After stalking a protracted backstretch duel, Walter Birney Jr.'s Dontmesswithles vaulted off cover and rallied to a 12-1 upset in the featured $14,286 Winners Over Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Monday, March 10.
In line to Roger Plante Jr., Dontmesswithles floated into fourth from his outside post eight as 9-5 favourite Doubleornothing N (Hugh O'Neil) drilled a :26.1 first quarter. Approaching the :55.4 halfway point, Plante angled Dontmesswithles second-over behind the cover of Walden Woods (Justin Walters), and the six-year-old Captaintreacherous-JK Letitgo gelding worked closer to a :27.3 third-quarter duel before fanning three-wide into the far turn, working to the lead off the home turn and evading runner-up Lyons Stealth (Johnathan Ahle) by two lengths to win in 1:51.3. Jack Quick (Corey Braden) closed belatedly for third.
Howard Birney trains Dontmesswithles, who has won two of his last three starts at Rosecroft and paid $27.80 to win this time out. A career winner of 14 races, the pacer has earned $168,461 in purses.
Jonathan Roberts led all drivers with three wins on the 12-race card while William Carter and Justin Walters notched two apiece.
Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Wednesday, March 12, with first post for the 13-race card at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway)