Unlike a year ago, when trainer George Weaver saw No Nay Mets cruise to a 5½-length victory in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park, Saturday’s victory in the same race proved to be anything but easy, despite Governor Sam’s 3-10 favoritism.

Locked in a nose to nose duel for the final sixteenth of a mile with 30-1 longshot Jet Sweep Joe, Governor Sam was able to prevail at the wire for a neck victory in the 83^rd running of the $100,000 Tyro Stakes.

The winning time for the five furlongs over a turf course listed as firm was :56.15.

Owned by Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (Bregman Family Racing) and Swingbank Stables, Governor Sam followed his maiden special weight score at Saratoga two weeks ago with the Tyro win. Bregman is also the part-owner of No Nay Mets.

Ridden by Paco Lopez, Governor Sam, a son of Improbable-I’m Betty by Into Mischief, paid $2.60 to win in the field of six 2-year-olds.

“I did not really like the trip,” said Lopez. “He was hanging out a little bit and I just let him go. It was a good thing it was just the (longshot Jet Sweep Joe) with no one else really close. We needed a good trip.”

Lopez had Governor Sam in a stalking position on the rail behind dueling leaders Johnny Come Lately and Jet Sweep Joe, as those two carved out fractions of :21.05 for the opening quarter and :44.17 to the half.

Lopez moved Governor Sam three-wide coming out of the final turn, with the Wesley Ward-trained Johnny Come Lately soon backing out of the fray, leaving only Governor Sam and Jet Sweep Joe to do battle.

“He’s a fighting horse and (Jet Sweep Joe) made us fight,” said Lopez. “Anything can happen in racing. Sometimes a horse just races unbelievable. (Jet Sweep Joe) ran really great today.”

Jet Sweep Joe, trained by Paul McEntee and ridden by Joseph Bealmear, finished four lengths ahead of Kirin.