by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Though he failed to make the final of the Delvin Miller Adios, Resistance Futile rebounded strongly Friday at The Meadows when he matched the stakes record of 1:49.2 in a division of a $237,546 Pennsylvania Sires Stake.

The event for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, known as the Tarport Effrat, was contested over three divisions, with Martini Hanover and Some Kinda Beach taking the other splits.

Friday’s card also included four divisions of an $80,000 PA Stallion Series event for sophomore colt and gelding pacers; in a show of driving power, Dave Palone (four) and Marcus Miller (three) swept all seven stakes splits. In all, Palone drove seven winners on the 15-race card.

Not only did Resistance Futile break stride in his Adios elim, but he also was scratched sick from the consolation. He looked mighty healthy in the Tarport Effrat, exploding at 13-1 off a cover trip to equal the mark established in 2011 by Big Bad John. Twilight Bonfire was a length back in second, with the 3-5 favorite, Lonewolf Currier, third.

“I was pretty well set on leaving unless I saw something different,” Miller said. “Palone with Wolf Currier is just so fast I did not want him to get too far away from me. I was trying to leave as hard as I could while still being careful since he ran here in his last start, but he was solid the whole way.”

Aaron Lambert trains the son of Real Desire-Capelo Rose for Burgess Stable, James Walker and Deo Valente Farms.

Some Kinda Beach also experienced a disappointing Adios final when he couldn’t get involved early. In the Tarport Effrat, he licked his chops while sitting third behind a sizzling :25.3 opening quarter, made the lead first over for Miller and jogged to victory in 1:50.1. Sir Richard Z Tam was second, 2-3/4 lengths in arrears, while Varadero Hanover completed the ticket.

“It’s all about attitude for him,” Miller said. “When he races against the top-tier horses, he gets a little discouraged because it’s tougher for him to be right up in there. When he races against the PA horses, he can make a move hard early and stay game from there.”

Robin Cruise conditions the son of Somebeachsomewhere-Art’s Fantasy for Ronald Michelon and Paymaq Racing.

Martini Hanover captured the $50,000 Adios Consolation and kept right on rolling Friday, converting a first-over move to victory in 1:51 for Palone, trainer Chris Ryder and owner Robert Mondillo. Twincreeks Jesse was 1-1/2 lengths back in second, with Dedi’s Dragon third.

“He’s versatile,” said Palone of the Dragon Again-Maremma Hanover gelding. “I’ve won with him on the front end and from the back. He’s a beautiful horse to drive.”

$80,000 PA Stallion Series Stake-3-year-old colt and gelding pacers

This event was a showcase for Palone and trainer Chris Oakes, who teamed for wins in three of the four splits with Shock It To ‘Em, Big Time Promise and Good Day Mate. Shock It To ’Em and Big Time Promise completed sweeps of their four stallion series splits and will be formidable in the $40,000 final.

Shock It To ’Em was particularly impressive, blowing away the field by 6-1/4 lengths with his front-end jog in a stakes record 1:50.4. UF Dragons Cruiser and Momma’s Jolt completed the ticket.

“I’m really impressed with his mile tonight, the way he came the back half,” Palone said. “When I took the plugs out, he gave me the fastest eighth-mile I’ve done here in a while. He just accelerated.”

Miller took the other split with Storm The Beach, a talented Somebeachsomewhere-Maple Lady gelding who somehow had managed to go winless in his previous nine starts this year. He downed Medoland Jate by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.4, with early leader Fateful Choice third.

“They told me he would feel like he’s loaded but he doesn’t always want to go by,” Miller said. “Tonight, I think the horse on the front was done enough that it kind of propelled us past him, and he just kept going. He probably needs to just learn a little and grow up.”

Brian Brown trains Storm The Beach for James Stambaugh, Milton Leeman and Charles Wingfield.