by Adam Packard, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA – The Meadows contested three divisions of the Keystone Classics for 3-year-old pacing colt and geldings, Saturday night. Armbro Damien, Keystone Eli and True North Hanover all won their divisions.

Armbro Damien, driven by Dave Palone, won the first division, in 1:51. The $90,000 yearling purchase and full brother to The One-Night Pan remained undefeated in the states after his victory in the first division of the $24,866 Keystone Classic event. “He impressed me more this week, and he got home in 27.2 with a little bit of a headwind, so that was pretty impressive,” mentioned driver Dave Palone. Last week Armbro Damien won a Pennsylvania Sire Stake at the Meadows, in a Stakes Record time of 1:50.4.

Sandro Hanover, trained by Mickey Burke, sat a nice pocket trip with driver Mike Wilder aboard and actually challenged in the stretch, but was no match for Armbro Damien. “I had no concerns,” Palone said about Sandro Hanover in the stretch.

Texas Shootout, also trained by Mickey Burke, finished third for driver Richard Stillings.

When asked if Armbro Damien has been the best 3-year-old Palone has driven this year, he replied by saying: “Not even close, he’s the best.”

The second division was won by the $5,500 yearling purchase Keystone Eli and driver Mike Wilder. “They told me to put him in a hole early, and that’s what I did. I didn’t want to come first up, but he paced a nice back half,” said Wilder. After a 27.1 third quarter and being first over, Keystone Eli would think to tire, but he had enough left to hold off the late close of Big Tim to win, in 1:54. “I didn’t pull the plugs till the stretch, so I knew I had some left and once I cleared Greg (Wright Jr.), he drew off,” Wilder said.

Big Tim was gaining on Keystone Eli but fell a little short for driver Richard Stillings and had to settle for the place spot. The Other Cheek finished third, for driver Ray Paver.

The third and final division was won by the Mickey Burke trainee True North Hanover and driver Mike Wilder, in 1:51.1. True North Hanover finished second in his last two efforts in the Max Hempt final at Pocono and a Pennsylvania Sire Stake last week at the Meadows, but repelled all challenges tonight, to set a new lifetime best time.

“I wanted to put my colt on the front against this bunch, and I knew Tony’s colt (Sand Gogh) was a nice colt, but I didn’t mind him being on my back because my horse is tough. Just look at his lines,” said Wilder. “Burke has a few good 3-year-olds this year, and this one ranks as one of his best.” The time of 1:51.1 was a National Seasons Record for 3-year-old gelding pacers.

Sand Gogh sat the pocket trip and could do no better than second for Tony Hall. Holy Moses closed nicely for Bill Zendt to pick up the show dough.

For more information about the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, visit the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania on-line, at www.standardbredbreederspa.org.