from the USTA Communications Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Heavily favored Resistance Futile romped to a 1:51.3 score in the second of two divisions of the Junior Trendsetter Pacing Series for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Friday night (Feb. 22) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Resistance Futile crossed the finish line in 1:51.3.

Andy Miller was in the bike as the Real Desire-Capelo Rose colt won his second straight in the series and posted his third victory in 10 lifetime starts. The Robbie Siegelman trainee is owned by Robert Burgess, Karin Olsson Burgess, Champagne Stable and James Walker.

Starting from post seven, Resistance Futile was fifth on the outside at the opening quarter in :27.2, but powered to the lead by the :55.2 half-mile marker. Miller rated a third quarter in :28.3 to hit the beam in 1:24, then his pacer put in a final panel of :27.3 to hit the wire in 1:51.3, two ticks slower than the 1:51.1 mile he posted in the opening leg last week.

Resistance Futile ($2.60) was two lengths better than runner-up Humility (Tim Tetrick) with Fiftyshadesdarker third for John Campbell.

Lisa photos

Wilcox won a stretch duel with Terror High to score in 1:53.2.

In the $12,500 first division of the series for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, Brenda Selwyn Waxman and Isaac Waxman’s Wilcox ($3.80) collared pacesetter Terror High in the stretch and came away with a three-quarter length score in a time of 1:53.2.

Yannick Gingras was in the bike for trainer Tony Alagna as the Somebeachsomewhere-Dark Secret gelding recorded his third win in five season’s starts, lifting his 2013 bankroll to $21,125.

Beachfront and John Campbell were the early leaders in this event, taking the field to the opening quarter in :28.2. David Miller moved Terror High to the front down the backstretch and they hit the half-mile marker in :56.2.

Wilcox was biding his time in fourth, before Gingras moved him first over heading to the final turn and they were within one length of the leader at the three-quarter-mile mark of 1:25. Wilcox then put a head in front at the top of the stretch and won the duel with Terror High to grab the lion’s share of the purse. Rock Icon was third for Andy Miller and Beachfront finished fourth.

The Junior Trendsetter final is scheduled for March 2. The opening round of the series, originally slated for Feb. 8, was postponed because of snow.

Friday night also saw one of the largest single day increases in handle. The final tally of $3,201,100 in total handle showed an increase from this same Friday in 2012 of $1,201,477, or an unbelievable 60 percent (there was one additional race in 2013). Equally as impressive was the spike shown in live handle, which was a remarkable 40 percent.

The Meadowlands has shown increases every night of racing so far this year and has now done more $3 million Friday nights than the total number of $3 million nights in 2012.

Racing resumes Saturday for an action packed 13-race card, filled with stakes finals and the reappearance of the sensational Golden Receiver. Post time is at 7:15 p.m.

— Meadowlands Media Relations contributed to this report