Eric Abbatiello piloted both winners — Mountain Top and Stayin Strong — in a pair of $7,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres Sept. 24 at Freehold Raceway.
Both were contested as non-wagering events prior to the program.
In the 3-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, Pennsylvania, and Daley.
Stayin Strong (Muscles Yankee) made it two straight in Green Acres competition for 2-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, own Stayin Strong, which has two wins, one second and two thirds in eight starts for earnings of $23,264.
The schedule for free fall 2015 health screenings and flu shots for horsemen at Freehold, Meadowlands and five New Jersey training centers has been announced by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and Dr. Chris Samaha of the Backstretch Community Assistance Program.
The free screenings conducted by CentraState Medical Center staff include immediate results.
In addition to flu shots, the services are cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose testing. Body fat testing will be offered at Winner’s International, Gaitway and White Birch. Gaitway’s program also features vision testing.
The testing dates, locations and times:
Sept. 30: Winner’s International, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Oct. 5: Gaitway Farms, 11:30 a.m.-
2:30 p.m.
Oct. 7: Crystal Brook Farm, 11:30 a.m.-
1:30 p.m.
Oct. 8: Freehold Paddock, 12-3 p.m.
Oct. 14: White Birch Farm, 11:30 a.m.-
2:30 p.m.
Oct. 19: Magical Acres, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Dec. 11: Meadowlands Paddock, 4-6 p.m.
Screenings and flu shots at the Meadowlands will be performed by the NJSEA Medical Department.
For more information, contact Chris Samaha at 732-956-7139 on Mondays and Wednesdays at Freehold and the Farms at 732- 571-5376 at Monmouth Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.