Lethal Combination Wins Saranac

Taking advantage of fast early fractions, Lethal Combination came on strong through the final yards to outkick Turf Melody and take Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac at Saratoga Race Course by a half-length.

Under Alan Garcia, Lethal Combination dawdled at the back of the pack as Devon Rock took the field of six 3-year-olds through an opening half in 46.49 and three-quarters in 1:10.79. Moving up on the turn, he swung five-wide straightening for home and closed resolutely on the outside to hit the wire in 1:53.18 for the 1 3/16 miles over the fast Mellon turf course.

“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,” said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “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.”

Favored Fantastico Roberto was three lengths back in third, followed by Mystic, Citrus Kid, and Devon Rock.

The victory was the second in six stateside starts for Lethal Combination, who began his career in England, and first in a graded stakes. Owned by Namcook Stables, he earned $60,000 for the win, lifting his bankroll to $131,575, and returned $8.60 for a $2 win bet.

The gelded son of Broken Vow, who earlier this year won an allowance race at Keeneland and finished third in the Grade 3 Hill Prince at Belmont Park on June 4, will likely be pointed next to the Grade 1 Jamaica at Belmont on Saturday, October 9.

“We’ll look at the Jamaica,” said McLaughlin. “It’s good timing. We might do that.”