After coming up short in his first five starts against Open company at the Rosecroft Raceway Fall Meeting, Dontmesswithles finally put it together on Monday, Oct. 19, taking full advantage of a pocket trip to post a 1:51.4 victory in the featured $15,493 Winners Over Handicap Pace.

With Fern Paquet Jr. aboard for owner/trainer Walter Birney Jr., 3-5 favourite Dontmesswithles vaulted off the outside wing of the gate to clear Act Fast (Roger Plante Jr.) for the lead from his assigned post nine, only to yield to 3-2 second choice Layton Hanover (Jonathan Roberts) just beyond the :26.1 quarter. The seven-year-old Captaintreacherous-JK Letitgo gelding drafted behind Layton Hanover through middle fractions of :54.1 and 1:22.4 and was boxed midway on the far turn as Bipbopnallie (Lucas Myers) made first-over gains out of midfield.

Turning for home, Layton Hanover felt intensifying pressure from Bipbopnallie, and Paquet dove Dontmesswithles to the open stretch, where he accelerated to strike the front with 70 yards to go and evade runner-up Bipbopnallie by a half length. Act Fast split foes out of traffic to eclipse Layton Hanover for third.

Dontmesswithles, now a 23-time winner in his career, paid $3.40 to win in his fourth seasonal tally from 19 starts.

Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Thursday, Oct. 22. The 13-race card features the Sulky Queens Driving Series, competing in races one and three, and there will be a $8,396.64 carryover in the 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5, offered in the finale. First post is 7:15 p.m. 

(Rosecroft Raceway)