It took a long time for Moiras Bliss to get the lead but once she did, she refused to give it up and won the featured $5,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Scioto Downs on Friday night. She scored for driver Ryan Stahl in 1:53.3.
Noble Zena left alertly from the inside post position in the field of six, but she yielded to Shell I Attack soon after the opening panel in :27 seconds.
When the pace slowed during the second quarter in :29 seconds, Ryan Stahl had the 3-5 favourite Moiras Bliss out of fourth and moving toward the front. Shell I Attack refused to yield and the third quarter was covered in :28 seconds, but Moiras Bliss forged her way to the front as Shell I Attack faded.
Once in the stretch, Moiras Bliss had to hold off the late charge of Mindy Love Brown and driver Dan Noble, who fell a half-length short at the wire. Noble Zena held for third.
It was the fourth win in the last five starts for Moiras Bliss, who is trained by Gregory Straub. Driver Stahl owns the five-year-old mare in partnership with Nichole Gagnon. During the 2011 season, the Blissfull Hall mare has five wins in 13 starts.
Earlier in the program, Proud Yankee, a five-year-old son of Muscles Yankee, was the easiest kind of winner in the $5,500 Open Trot for Sandy Beatty in 1:55.4.
Too Good To Pass went to the front at the start for driver Dan Noble, and Beatty began a relentless march into contention during the second quarter.
Proud Yankee engaged Too Good To Pass with a quarter-mile remaining and the two trotters engaged in a brief stride-for-stride duel. Suddenly Too Good To Pass broke stride and the race was over. Proud Yankee coasted to a four and a quarter length win. J J Hall claimed second place while Near The Limit was third.
Proud Yankee was sent off as the odds-on choice and scored his second win in seven tries this season. All of his starts this season had been at Hoosier Park. The winner is trained by Danny Collins for Margaret Hobbs of South Carolina.
(With files from Scioto Downs)