Meadowlands: Moonlit Dance grinds by in Mistletoe Shalee Final

Moonlit Dance sustained a first-over charge for the final half-mile, passing Divine Caroline in the stretch to win Saturday’s $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.

Bettor Be Steppin, leaving from post nine, took the early lead with a :26 3/5 opening quarter-mile, but yielded to Divine Caroline prior to reaching the half in :54 3/5.

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 as Divine Caroline led the field to three-quarters in 1:21 3/5. 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 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.

--Courtesy Harness Racing Communications

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