The same phrase applies to the outcome of both $20,833 trotting features at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon, Nov. 11: “Pocket-sitter overhauls pacesetter.”

The quicker of the two feature winners was the Walner sophomore trotting filly Sapphirerainstar, who is undefeated in four starts since coming to Pocono from New Jersey after the Mark Akins trainee sat in the pocket, then closed up the Pocono Pike to beat out leading favourite Going Green by a neck in 1:54.4. The betting was close (Going Green was the 11-10 favourite, and Sapphirerainstar was 13-10), and the finish was just as close, but Simon Allard got the pocket rocket home for A 1 Racing. 

The Greenshoe three-year-old gelding Put Option Hanover also drafted along behind a favoured pacesetter, Oliver The Great, in the other feature race, but driver Patrick Ryder moved to the outside in the lane from the golden chair and worked past the leader by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. Mahlon Martin is the trainer and owner of the winner, who garnered fourth-place cheques in both Liberty Bell and Simpson stakes within the last few weeks. 

Matt Kakaley and George Napolitano Jr. joined Braxten Boyd as posting a driving double on the card, keeping Kakaley ahead of Napolitano by three victories, 263-260, with five cards left in the 2024 meeting at Pocono. 

Tuesday’s racing, beginning at 1 p.m., is topped by three $15,000 USD divisions of the same developmental class featured on Monday’s card. Pocono will then race Saturday the 16th, Monday the 18th and Tuesday the 19th before closing out the year’s racing on Saturday the 23rd. 

(PHHA / Pocono)