from Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ – Gusty tail winds helped propel a winning late rally by Lady Mattgalane in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final for 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Driven by Brian Sears, Lady Mattgalane capitalized on a third-over trip and flew home in 26.2 seconds to best Arts A Flutter by a neck in 1:51. Phyleon finished another length and three quarters behind the leaders.

Lisa Photo

Lady Mattgalane defeated Arts A Flutter in the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final for 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Lady Mattgalane picked up her second win in five starts this season. She was sent off the favorite in the $200,000 Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey two weeks ago, but finished third after a first-over attacking against the pacesetter and eventual winner, Current Hanover.

“She was really good tonight,” Sears said of Lady Mattgalane. “They threw up big numbers [fractions] in the Miss New Jersey. The fractions were right tonight; she was tight on her cover and got the job done. She’s a nice filly and hopefully has a prosperous year ahead of her.”

Greg Peck trains the daughter of Artiscape for owners Perretti Racing Stable of Cream Ridge, New Jersey and Clay and Scott Horner of Toronto, Ontario.

Prior to the start of the racing card, Mr Muscleman picked up right where he left off before his trip to Sweden with a 1:55 win in the $40,000 prep race for Titan Cup eligibles. The seven horses in the non-wagering event, plus Corleone Kosmos and Sand Vic, will return for the $240,000 Titan Cup Final on Friday, June 29.

The field marched through the opening quarter in post position order, with Roger Hammer and Vivid Photo at the lead. However, Ron Pierce was not content to sit behind them for long and hustled Mr Muscleman to the top in a 58.2 half. Vivid Photo squeezed through along the inside, but Mr Muscleman held him off by a head in a 26.2 charge to the wire. Swan Image finished third, a length behind the leaders.

“Usually when you go in these sort of prep races, the leader usually wins them,” said winning trainer Noel Daley. “[Vivid Photo] did just race last week, so I was happy to sit the two-hole tonight. It will be a different story when they’re going for real money.”

It was Mr Muscleman’s first race back on U.S. soil after finishing second in Sweden’s famed Elitlopp. The 7-year-old gelding has won 37 of 67 career starts and is four-for-six in 2007. Adam Victor & Son Stable of New York, NY own the 2005 Trotter of the Year. Mr Muscleman is the sport’s richest standardbred in training with a bankroll of $3.5 million in earnings.