Mint Lane Cruises in Postponed Stakes

With the heavy money going on the highly touted maiden winner Unbridled’s Heart, it was the stakes-placed Mint Lane who took control of the 1 1/16-mile Postponed Stakes at Belmont Friday and cruised to a 5 3/4-length victory.

Unbridled’s Heart, winner of his only start by 10 lengths, was bet down to 3-5, but it was the proven class of Mint Lane that prevailed, as the son of Maria’s Mon led every step of the way, while Unbridled’s Heart was unable to overcome a poor start, finishing third.

Mint Lane already had two runaway victories at Aqueduct this year before getting beat a head by Icabad Crane in the Federico Tesio Stakes and running second to Casino Drive in the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) in his most recent start.

Under Eibar Coa, Mint Lane, second choice at 2-1, cut out fractions of :47.49 and 1:11.70 before drawing off to a decisive score in a sharp 1:42.67. Owned by Pinebloom Stable and trained by Jimmy Jerkens, Mint Lane, a $270,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, has now won three of eight starts and seems to be improving with every race.

Unbridled’s Heart, who romped in his debut for Tom Albertrani, was then turned over to Rick Mettee, assistant to Saeed bin Suroor, and transferred from Darley Stable to Godolphin.

After breaking poorly, he was steered to the inside by Javier Castellano, but never fired after a gaping hole opened along the rail turning for home. The Nick Zito-trained Admiralty took the place spot, three-quarters of a length before Unbridled’s Heart in the five-horse field.