Adriano - Edgar Prado's choice for the Kentucky Derby?

Question

Prado had a choice of riding Tale of Ekati, Monba or Adriano in the Kentucky Derby. He chose Adriano. In doing so, he did state that one of the factors was loyalty to H.G. Motion. He rides for Motion quite a bit and rode Adriano before Tale of Ekati or Monba were real contenders for the Derby. But, do you think that this was the only reason. Or, do you think Adriano has as good a, or better, chance of winning than the other two. Also, who are your favorites this year?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I think Big Brown will Win; but ADRIANO can get 2nd or 3rd.

Answer 2

I think he chose him because he feels that he has a better chance.I have too many favorites this year and I have no clue who I will pick this year.I like Pyro,Adriano,Bob Black Jack,Cool Coal Man,Cowboy Cal and others.

Answer 3

I'm going with Colonel John but Adriano is my long shot/sentimental pick.  Come on, one of these years that bloodline is going to produce something!!!!  It is racing royalty.

Answer 4

I think he would fair better on Tale of Ekati...Adriano doesn't stand much of a chance.... it's going to be a great race.... I like Big Brown, Colonel John, Eight Belles, Gayego, there are tons of monsters.  

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Answer 5

edger brado is a great jockey and he chose adriano for a reason. this year i like pyro

Answer 6

It is not matter since Big Brown win the Derby anyway.

Answer 7

He is being politically correct in not saying, but I think that he feels Adriano is a much better horse than the other two.

I am going with Colonel John, but if Eight Belles runs, I will have money on her too. .

Answer 8

I've never cared for Monba.  I think the reason he won the Blue Grass is because of the polytrack.  His 2 best performances have been on synthetic surfaces.  And I don't find him to be as talented of a horse as the other main derby contenders.  However he did have some kind of surgery or something before the Blue Grass because he had some breathing problems in the Fountain of Youth.  So he may have run poorly before the Blue Grass because of that breathing problem so he might really be a better horse than he showed in his early starts... I don't know.

I really like Tale of Ekati... he was an excellent horse last year and had a super chance at the BC Juvie until he ran a 4 furlong workout in 45 seconds only a couple days before the Juvie.  I think he needed another start this year to be ready for the Derby.  I think coming back in the Louisiana Derby was kind of a stupid move... to take on Pyro and really a full field of the top 3 year olds in his first start back was silly and he finished poorly.  He developed in the few weeks until the Wood and did manage to get past War Pass in the stretch, but he was definately laboring to get there... he didn't have a big flashy move like the top Derby contenders.

I think Adriano was the best choice between the 3.  The only big question with Adriano is the surface.  He broke his maiden on turf, then ran a good race in the Breeders Futurity at Keeneland.  (I left him out of my exotics for beat the handicapper because I expected him to run the next day in the turf race and luckily he finished 4th so he didn't s***w up my tri.)  He came back in a turf race at Laurel and finished another 4th after a 3-4 wide trip.  He never tried on dirt until the Foutain of Youth.  I don't know how much he even worked out over dirt because I think he was mainly based at synthetic tracks.  It looked like he hated the surface.  Then he came back to make a big flashy run in the Lanes End.  If the Derby was on a synthetic track, Adriano would definately be one of the favorites.  I think Adriano can handle the dirt.  The connections worked him out at Churchill with Edgar Prado aboard and he worked so well that they decided to run in the Derby.  Edgar said that Adriano worked really well and gave him the same cues as Barbaro.  That was the key for Edgar.  Adriano hasn't shown enormous success on the dirt before, but if his workout was good enough to make Edgar choose him, I think that speaks a lot to this horse's talent over any surface.

And everyone says "oh he's a turf/synthetics horse"... but then Colonel John has never run on anything but synthetics and he's one of the favorites for the Derby.  I think Adriano can do it.