NEWS
Strong pace, added distance a Lethal Combination in Saranac
Posted: Sunday, September 05, 2010 6:39 PM
LETHAL COMBINATION
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
To view the Saranac Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
Lethal Combination outfinished Turf Melody in the $100,000 Saranac Stakes (G3) on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course to secure his first career stakes win.
The Broken Vow gelding surged past pacesetter Devon Rock in the stretch with Turf Melody accelerating gamely to his inside. The dueling duo shook free of the rest of the Saranac field and charged to the finish line, with Lethal Combination edging away in the closing strides of a half-length win.
Reserved in last early behind a strong pace, Lethal Combination covered 1 3/16 miles in 1:53.18 on firm turf under Alan Garcia to improve to four wins from 11 starts. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for owner Namcook Stables, Lethal Combination boosted his earnings to $131,575 while stretching out to 1 3/16 miles for the first time.
“We thought he could handle the distance if he got the pace,” McLaughlin said. “He’s a nice little horse—does everything right. We’ll look at the Jamaica [Handicap (G1) on October 9 at Belmont Park]. It’s good timing."
Turf Melody was three lengths clear of third-place finisher Fantastico Roberto (Ire), who edged Mystic by a head
After a third-place finish in the Hill Prince Stakes (G3) and a fourth-place finish, beaten by a length, in the Quick Call Stakes, both at a mile, Lethal Combination broke through when stretching out beyond 1 1/8 miles for the first time in the Saranac.
Devon Rock set a swift pace, rolling through a half-mile in :46.49 and six furlongs in 1:10.79. Fantastico Roberto stalked from second, while Turf Melody and Mystic Kid tracked in fourth and fifth, respectively, with a big gap back to Lethal Combination.
“With them going :46 and change the first part of the race, it was very quick,” Garcia said. “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.”
Lethal Combination launched his winning bid from three wide on the turn and surged to the lead from the outside in the final furlong for the breakthrough stakes win.
“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.”
Bred in Kentucky by Indian Creek, Lethal Combination is the first starter out of the Boundary mare Yard from the family of 1998 champion three-year-old filly Banshee Breeze and Group 1 winner All At Sea.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
