Driver Eric Abbatiello collected wins in a pair of $7,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres – one by seven lengths and the other by a head – on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at the harness racing meeting at Freehold Raceway.
In the first of the two trotting events, both prior to the betting card, Abbatiello guided Mountain Top [Muscle Hill] to a seven-length tally over Switchblade Hall [Muscles Yankee] in the three-year-old trotting colt division.
SS Poseidon [Muscle Hill] was nearly 26 lengths back in third.
The time for the mile was 2:01 flat.
Noel Daley trains the colt and co-owns with Mario Mazza of New Hope, PA.
Mountain Top has won two straight and has three wins, one second and two thirds in 15 starts this year. He has a lifetime bankroll of $61,570.
It was more of a battle in the two-year-old trotting colt division as Stayin Strong [Muscles Yankee] won by a head over Steed [Muscle Hill].
It was seven and a half lengths to Threeupthreedown [Muscle Hill] in third.
The Julie Miller trainee trotted the mile in 2:00.1.
Jason and Douglas Allen of Vincentown, NJ own Stayin Strong, who has three wins, one second and two thirds in nine starts for earnings of $27,114.
He has swept the three preliminary legs of the Green Acres, heading into the $25,000 final on Thursday, October 8, 2015.
Carol Hodes