LOUISVILLE -- A few weeks ago, after cashing on Adriano in the Lane's End Stakes, I threw $5 on him and got 38-1 odds in the Derby Future Wager's third and final pool. His connections were still uncommitted to the Derby, but I figured he'd go. A horse is only 3 years old once, and who's going to sit out the Kentucky Derby with a live one who's bred to get the distance?
Not owner Donald Adam and trainer Graham Motion, who's in with a chance. Motion, a low-key native of England, is getting enthusiastic, which I was pleased to hear.
"I'm actually starting to get a little excited about it," Motion said Tuesday morning. "He's really in good form. I tend to be apprehensive going into these things. So much can go wrong.''
Especially with future bets. I'm usually willing to squander $20 each year on them, and this year's first three stabs were on horses who didn't make it to the Derby: Majestic Warrior and Blackberry Road (not good enough) and Crown of Thorns (injured). I connected last year on Rags to Riches at 8-1 to win the Oaks, and with Monarchos at 17-1 in the 2001 Derby. So I'm ahead of this silly game, which is more than most future pickers can say.
All Adriano has to do is win the Derby in only his second race on a conventional dirt surface (he finished ninth in his first one) and I'll be $195 richer. If he doesn't revert to his hot-blooded prerace behavior, then runs the race of his life and works out an excellent trip, I've got a great chance. I'm not counting my money.
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2 comments:
if you win on adriano, maybe you can put in a bid on Newsday.
I HAVE adriano IN MY MONEY BUT NOT TO WIN, BUT I THAINK HE CAN HIT THE MONEY
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