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Combination produces Lethal late kick in Saranac Assisted by a taxing early pace, Namcook Stables' LETHAL COMBINATION (Broken Vow) uncorked a last-to-first charge in Sunday's $100,000 Saranac S. (G3), and in the process, bucked the recent trend against deep closers on the Saratoga turf. With Alan Garcia aboard, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee outkicked Turf Melody (Maria's Mon) by a half-length to record his first stakes victory. Lethal Combination returned $8.60, $4.60 and $2.90 as the 3-1 third choice in the six-horse field. An honest tempo appeared on tap when Devon Rock (Rock Hard Ten) and 9-5 favorite Fantastico Roberto (Ire) (Refuse to Bend [Ire]) matched strides right out of the gate. Although Fantastico Roberto conceded the lead leaving the first turn and tucked into second, Devon Rock kept winging through fractions of :23 1/5, :46 2/5 and 1:10 3/5. Lethal Combination was content to trail, several lengths behind the field. Devon Rock was still in command entering the stretch, but after passing the mile mark in 1:35 1/5, the longtime leader was spent. His five rivals were spread out across the course as they descended to the attack -- Turf Melody and Lethal Combination on the outside, Fantastico Roberto and Mystic (Unbridled's Song) in the middle, and a hedge-hugging Citrus Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) angling to slice up the inside. A retreating Devon Rock ended Citrus Kid's hopes of threading the needle. Slamming into the hedge, Citrus Kid was forced to take up and never recovered. Meanwhile, the momentum was clearly with the outermost pair. Turf Melody put his head in front, but Lethal Combination was glued to his flank, and the two dueled to the finish. Under a drive, Lethal Combination got the upper hand late, mastering his opponent in a final time of 1:53 for 1 3/16 miles on the firm turf. "I had a good trip," Garcia said. "With them going :46 and change the first part of the race, it was very quick. My horse was calm and relaxed, but when it was time to make a move he started to pick it up and pick it up. He came home fast." "It's been speed, speed, speed, but luckily a couple of them thought the same thing and went fast and set it up for us," McLaughlin said. "We wanted to be a little closer to the pace, but the horse didn't cooperate, so Alan rode a great race. He sat back and made a nice run, so it worked out. I was happy that the fractions kept coming up fast. Three-quarters in 1:10 going this far was nice to see. We thought he could handle the distance if he got the pace. He's a nice little horse -- does everything right." Turf Melody, the longest shot on the board at 11-1, paid $8.50 and $3.40 and ended the $68 exacta. Another three lengths back came Fantastico Roberto, who headed Mystic for third. The public's choice provided $2.70 to show and wrapped up the $205.50 trifecta (3-1-2). Citrus Kid crossed the wire a further 4 1/2 lengths adrift in fifth, followed by Devon Rock. Lethal Combination improved his resume to 11-4-0-2, $131,575. The dark bay gelding began his career in England, where he won two of five starts for William Haggas. Sold for $171,601 at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training sale, Lethal Combination was repatriated to the United States and joined McLaughlin. He finished sixth in the Palm Beach S. (G3) in his American debut, but won an allowance at Keeneland next time out. Lethal Combination had been knocking on the door in stakes company ever since, checking in fourth in the Lamplighter S., third to stablemate Krypton (Rock Hard Ten) in the Hill Prince S. (G3) and a close fourth in the July 29 Quick Call S. last time out. Bred by Indian Creek in Kentucky, Lethal Combination first brought $110,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He is the first registered foal from the Boundary mare Yard, whose only subsequent offspring is an unraced juvenile colt named Edyard (Eddington). Yard is a half-sister to Grade 2-placed Banshee Winds (Known Fact), the dam of 1998 champion three-year-old filly and $2.7 million-earner Banshee Breeze (Unbridled). This is also the family of Group 1-winning stakes producer and classic-placed All at Sea (Riverman); French Group 1 victress Passage of Time (GB) (Dansili [GB]); multiple Group 1 star and English highweight Twice Over (GB) (Observatory), who just finished third in Saturday's Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1); and Hall of Famer Damascus (Sword Dancer). "We'll look at the Jamaica ([G1] on October 9 at Belmont Park)," McLaughlin said of his next objective. "It's good timing. We might do that."
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