Eric Abbatiello piloted both winners – Mountain Top and Stayin Strong – in a pair of $7,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Green Acres on Thursday at Freehold Raceway.
Both were contested as non-wagering events prior to the program.
In the three-year-old trotting colt division, only two went to post and Mountain Top prevailed by three quarters of a length over SS Poseidon, driven by Steve Smith, in a 1:59.2 mile. Both entrants are sons of Muscle Hill.
Mountain Top, trained by Noel Daley, posted his second win of the year and has finished in-the-money in five of 14 starts this year. He was third in last week’s $50,500 Charles Smith Trot. He has banked more than $55,000 lifetime for Mario Mazza of New Hope, PA and Daley.
Stayin Strong [Muscles Yankee] made it two straight in Green Acres competition for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Threeupthreedown [Muscle Hill], also driven by Smith. Inukchuk Chuck [Muscles Yankee] was third by three and a half lengths. While Steed [Muscle Hill], the Harold Dancer, broke and finished last in the field of four.
Stayin Strong, trained by Julie Miller, trotted the mile in 2:00.1.
James and Douglas Allen of Vincentown, NJ own Stayin Strong who has two wins, one second and two thirds in eight starts for earnings of $23,264.
The New Jersey Sire Stakes Green Acres continue on Friday with splits for two and three-year-old trotting fillies.
Saturday’s card features pacers with eight entrants in the $37,500 New Jersey Futurity, sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey, for three-year-old New Jersey-sired colts and fillies [the eighth race]. There will also be a pair of Lou Babic Memorials, sponsored by the New Jersey Sire Stakes.
The $56,000 Lou Babic for two-year-old pacing fillies will be a non-wagering contest while the $85,400 Lou Babic for two-year-old pacing colts is the sixth race of the day.
(SBOANJ)