by Tom Law

Vinery Stable’s Lantana Mob benefited from a perfectly timed ride, unleashed a furious rally around the far turn and into the stretch, and powered to a near track record-setting victory in the $100,000 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (G3) on the Preakness Stakes (G1) undercard on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

The three-year-old Posse colt won the six-furlong Hirsch Jacobs by a neck over Silver Edition in 1:09.10 on a track rated as fast. Northern Wolf holds the six-furlong track record at Pimlico of 1:09, set in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash in August 1990.

“He was able to sit off the pace today, which is what we wanted,” said Tom Ludt, president of Vinery Stables. “I thought it was very impressive to close down there. They haven’t been closing too well today from what I’ve saw today, so to do that was pretty special.”

Lantana Mob won three of seven starts as a two-year-old for trainer Steve Asmussen, including the Sapling Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park, but closed the season with losses in the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and Favorite Trick Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Monmouth.

Rested after finishing third in the Favorite Trick, Lantana Mob returned to win the Bachelor Stakes on April 6 at Oaklawn Park in 1:09.42.

“After the [Favorite Trick] we sent him home to the farm for some rest,” Ludt said. “The way he’s matured, he’s really grown up.”

Force Freeze, runner-up to Lantana Mob in the Bachelor in his only career defeat, set the quick early pace of :22.86 for the opening quarter-mile with Indy Joe, Sheeler, and Silver Edition in close pursuit. Force Freeze still led after a half in :45.17, but Silver Edition and jockey Edgar Prado pounced on the early leader at the top of the stretch and set sail for the wire.

Lantana Mob closed from nearly five lengths back under Robby Albarado after the half and picked off rivals in the stretch to the surprise of Prado, but not to Albarado.

“They were going quick up front,” Albarado said. “We bided our time and let things unfold. We didn’t get by until three jumps from the wire but I knew I had him.”

“I can’t believe he got beat,” Prado said. “I knew [Lantana Mob] was gaining on me, but when I took the lead I though I was clear.”

Force Freeze hung on gamely to finish third, a length behind the runner-up.

Bred in Kentucky by Thomas/Burleson/Visagie, Lantana Mob has won five of nine career starts and earned $309,048. He is out of the Copelan mare Lantana.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Tom Law is managing editor of Thoroughbred Times