Driver Ryan Stahl didn’t get the trip he wanted in the $42,000 Ohio’s First Lady Pace at Scioto Downs on Friday night, but his courageous filly Special Lady D overcame adversity to win by a length in 1:53.4.

The 4-5 favourite, trained by Brian Brown, grabbed the lead entering the final quarter. When Standing Danette and driver Dan Noble drew even with entering the stretch, it looked as Special Lady D was a beaten filly. But she wasn’t ready to accept defeat.

“She was really gutsy tonight the way she fought back,” said Stahl after the race. “This wasn’t the trip that Brian and I wanted, but he still got it done.”

The daughter of Stand Forever is owned by Country Club Acres, William Robinson, and Daniel Wozniak. She won her third straight race and fourth in 10 starts this year.

Letsgoalltheway finished third for Chris Page.

Stahl also won a split of the Governor’s Cup Trot for three-year-olds with Cody Coy, who rebuffed the even-money favourite Count Me In during a terrific stretch duel. Masters Fly Trap nipped Count Me In for the place in the 1:57.3 mile.

“They [Cody Coy and Count Me In] were both getting a little tired at the end,” said Stahl.

Cody Coy had good reason to be tired as he was caught three-wide at the first quarter in :27.4, then stepped to the front before the half-mile marker was reached.

The win was the fifth in 12 starts this season for the son of Full Count, who is trained by Dale Edwards for owner Chris Easterday.

Stahl wasn’t so lucky in the other division of the Governor’s Cup. He was behind Its Jesse Time, the 1-5 favorite, who broke stride early and was never in the race. That divison went to We Belong Together, driven by David Myers to an upset at odds of 39-1.

While fast fractions were set by Countmymuscles and Al Brown, Myers had We Belong Together safely back in fifth place. He was the fresh horse in the stretch and won by a neck in 1:57.4.

The win was the third in 10 tries this season for the son of Jailhouse Jesse, who is trained and owned by Theodore Gawron of Florida.

Perhaps the most impressive winner of the evening was Heza Rube, a six-length winner in the $40,400 Ohio State Trot for freshman males. He started from post nine with Kurt Sugg driving for trainer Marty Wollam and breeder-owner Bob Troyer.

“He doesn’t act like a two-year-old trotter,” said Sugg after the race. “He’s so mature.”

Heza Rube, a son of Master Lavec, is now unbeaten in four starts and the time of 2:00.1 was his best.

Chet N Sparky trailed the winner all the way around the track to finish second while Buzzen Troubador was third.

(Scioto Downs)