Edgar Prado Will Ride Adriano in Kentucky Derby

[I Heart Gambling Online]

Even though he won the Wood Memorial (gr. I) aboard Tale of Ekati and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) on Monba, Edgar Prado has decided to ride Adriano in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

"I knew it was going to be a tough choice for him, and it obviously makes me feel good about everything," trainer Graham Motion said. "Edgar rode for me when I first started training. I'm not sure we both didn't have our first stakes winner in New York together. So, we certainly go back a long way. We've always had a rapport and I've always felt the most comfortable with him riding the horses. When he won the Lane's End, he didn't have any other Derby mounts, so we discussed having him ride the horse back then. Then he goes and wins two grade I stakes leading up to the Derby.

"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."

Adriano's only dirt start resulted in a 9th place finish at the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), however Motion felt that the colt lost his cool in the paddock.

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- Bodog Beat