1, settled for second under Stewart Elliott. He was a half-length better than Mr Maccool, who took third in a field of 10 3-year-olds.
A son of A.P. Indy, Adriano won for the third time in seven starts this year. Previously, his biggest score came in the $500,000 Lane’s End Stakes (gr. II) on the Turfway Park Polytrack March 22. That victory sent him to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. II) May 3, where he finished next to last. After that race Adriano was transferred from trainer Graham Motion to the barn of Bill Mott.
"Mr. Mott has him pegged perfectly," said Desormeaux, who rode Adriano for the first time. "He told me a little about him and that was exactly how I was able to ride him. He got the job done. He is a nice horse.
"When Wesley (number 11) went by me, it looked like I was going to be second to him. He made an early move and I thought I am not ready to go yet, but I have got to keep up with him at least. His turn of foot got him a couple lengths in front of me, but Adriano had not laid his body down yet. I certainly knew there was plenty left and sure enough he got there. He was just hitting his best stride at the sixteenth pole."
Dale Capuano trainee Seeyouinthecity was in control for most of the Kent Stakes. The son of Slew City Slewbroke well from post five and went straight to the front with Travis Dunkelberger aboard. He posted reasonable fractions of :24.60, :48.75, 1:13.61 and 1:39.68. A rank Luck Money pressed the pace for six furlongs before tiring, while Mr Maccool and Roman Tiger were also close up.
Seeyouinthecity had a 2 1/2-length lead at the top of the lane, but by mid-stretch he was being tackled by Roman Tiger, Mr Maccool and Adriano, who was on the far outside. Wesley made a mild bid along the hedge.
Going off as the 2-1 second choice, the winner paid $6.80, $5.60 and $3.20. The exacta (7-9) returned $265.60, while the trifecta (7-9-3) was worth $2,663.40.
Adriano was bred in Kentucky by Adam’s Courtlandt Farm. He is out of the Mr. Prospector mare Gold Canyon. With a 4-1-0 mark from 11 starts, he has earned $713,680.