by Carol Hodes, for the New Jersey Sires Stakes

Freehold, NJ — Lunar Dream OM trotted a lifetime best 1:59.2 to win the $85,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final for 2-year-old fillies on Tuesday (September 25) at Freehold Raceway.

The Muscles Yankee filly won the $90,000 open division of the Harold Dancer Trot in her last start on September 19, defeating colts, and now has two straight wins along with two seconds from nine starts.

The featured second race victory pushed her earnings over the $100,000 mark 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.

Lunar Dream OM ($4.20, $3.00, $2.20) popped the pocket at the three-quarters, took the lead near the top of the stretch and drew off to a 2-1/4 length victory over another daughter of Muscles Yankee, Berry Nice Muscles ($13.80, $2.60), who closed from the back of the pack. It was five lengths back to the Dream Vacation filly Sierra Marvel ($2.10) in third. Winbak Brat, who cut the mile, faded to fourth.

Trained by Jan Johnson, Lunar Dream OM was handled for the first time by Cat Manzi, who picked up the drive when Jim Pantaleano opted for One Tough Lass, who had previously won the filly division of the Harold Dancer. She finished last in the field of five in the NJSS Final.

Manzi was also at the lines of both winners in a pair of $10,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Green Acres events for 3-year-old trotting fillies, carded as the first and fourth races.

Manzi first scored with the Chris Ryder-trained Spinning Class (Muscles Yankee–Timberlassie), a full sister to One Tough Lass, in 1:59.4. In the fourth race, he guided Mala Barbara (Malabar Man–Linnie B) to her third straight win. he Arild Eggen protégé trotted a lifetime best of 1:59 flat.