Sunday, August 31, 2008

Adriano rallies for Kent Stakes victory

With a late powerful surge, Donald Adam's Adriano won the $100,000 Grade III Kent Stakes ($100,000 Breeders' Cup Fund included) at Delaware Park today. With Kent Desormeaux, the 3-year-old son of A.P. Indy notched a half length score and paid $6.80 as the second choice in the field of ten. The Kentucky-bred trained by William Mott covered the mile and an eighth in 1:52.54 over a firm turf course.

Roman Tiger, with Stewart Elliot, finished second a half length in front of Mr. Maccool, with Jose Caraballo, in third.


Seeyouinthecity, with Travis Dunkelberger, set early fractions of :48.75 for the half mile and 1:13.61 for three-quarters mile before finishing fourth. Deal Making, the 9-to-5 favorite with Ramon Dominguez, ran sixth.

Adriano raised his career record to four wins from eleven starts with earnings of $713,680.

This was the first time Desmoreaux has ridden Adriano, by trainer William Mott gave him a precise briefing on him.

"Mr. Mott has him pegged perfectly," said winning rider Kent Desormeaux. "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 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."

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