Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky hosts the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (G2), the major local prep for the Blue Grass Stakes and ultimately the Triple Crown. Eleven made the starting gate facing 1 1/8 miles of Polytrack on a chilly overcast afternoon before a crowd of 18,680, with Halo Najib sent off as the 3-1 favorite, coming off a sixth place finish in the Fountain of Youth. Racecar Rhapsody, fourth in the Delta Jackpot in his last start, was the 7-2 second choice over 4-1 third choice Adriano, who was a well-beaten ninth in the Fountain of Youth.
Duke of de Buqe battled for the lead with Rich Young Ruler early on, getting the quarter in 23.03 and the half in 47.18. Duke of de Buqe faded after 5 furlongs allowing Rich Young Ruler to lead the field into the far turn, getting 3/4 in 1:12.57. Adriano, under jockey Edgar Prado, who had stalked the lead pair the whole way in third out of trouble wide throughout, made his move entering the stretch. Halo Najib, seventh early, also put in a rally on the turn. However, Adriano had gotten the jump on the favorite, and opened up a 2 length lead in midstretch after a mile in 1:37.87, widening his advantage in the final furlong to get the victory by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:50.20. It was just 3/4 lengths back from Halo Najib to late-running Medjool in third.
Results chart
