by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Robbie Siegelman hopes Resistance Futile is the gift that keeps on giving; as in giving his connections reason to make frequent trips to the winner’s circle.

Resistance Futile, a colt sent to Siegelman from Canada by trainer Blair Burgess, posted wins in the first two rounds of the Junior Trendsetter series for 3-year-old male pacers at Meadowlands Racetrack and will try to add the $48,000 final Saturday night. Resistance Futile and driver Andy Miller start from post No. 10 in the field of 10.

In the first round of the Junior Trendsetter, Resistance Futile won by five lengths over Axiom Hanover in 1:51.1. In the second leg, he won by two lengths over Humility in 1:51.3.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Robbie Siegelman sends Resistance Futile into the Junior Trendsetter final from post 10.

“He was a gift,” Siegelman said. “Blair called me up and said he was going to send me a good horse — and he’s a really nice colt. He’s getting better each week and he loves our (training) program.

“Everything about him is great. I’ve been told many times in my career I’m being sent a good horse; most of them are projects. They may turn out to be good horses, but very few of them right out of the box are able to run off. I’m not even so sure Blair knew he was quite as good; he was hoping.”

Siegelman was impressed with Resistance Futile from the get-go. The colt, owned by Bob Burgess, Karin Olsson Burgess, Champagne Stable and James Walker, is a son of stallion Real Desire out of the mare Capelo Rose. Purchased as a yearling for $33,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale, he is a half-brother to stakes-winner Machapelo.

“The first time I took him out, he trained like a good horse,” Siegelman said. “Some good horses are not good trainers, but when I turned him he really acted like a serious horse. He did everything so easy; very athletic. He’s smart, too.”

Last year, Resistance Futile went off stride in his first three races, but won in 1:52.2 at The Red Mile in Lexington and was second in a conditioned race at Woodbine.

“They were high on him,” Siegelman said. “Andy said he seemed better the second week compared to the first week. He’s two fingers in a race. So far he’s been very happy. We tried to race him out of a hole in his last start, but the hole closed on him and (Miller) had to brush him to the front. But he was fine.

Lisa photo

Resistance Futile crossed the finish line in 1:51.3 in the second round of the Junior Trendsetter.

“He came out of it great and he trained great today. He loves getting out in the field for an hour every morning. He loves his meals. He’s a pleasure in the barn, a really nice horse to be around.”

The Junior Trendsetter final includes previous winners in the series Humility (post 3 with Tim Tetrick driving for trainer Tony Alagna), A Bettor World (post 4 with David Miller driving for Aaron Lambert) and Wilcox (post 9 with Yannick Gingras driving for Alagna).

Siegelman is uncertain of Resistance Futile’s schedule following the Junior Trendsetter, but hopes to get to race the horse on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes circuit.

“I know they’re hoping to point him to some big dances,” Siegelman said. “After the final they’ll probably map out a plan.

“I don’t know what he’s going to become, but I don’t think he’s near reached what he’s going to be. I’m pretty confident in that.”