Mountain Top drew off to a length and three-quarter victory, besting a trio of Ray Schnittker trainees in Thursday afternoon's $7,000 first leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, the third race and opening day feature at Freehold Raceway.
Schnittker’s odds-on entry finished second [Broken Record], third [Switchblade Hall] and fourth [Cruzinwith Muscles] in the field of seven. There was no show wagering.
Mountain Top [$6.40, $2.20], 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. Unraced at two, 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.
(NJSS)