Young America

Conquistarose, closing powerfully through the stretch at the Meadowlands Racetrack, tracked down front-running Damascus Drama near the wire to win the $500,000 Young America Stakes by a half-length last night in East Rutherford, N.J. Damascus Drama, who had burst ahead early and led by three lengths at the one-eighth pole, finished second in the field of nine 2-year-olds. Finishing third was Philadelphia Park-based Win Dusty Win, who was 1 1/2 lengths behind Damascus Drama. Sent off as the even-money favorite, Conquistarose paid $4, $2.40 and $2.40.

A mentor can lift a struggling youngster toward a better life. That's why leaders in the field vowed two years ago to double the number of mentors in the United States by 2010. The bad news from the Census Bureau is that mentoring is not on track to double by then - not even close. In 2006, about two million adults mentored a young person for an hour or more per week and for at least the duration of a school year. Today, there are only about 160,000 more such mentors, and the Census Bureau projects slower growth from now until 2010.

Want a free sewing lesson? The American Home Sewing & Craft Association is offering a free lesson in September to anyone who requests one. It's all part of Sew America, a monthlong promotion to encourage home sewing and to interest people in making their own clothes or home accessories. Dorothy Eckes, an area spokesman for the association, said she hoped Sew America "will create a whole new generation of people who know how to sew. " Eckes, who operates Making It Sewing Workshops, a sewing school in Northeast Philadelphia, is helping to coordinate free sewing lessons as well as other Sew America activities in Philadelphia.

Dennis Conner lost a race and issued a warning yesterday. "The America's Cup isn't over with one loss," the defending skipper said. Which is good, considering Team New Zealand opened the best-of-nine series for the world's oldest international sporting trophy with a 2-minute, 45- second victory yesterday in brisk winds and rough seas off the Southern California coast. Even in sailing, the margin was lopsided. Team New Zealand gained on five of the six legs of the 18.5-mile windward- leeward course.

For 15 minutes yesterday, Dennis Conner's borrowed Young America led Team New Zealand's Black Magic, marking the first time in the 29th defense of the America's Cup that the challenger has trailed. When the boats crossed half-way up the first leg of the fourth race, Young America was two boat lengths ahead. But when the two next crossed eight minutes later, Team New Zealand's boat led by eight lengths. Aboard Young America, tactician Tom Whidden took a bearing on the Kiwis' vanishing transom and said, "That is some fast boat.

America's Cup struggled past the sinking of oneAustralia. It got past the capsizing of France 2. And the near-sinking of Stars & Stripes and Young America. And the fog-shrouded intrusion by the nuclear-powered carrier Abraham Lincoln. And 18 days of weather-related cancellations. And a man sailing on the "all-women" crew. Plus all the intrigue and compromise of Mideast peace negotiations. Somehow, it's down to two boats - a challenger and a defender, although not the boat that won the San Diego Yacht Club's trials.

Two separate but related exhibits at the Delaware Art Museum bring to light the connection between creativity and the American spirit. "Young America: Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum" brings together 54 major paintings and sculptures that span the new nation's first century, from the 1760s to the 1870s. The theme of unbridled optimism and national self-awareness can be seen in nearly every painting in the exhibit, from portraits of confident sea captains (one by a black itinerant painter)

Forgive Dave Pedrick if he's a little upset with the way things are going right now. Pedrick is the Philadelphia-area native who designed Stars & Stripes, the boat that lifted Dennis Conner from sure defeat and sailed him into the finals of the America's Cup two weeks ago. Now his sloop has been beached while Conner sails another boat, Young America, right back to the brink of defeat. In the first three races of the best-of-nine series, Conner has lost to Team New Zealand and its boat, Black Magic.

From desperation to dominance, Dennis Conner's remarkable comeback continued yesterday as the veteran skipper took control of the America's Cup defender finals in San Diego. Conner's Stars & Stripes gained both from the shifty wind and America3's mistakes to beat Mighty Mary by 1 minute, 2 seconds. That gave Stars & Stripes its first outright lead in the three-boat finals and pushed America3's mostly women's crew within one loss of elimination. Stars & Stripes leads the Citizen Cup finals with five points, followed by PACT 95's Young America with four points and Mighty Mary with three.

America3's previously all-woman team may have sailed its last race in the America's Cup trials off San Diego. Dennis Conner's status was in doubt, too, as an international jury met last night to hear three protests from rival America3. Kevin Mahaney's Young America, which has clinched the first spot in the Citizen Cup defender finals, won by 1:11 over America3's Mighty Mary, which is sailed by 15 women and tactician Dave Dellenbaugh. That kept Conner's Stars & Stripes ahead of Mighty Mary, 3-2, with three racing days left.