Vinery Stables’ Lantana Mob is the most likely choice in the $100,000 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (gr. III) at Pimlico May 17, which is why he’s been assigned the high weight of 122 in a nine-horse field. But several 3-year-olds looking for graded stakes-winning status could step up to provide a challenge in this Preakness undercard event.
The six-furlong Hirsch Jacobs does look to be right up Lantana Mob’s alley, especially considering thePossecolt’s April 6 score going the same distance in the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park. In that event, the Steve Asmussen trainee wore down the leader after tracking the pace, a running style that has brought him a 4-1-1 record from eight starts. In his two off-the-board finishes, Lantana Mob has been fourth – including a finish last October behind War Pass, Pyro, and Z Humor in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont. He was bred in Kentucky by Thomas, Burleson, and Visagie out of the Copelan mare Lantana.
None of the other entrants in the Hirsch Jacobs can boast a similar record, but Poindexter Thoroughbreds and Ronald Ellerbee’s Force Freeze may be on his way to building one. The Forest Camp colt has three wins and a second from four starts, including a definitive trouncing of his competition by 4 ½ lengths in an April 24 allowance event at Lone Star Park. He suffered his only defeat in the Bachelor, finishing one length behind Lantana Mob. He was bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Stables out of the It’s Freezing mare Antifreeze.
H. N. Glasser’s local runner Sheeler also has a shot in this event, coming off a 1 ½-length win in the Star de Naskra Stakes at Pimlico April 17. Dale Capuano trains the Dixie Unioncolt.
And Thomas Van Meter II and Phillip Maloof’s Silver Edition could factor in as well; he was the 4 1/2-length winner of an $61,900 allowance race at Churchill May 2, his second win from 10 starts for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The Silver Deputy colt has a 2-2-1 record that includes a runner-up finish to Smooth Air in the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) at the beginning of the year. He was fourth in the Swale Stakes (gr. II) behind Eaton’s Gift, and ran unplaced in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) behind Denis of Cork.
And Thomas Van Meter II and Phillip Maloof’s Silver Edition could factor in as well; he was the 4 1/2-length winner of an $61,900 allowance race at Churchill May 2, his second win from 10 starts for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The Silver Deputy colt has a 2-2-1 record that includes a runner-up finish to Smooth Air in the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) at the beginning of the year. He was fourth in the Swale Stakes (gr. II) behind Eaton’s Gift, and ran unplaced in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) behind Denis of Cork.
$100,000 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (gr. III, Race 9, approximate post 3:39 p.m.), six furlongs for 3-year-olds, dirt
PP, Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Commandeered, 116, Kent Desormeaux
2. Sheeler, 116, Erick Rodriguez
3. Lantana Mob, 122, Robby Albarado
4. Loveyouintheworld, 116, Malcolm Franklin
5. Izzy Speaking, 116, Jeremy Rose
6. Indy Joe, 116, Garrett Gomez
7. Shoe Freak Marlene, 116, Sylvester Joseph Carmouche, III
8. Force Freeze, 116, M. Clifton Berry
9. Silver Edition, 116, Edgar Prado
2. Sheeler, 116, Erick Rodriguez
3. Lantana Mob, 122, Robby Albarado
4. Loveyouintheworld, 116, Malcolm Franklin
5. Izzy Speaking, 116, Jeremy Rose
6. Indy Joe, 116, Garrett Gomez
7. Shoe Freak Marlene, 116, Sylvester Joseph Carmouche, III
8. Force Freeze, 116, M. Clifton Berry
9. Silver Edition, 116, Edgar Prado
