Mountain Top drew off to a length and three-quarter victory, besting a trio of Ray Schnittker trainees in the $7,000 first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, in the third race and opening day feature at Freehold Raceway on Aug. 28.
Schnittker’s odds-on entry finished second (Broken Record), third (Switchblade Hall) and fourth (Cruzinwith Muscles) in the field of seven.
Mountain Top, trained and driven by Francisco Del Cid, benefited from a two-hole trip behind Broken Record, tipping out and going by in the stretch for the victory in 2:02.2.
The son of Muscle Hill — all the other starters were by Muscles Yankee — posted his first win in his eighth career start. The trotter has now banked $21,220 for owner Mario Mazza of Newton, Pa.
The first foal of Diana Hall was a $45,000 Harrisburg Yearling Sale purchase.