by Carol Hodes, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Freehold, NJ — Lunar Dream OM, who defeated colts in the $90,000 Harold Dancer open trot, and One Tough Lass, who won the $67,150 Harold Dancer filly trot, will tangle Tuesday (September 25) in the $85,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for 2-year-old trotting fillies at Freehold Raceway.

The two daughters of Muscles Yankee have only met once before — in the second round of the New Jersey Sires Stakes on August 21. In that confrontation over a ‘sloppy’ track, Lunar Dream OM broke stride and finished sixth, while One Tough Lass crossed the line in fourth and was placed third.

Lunar Dream OM, who drew the rail and will be driven by Cat Manzi, has been given the slight nod as the 2-1 morning line favorite in the New Jersey Sires Stakes Final, carded as the second race.

Jim Pantaleano, who won with both fillies in their last starts, will be at the lines of One Tough Lass, who is leaving from post four in the field of five. One Tough Lass has early odds of 5-2.

Lunar Dream OM, trained by Jan Johnson, faced seven colts in the open division of the Harold Dancer on September 19 and was a 3-1/2 length winner in 2:00.1. It was the filly’s first win, along with two seconds, in eight career starts. She has earned $65,852 for owner-breeder Scuderia OM SRL (Alberto Elisii, Mario Micheli and Riccardo Targioni) of Bologna, Italy, in partnership with Scuderia Gardesana SRL (Filiberto Fraccari) of Verona, Italy.

One Tough Lass trotted her Harold Dancer filly mile on September 18 in 2:00 to post her second win, along with three thirds, from six starts. She has a career bankroll of $50,742. The Ross Croghan-trainee was acquired by Jon Ernder of Canonsburg, Pa., and William Neumeister of Bakersfield, Calif., on April 15, 2007.

All but one of the five finalists — Sierra Marvel (by Dream Vacation) — are daughters of Muscles Yankee.

The field for the $85,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for 2-year-old trotting fillies, from the rail out with driver, trainer and morning line odds: Lunar Dream OM, Cat Manzi, Jan Johnson, 2-1; Sierra Marvel, Alessandro Spano, Alessandro Spano, 9-2; Winbak Brat, Steve Smith, Linda Toscano, 3-1; One Tough Lass, Jim Pantaleano, Ross Croghan, 5-2; and Berry Nice Muscles, Jeff Gregory, Richard Norman, 5-1.