by Evan Pattak for The Meadows

Washington, PA — After sleepwalking through the front half, Ultimate Beachboy literally kicked it into high gear when he whacked his sulky, startled himself and sped off to a narrow victory in Wednesday’s $100,000 Pennsylvania Stallions Series stake at The Meadows.

Chris Gooden photo

Ultimate Beachboy won his split in Wednesday’s PA Stallions Series stake at The Meadows in a career best 1:52.4.

The event for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers was contested over five divisions, with Big Time Promise, Eddie Sweat, Tempster Hanover and Shock It To ‘Em also taking $20,000 splits. Dave Palone and trainer Chris Oakes teamed for a stake double with Big Time Promise and Shock It To ‘Em.

Ordinarily, when a horse hits his bike, he can lose time, break stride, injure himself or all of the above; a post-race adjustment usually is required. But when Ultimate Beachboy kicked his sulky several times after falling behind 15 lengths at the half, it was what winning driver Eric Ledford termed a wake-up call.

“He didn’t want to go,” Ledford said. “They say he’s notoriously lazy and doesn’t get interested. I got lucky in that he hit the bike every now and then, and that scared him enough to go. That doesn’t always work out, but it worked out perfect today. He can go all day. It’s just a matter of getting him to do his work.”

The Somebeachsomewhere-Ultimate Bet gelding triumphed in a career best 1:52.4, a neck better than the first-over Medoland Jate, with 2-5 favorite Ilikeitrealhot third. Don Swick trains Ultimate Beachboy for Royal Wire Products.

Big Time Promise notched his second straight stallions series victory, and his fifth win in six starts this year, with an effortless front-end score in 1:51.4, two ticks off the stake record. Meetbehindthebarn was 6-3/4 lengths back in second while Beamer Blue Chip earned show.

“It was very easy, especially as windy and as deep as the track is today,” Palone said. “When I kicked the plugs out, he just took off. He’s a nice, big, strong horse.”

Conrad Zurich owns Big Time Promise, a Real Desire-Yankee Promise gelding.

Last year’s 2-year-old stallion series champion, Eddie Sweat overcame adversity Wednesday when, according to trainer Edward Zubkoff, Jr., he was bothered by a rival’s whip while moving down the backside and made a brief break. The son of Allamerican Native-Popcorn Penny recovered and defeated Momma’s Jolt by 1/2 length in 1:53.2. Exactly Black completed the ticket.

“He’s a pretty nice horse,” Zubkoff said. “We took him to the farm, and he’s calmed down quite a bit. He’s actually eligible for the North America Cup next week. We don’t know what we’ll do yet. You got some tough horses in there, but we might take our chances.”

LaSalle Racing Group campaigns Eddie Sweat, who was named for Secretariat’s groom.

Thursday’s card at The Meadows features the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace. First post is 12:55 PM.