Combustion became the ninth rookie to have a sub-1:50 mark this year by winning the last of three $99,700 International Stallion Stakes dashes for pacing colts and geldings in 1:49 3/5. Handlelikeaporsche and Mamba captured the other groupings. Bamboozler (Brian Sears) went to the lead and then was unrateable, posting wild panels of 26, 52, and 1:20 2/5. Bamboozler was empty past three-quarters and gave way to a first-up Ammo (David Miller), and he was tracked by Combustion (Todd McCarthy) from second-over. McCarthy waited until the stretch to angle off Miller's helmet, but once he did, Combustion had the better kick through the drive and got up to tally by half a length. Admiral Hill (Dexter Dunn) gained to take third. The victorious Captaintreacherous colt was bred by Brittany Farms and is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Diamond Creek Racing, Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon, and Cooper Silva Stables. Combustion, a $260,000 acquisition at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale a year ago, made his fifth trip to the winner's circle from six tries, has now put away $113,350, and returned $7.16 to win as the 5-2 second choice. "I thought it set up really well," said Shaun Laungani, Diamond Creek Farm's Vice-President and Director of Bloodstock Services. "I turned to Marcus Johansson our racing manager and asked 'Do we need cover?' and he said 'Nope.' But we got it even still. The setup couldn’t have worked out even better." Handlelikeaporsche (Dunn), coming off a Bluegrass Series win a week ago, took over the lead past the 27 4/5 opening quarter in the first division, and after clicking off middle-half stations of 56 2/5 and 1:24, a 26 1/5 kicker got him to the wire a length and three-quarters ahead of Surfside Beach (Tim Tetrick) in 1:50 1/5. Ken Hanover (D. Miller) closed well for third. A colt from the first crop of Lazarus, Handlelikeaporsche is also co-owned by trainer Chris Ryder in partnership with William Ezzo, Robert Mondillo, and Barry Spak. Bred by M.K. and Kathryn Weed, Handlelikeaporsche was a $100,000 Standardbred Horse Sale buy last year. He has compiled a record of 3-3-0 from six appearances, has pocketed $228,850, and paid $2.14 to win as the 1-9 favorite. "It's tough when you're 1-9...it makes the trainer a little nervous," Ryder said after the race. "Dexter was happy with him, so we got the job done." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter The middle split saw Mamba (Joe Bongiorno) yield to Ervin Hanover (D. Miller) early on and stalk that rival from the pocket through fractions of 28, 56 3/5, and 1:24 1/5. In the lane Ervin Hanover, a first-over Save America (Yannick Gingras), and a pylon-skimming Mamba would duke it out, and at the wire it was Mamba getting the victory by a head over Save America in 1:51. Goldin Greatness (Dunn) powered from eighth to third in the last quarter. Travis Alexander trains Mamba, a Sweet Lou gelding bred by Diamond Creek Farm, for owners M Spacc Stables, Fiddler's Creek Stables LLC., D'Elegance Stable Ix, and T L P Stable. Mamba, who fetched $80,000 from prior connections at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, now has a pair of victories, three seconds, and a third from 11 efforts, pushed his earnings to $123,430, and returned $56.40 to win after being dispatched at 27-1. "[We've had this horse] three weeks [and he's improving] each and every start," Alexander said after the race of Mamba, whom he recently purchase online for $62,000 through Preferred Equine Online. "He's a nice horse, just needed the time. [I] loved the trip, Joey drove him well. I told him to be aggressive. We liked the colt, we made some changes when we bought him, and they worked." --quotes gathered by Ray Cotolo--