Saint Damien Scores In OBS Championship Stakes

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Trainer Kenny McPeek was dreaming of a Triple Crown campaign after Saint Damien fought off a late bid from Saved by the Sword to win the colts and geldings division of the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes. In a steady rain Monday in Ocala, Fla., the 3-year-old son of Saint Ballado -- Wife Begone completed the 1 1/16 miles in the slop in 1:47 3/5. The winning rider was Edgar Prado.

Owned by Victoria Racing Stable, Saint Damien is scheduled to run next in the Illinois Derby or the Blue Grass Stakes.

"I think he will play a role in the Triple Crown before it is over with," McPeek said.

Saint Damien has now won two of five lifetime starts. In his last outing prior to the OBS Championship, he finished fourth in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. McPeek ran the colt in Ocala even though jockey Pat Day had told the trainer never to run the colt in the mud again after finishing second aboard Saint Damien in an allowance race last year at Keeneland. However, the colt was doing so well in his training that McPeek decided not to scratch him.

In the fillies division of the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes, James Lewis Jr.'s Sea Mist challenged for the lead leaving the second turn, then outfinished Miss Annie Bea to win by a length. Ridden by Jorge Chavez, the 3-year-old daughter of Mecke -- Herat's Tune stopped the clock in 1:48 4/5 seconds at the end of the 1 1/16 miles. She is trained by Emanuel Tortora.

The victories by Saint Damien and Sea Mist were the highlights of a seven-race program that was conducted by the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company at its training track and off-track betting facility. Most of the races were restricted to horses that have been offered at OBS sales. The results of the other events were as follows:

Harry T. Mangurian Jr.'s homebred Dark Ending surged to the front in midstretch to win the fillies' division of the $50,000 OBS Sprint Stakes by two lengths. Ridden by Patrick Husbands, the 3-year-old daughter of End Sweep covered the six furlongs in 1:14 3/5. The winning trainer was Mark Casse.

Prestonwood Farm's Antsinmypants battled Condensed Version for the lead, then pulled away in the stretch to capture the colts and geldings division of the $50,000 OBS Sprint Stakes. Ridden by Chavez, the 3-year-old Meadow Flight colt completed the six furlongs in 1:13 1/5. The winning trainer was Elliott Walden.

H. O. Racing Stables' Standard Sylvia swung four-wide in the turn, then wore down Beau Dancer in the stretch to take the $35,000 Florida Thoroughbred Charities Stakes by a half-length. Ridden by Julio Garcia, the 7-year-old gelded son of Prospector's Halo covered the five furlongs in :59 3/5. The winning trainer was Miguel Rivera, who rode Little Current to victory in the 1974 Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

John Barberino's Mr. Radioactive made late move on the outside to score in the $10,000 Suntrust Starter Handicap. Ridden by Prado, the 11-year-old Mt. Livermore gelding completed the five furlongs in 1:00 1/5. The winning trainer was Gino Passero.

Francis McDonnell's homebred Pic a Lil cruised on the lead to a six-length victory in the $35,000 Florida Breeders' Distaff Stakes. Ridden by Chavez, the 5-year-old daughter of Loach covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47 3/5.

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