Damien rolls in PASS action

Armbro Damien stretched his winning streak to six with a 1:50.3 victory in the second of four Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Friday afternoon. With Dave Palone driving, the overwhelming 1-9 favorite Armbro Damien defeated Sandro Hanover and Disco Dragon in the $25,690 split for his seventh victory overall in 13 starts this year.

Bred by Armstrong Bros., Armbro Damien is a son of Western Hanover out of the mare Armbro Romance, who won the 1998 Jugette and Tarport Hap. Armbro Damien was a $90,000 yearling purchase by trainer Bob McIntosh's McIntosh Stables, CSX Stables, Michael Kohler and Paradox Farm.

The opening $26,091 split went to 6-5 choice Sand Gogh and driver Tony Hall in a career-best 1:50.4. Finishing second was Keystone Eli with Carr's Character third.

Bred by Alfred Henry Hansen, Sand Gogh is owned by Bill Sanders and trained by Tye Loy. A son of Real Artist, the win was Sand Gogh's third in six starts this year.

Sea Dragon led wire to wire to capture the third $25,690 PASS split for driver David Miller. The gelded son of Dragon Again posted fractions of :27, :57 and 1:24.4 from the inside post before kicking home in :28 flat, just holding off a late rally from the pocket-sitting Master The Art and driver Kevin Sizer by a nose in 1:52.4. Up Front Danny Boy took third.

A $100,000 yearling purchase by Canamerica Capital Corp., Diversity Stable and Lindy Farms of Conn. from breeder Armstrong Bros., Sea Dragon missed his career best--set in his first start of 2006 at the Meadowlands May 4--by just one-fifth of a second. Although he overcame post 10 in that initial outing, in his three subsequent starts he lined up in post seven twice and post six once and was unable to earn a check all three outings. Leaving from the rail this time around the Chris Ryder trainee took no prisoners as he won for the fourth time in 16 career attempts.

True North Hanover won easily in the last division for his fifth win in seven starts this year. Mike Wilder put True North Hanover, trained by Mickey Burke, on the lead and paced away late in 1:52:1. Hamilton was second and Sahara Hall third.

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