School Board Prez overcomes bad start to win Tah Dah

Chicago-based filly School Board Prez collected her second straight stakes win shipping to Ohio by scoring a daylight victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Tah Dah Stakes for Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies at Belterra Park.

Despite her career debut victory in the Miss Ohio at ThistleDown a month ago, School Board Prez ($5.40) was second choice in the betting to first-time starter Cassie Lou, who opened at 1-5 and was sent off the 6-5 favorite on the basis of several swift workouts at the Churchill Downs Training Center. Cassie Lou, slow early, checked repeatedly down the backstretch while lacking racing room and never challenged while finishing seventh.

School Board Prez, ridden by Jerome Lermyte for trainer Doug Matthews and owner-breeder John Royer, managed to win despite going down to her knees leaving the gate. She was fourth, three lengths off the pace, through the first half-mile in 46.59 seconds. School Board Prez put her head in front of leader Purple Flowers at the eighth pole and drew clear by two lengths. She completed six furlongs in 1:11.68.

Purple Flowers, third in the Miss Ohio, easily held second, 4 1/4 lengths in front of last-out maiden winner Orientate to Love, a 32-1 longshot.