by Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ

Manalapan, NJ — 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 (Oct. 1) at Freehold Raceway.

Helene Gregory/World Wide Racing Photos

Mountain Top was a 2:01 winner for driver Eric Abbatiello.

In the first of the two trotting events, both prior to the betting card, Abbatiello guided Mountain Top (Muscle Hill-Diana Hall) to a seven length tally over Switchblade Hall (Muscles Yankee) in the 3-year-old trotting colt division. SS Poseidon (Muscle Hill) was nearly 26 lengths back in third. The time for the mile was 2:01.

Noel Daley trains the colt and co-owns with Mario Mazza. 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 2-year-old trotting colt division as Stayin Strong (Muscles Yankee-Loch Katrine) won by a head over Steed (Muscle Hill). It was 7-1/2 lengths to Threeupthreedown (Muscle Hill) in third. The Julie Miller trainee trotted the mile in 2:00.1.

Jason and Douglas Allen 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 (Oct. 8).