by Evan Pattak for The Meadows

MEADOW LANDS, PA, May 13, 2006—Armbro Dancer, last year’s Pennsylvania freshman filly pacing champion, served notice Saturday night that she has no intention of being dethroned, speeding to a stake record 1:53 in the $102,608 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 3-year-old filly pacers at The Meadows.

The stake, known as the Adios Betty, was contested in four divisions. Up Front Lady, Heavenly Beauty and Bijou Hall captured the other splits. Dave Palone won three of the divisions—with Armbro Dancer, Up Front Lady and Bijou Hall – en route to seven consecutive victories, one shy of the single-program mark of Stephane Bouchard.

A daughter of Blissful Hall, Armbro Dancer banked $178,028 at 2, finishing second in the Matron. But she hadn’t raced since the Matron and was making her first start on Lasix. Palone sent the 1-5 favorite to the lead, eventually giving way to Marvelous Melissia in a sizzling :26.4

But when Palone retook, no other challenger materialized. Armbro Dancer drew off to win by 3-3/4 lengths. Her time bettered the old stake mark of 1:53.3 established by Puss and Boots, with Brett Miller aboard, in 2003.

“I think she needed the start,” Palone said. “She’s a big filly, and these big fillies will need a couple starts. No worries with her. I’d like to have a dozen like her.

“You haven’t seen her best. When she goes against the best, I don’t think she’s the type that can go down the road. She’ll pace her best game from out of a hole. But in the sire stakes when she lays over them, you might as well just stretch her down the road.”

Just Great finished second, while Winbak Isabella rallied for show. Jimmy Takter trains Armbro Dancer for Louie J. Camara.

Up Front Lady, a lightly raced Dragon Again filly trained by Kelly O’Donnell for C. Ed Mullinax, was making only her fifth career start and her first in stakes company. She enjoyed a two-hole trip for Palone, then powered from the pocket around the final turn to win in 1:53.3 by 1-3/4 lengths over Leavea Smile, with Queen Teen finishing third. She also survived an inquiry for possible interference related to that move off the pylons.

“I think they were being careful with her last year,” Palone said. “She got started late. I know she had some early gate problems. She’s come back bigger and stronger and more confident this year. By the end of the season she might be the best of the Pennsylvania group.”

Heavenly Beauty sat in behind dueling leaders Blue Ocean Hanover and Delightful Hope, who cut a wicked half in 54:4, but driver Greg Grismore was concerned that the battle would tire his filly as well.

“”That’s the most she’s ever gone, and I was a little worried,” Grismore said. “But when I popped her out of the hole, she was strong, so I was pretty confident going into the last turn.”

Although Heavenly Beauty came home in a slowish :30.3 to complete a 1:54.4 mile, she was six lengths better than Maremma Hanover. Lucy B Fox was third.

Scott Cox, who trains Heavenly Beauty for Donald Glenny and William Ruggiero, said the filly will follow a primarily regional schedule this season.

“She had some health problems at 2, and we had to quit with her,” Cox said. “But she’s coming. She still has a lot to learn. She’s a little behind the others.”

Bijou Hall emerged from a wall of horses around the final turn to take her split in 1:55.1. Kyoto’s Express was 3-1/4 lengths back in second, with Rosa Villa saving the show. Mark Harder trains Bijou Hall for Deena Frost, Sampson Street Stable, Jerry Silva and TLP Stable.

ADIOS BETTY NOTES . . . The stake proved a great showcase for the stallion Blissful Hall, whose daughters—Bijou Hall, Armbro Dancer, Heavenly Beauty—took three splits . . . More information about the PA Sires Stake program is available at the Web site of the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania, www.standardbredbreederspa.org