After finishing second or third in seven consecutive starts, Shim finally landed in the win column on Monday, March 24 after lunging from the pocket to collar Dontmesswithles in 1:52.1 in the $15,000 Winner Over pacing feature at Rosecroft Raceway.
In line to Jonathan Roberts, 9-5 favourite Shim held his ground at the pegs through a :26.1 first-quarter duel with Horse (William Carter) before yielding to 2-1 second choice Dontmesswithles (Roger Plante Jr.) with a lap to go. Shim enjoyed a clear pocket ride through middle splits of :54.3 and 1:23.2 before angling off the pegs in upper stretch and reeling in Dontmesswithles to prevail by a neck for his 25th career victory. Racer Pacer (Lucas Myers) emerged out of traffic up the open stretch to take third.
Basil Sapienza owns and trains Shim, a nine-year-old American Ideal-Feel Life gelding who paid $5.80 to win.
Johnathan Ahle led all drivers with three wins on the 13-race card. Roberts and Russell Foster both fashioned doubles.
Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Wednesday, March 26 with another 13-race card buoyed by two carryovers: $295.61 in the Pick-5 (Races 3-7) and $3,996.68 in the Jackpot Hi-5 (Race 10). First post is 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway)