by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Moonlit Dance sustained a first-over charge for the final half-mile, passing Divine Caroline in the stretch to win Saturday’s (July 18) $207,350 Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old female pacers by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:49 at the Meadowlands.

Divine Caroline finished second and Band Of Angels, who won last week’s lone elimination by a nose over Moonlit Dance, was third. The time was one-fifth of a second off the stakes record.

Lisa photo

Moonlit Dance rallied in the lane to win the Mistletoe Shalee on Saturday.

Bettor Be Steppin, leaving from post nine, took the early lead with a :26.3 opening quarter-mile, but yielded to Divine Caroline prior to reaching the half in :54.3.

At that point, Moonlit Dance and driver David Miller — who started from post 10 — were on the move from fourth place and pulled into second place as Divine Caroline led the field to three-quarters in 1:21.3. Moonlit Dance maintained her momentum through the stretch to get the win.

“I can’t say enough about her,” Miller said. “She took a very tough trip and still had horse left. It was not a great trip at all. She overcame my drive.”

With the triumph, Miller moved into third place on the career list for driver earnings, passing Mike Lachance, with more than $190.7 million.

“That’s quite an honor, to do something like that,” Miller said. “Mike has been a top, top driver for so many years. It’s quite an honor for me.”

Moonlit Dance is owned by the David Goodrow Stable and is trained by Tony O’Sullivan. A daughter of Art Major-Gone Dancing, she has won five of 14 races this year and earned $187,781.

Moonlit Dance, sent off at 7-1 odds, paid $17 to win.