Natives Filou made his debut for new connections a winning one by withstanding a sustained first-over attack from Dontmesswithles to post a 1:50.1 score in the $14,583 Winners Over pacing feature on Monday, April 21 at Rosecroft Raceway.

With Jonathan Roberts driving for trainer Steve LeBlanc and owner Robert Cacamese, Natives Filou set sail for the lead at the race's outset, sprinting clear of Horse (Billy Carter) and Shim (Justin Walters) midway around the first turn and throwing down blistering fractions of :25.4 and :54.2 before fending off a stern challenge from Dontmesswithles, who ground forward to within a neck of the lead with five-sixteenths to go before being rebuffed. After being pushed to three-quarters in 1:21.4, Natives Filou edged clear again on the final turn and was driven out to a three-quarter-length win over a resurgent Dontmesswithles. On The Cards N (Johnathan Ahle), the 8-5 favourite, circled stalled cover turning for home and closed to save third.

Now a 22-time career winner, Natives Filou has earned four of his victories this season from 13 starts. The seven-year-old Allamerican Native-Windsong Filou gelding paid $10.40 to win.

Roberts came back in the finale to post the fastest mile of the meet with Willard Reynolds trainee Sheer Terror ($2.60), controlling splits of :25.4, :54.3 and 1:22 en route to a 1:49 win over Business Director and Starship in a $10,417 conditioned pace.

Russell Foster led all drivers with four wins on the 13-race program.

Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Wednesday, April 23 with 13 races carded and an $801.95 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 (Race 10). First post is 7:15 p.m. 

(With files from Rosecroft Raceway)