Adriano

Adriano had established himself as more of a turf performer who also had an affinity for synthetic surfaces, a categorization that seemed to be proven in his only dirt try when he finished ninth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, 17 lengths behind winner Cool Coal Man.

It was a reputation that was solidified when Adriano turned in an impressive performance on Polytrack at Turfway Park in winning the Lane's End Stakes (G2).

Adriano's pedigree suggests that the A.P. Indy colt should be adept over any surface, including dirt, and the fact that he had to steady going into the first turn in the Fountain of Youth might be a race that needs to have a line drawn through it.

There was a question, exiting the Lane's End, of whether Adriano would be Derby bound go on to the Coolmore Lexington Stakes on April 19 to take aim at one of the other jewels of the Triple Crown. A half-mile breeze in :50 on April 13 at Churchill Downs caused trainer Graham Motion to lean more toward the Derby.

"I'm pretty sure we're going to go for it after this—I don't know why we wouldn't," Motion said on April 13.

"He went nice," Prado said after the workout. "He started nice and easy, and he finished good. When I called on him, he was there."

April 27 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:00.80 at Churchill Downs, track fast. 21st best of 62 workouts at the distance.
April 20 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:01.80 at Churchill Downs, track fast. 18th best of 39 workouts at the distance.

April 8 - Four furlongs handily in :45.60 at Keeneland Race Course, all-weather track fast. Best of 56 workouts at the distance.

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs

Trainer Graham Motion, recognizing that Adriano's best races have come on synthetic surfaces:

"You'd be pretty unlucky to breed a horse to A.P. Indy and not get a horse that can handle the dirt."