After being sidelined for over two months following an accident at Freehold Raceway in late-October, trainer/driver Eric Abbatiello is set to make his return
to the track on Thursday.
The resident of East Windsor, New Jersey, who was expected to be in recovery for six months, is scheduled to drive three of his horses in Thursday morning's qualifiers at Freehold. Abbatiello is also listed to drive three of his trainees on Saturday at Yonkers Raceway including Perdition in the $24,000 Preferred Pace.
Abbatiello suffered a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, multiple broken ribs, a broken collarbone and injuries to his shoulder in the accident on October 24 involving fellow horsemen George Brennan and Jason Bartlett, who both returned to racing the following night.
Abbatiello, the son of legendary driver "The Red Man" Carmine Abbatiello, recorded his best money-earning seasons for both training and driving in 2008. With 139 driving wins, Abbatiello earned over $1.6 million in purses. The 40-year-old horseman, who sent 72 winners postward from his barn, earned over $1.4 million as trainer.
Click here to view Saturday's entries at Yonkers.