Natives Sweetlou survived a brutal first quarter and toughed a narrow victory in Thursday’s (March 25) feature at The Meadows, a $20,000-$25,000 Claiming Handicap Pace.

Tony Hall sent Natives Sweetlou for the lead from post 8, but it wasn’t until the three-eighths that the five-year-old Allamerican Native-Windsong Filou gelding could cross over after a :26.2 first-panel clocking. The pocket-sitting Winning Is Sweet attacked in the Lightning Lane, but Natives Sweetlou dug in to edge him by a nose in 1:51.1 for his second straight win. Touch Of The West rallied from last for show.

John Sullivan trains the winner, who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $186,035, for Greg Usner and Joe Seman.

Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. and trainer Ron Burke teamed for four wins on the 13-race card while Hall enjoyed a three-bagger.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday (March 26) when the 13-race program features a $9,834.31 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).

(The Meadows)