Adriano put in his second work over the Churchill Downs surface on April 20.
(from Churchill Downs)
Courtlandt Farm’s Adriano, winner of the Lane’s End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park, continued his preparation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a five-furlong work April 20 at Churchill Downs.
The homebred son of A.P. Indy covered the distance in 1:01 4/5 working in company with 4-year-old Courtlandt Farm stablemate Longley. Adriano, with Kentucky Derby jockey Edgar Prado in the saddle, was about three lengths behind his workmate as the pair broke off for the move, but rolled past Longley in the stretch and finished about three lengths in front of his stablemate.
The Graham Motion-trained Adriano completed the distance in fractional times of :25, :37 3/5 and :49, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16. Longley completed his five-furlong work in 1:03.
“I was happy with it, but it looked like he just got to goofing off a little bit when he got by Longley – but that’s a little bit him,” said Motion. “I almost put blinkers on this horse before the Lane’s End, but I think on the day (of the race) he’s fine. He just gets to loafing a little bit when he gets in front.”
Motion said Adriano was scheduled for his final pre-Kentucky Derby work April 27. He will have company for that move, but could have a different workmate.
“He’s only going to do what he has to do anyway,” said Motion. “He’s just not been a flashy work horse. It’s never been his nature, really. The thing I was most pleased with – and Edgar was, too – was just the way he behaved today. He was like a different horse from when we were here last week. He just seems to have handled everything very well, and that was our biggest concern.”
Motion sent Adriano to the paddock prior to the workout, just as he has done before training each day since his arrival at Churchill Downs April 17.
Owner-breeder Donald Adam of Courtlandt Farm was at Churchill Downs to view Adriano’s work. Courtlandt’s only previous Kentucky Derby horse was Impeachment, who finished third to Fusaichi Pegasus in the 2000 Kentucky Derby.
Adam said Courtlandt Farm was “very fortunate” to have a horse of Adriano’s caliber in this year’s Kentucky Derby picture. The fact that the colt is a homebred makes it more exciting.
“For several years now, we’ve raced every single horse that we’ve raised – we don’t sell anything,” said Adam. “To have one that we own the mare and have the offspring, it’s a much greater feeling. It’s like your own child. It’s truly special.”
Adriano has a career record of 3-1-0 in seven races with earnings of $387,700.
