The temperature was only slightly warmer than recently on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, but many of the times were noticeably quicker, led by the 1:49 posted by Oakwood Heymiki Ir in the $24,648 pacing side of the feature conditioned class for developing horses.

The five-year-old altered son of Always B Miki-I Got Rhythm gave his many backers a bit of a scare last week when he went off-stride near the wire, but did not violate the rules so was left up. This week, Tyler Buter quarter-moved from fourth with the fleet import and there was no bobble at all, just a pair of :27.1 back quarters that left the winner of three of his last four races 6-3/4 lengths clear under the line for trainer Bob Cleary and owner Royal Wire Products Inc. Oakwood Heymiki Ir recorded his 20th win from 41 lifetime tries and took a new mile record. He paid $2.20 to win. Lou Grant (Simon Allard) finished second, with Beach Bum Harley (George Napolitano Jr.) third.

The trotting co-feature went to the five-year-old Lionhunter-Belongtogether As gelding Kovu As ($3.40), who was only one-for-33 on the year coming into the race but was dead game on the engine today to ward off potential pocket rocket Chuckthemillionair (Kyle DiBenedetto) by a neck in a lifetime-best 1:55. Scudo Hanover (Jim Marohn Jr.) was third. Kovu As was driven by Anthony Napolitano for trainer Anthony Faulkner and owner Jaypaul Hoover. He is now eight-for-62 lifetime.

Another sub-1:50 mile was rung up in the $22,535 claiming handicap pace by the four-year-old Courtly Choice-Spring Break ridgling Spring Blake ($3), who has now won four of his last six starts and here earned a new speed badge of 1:49.1. Buter drove the 6-1/4-length winner for trainer Cory Stratton and owner Caldwell Mamie Racing LLC – who had just claimed the horse for $52,817 last week and just as quickly lost him back to a claim. Prospectors Gold (Jordan Stratton) finished second, followed by Santafes Coach (Anthony Napolitano). Spring Blake was one of three winners changing hands after their race on a day when there were seven claims in all.

There were two $18,310 fast-class conditioned contests, one on each gait, and following recent trends there was a big upset winner in them both. The five-year-old Bar Hopping-Snow Angel Hanover gelding Snowman Hanover saved his move for late in the mile, then finished with a burst to nose out favoured Kinnder Thinktwice (Ridge Warren) while taking a lifetime mark of 1:53 and paying $94.40. Stratton had the drive for trainer Richard Aiken and owner Arden Homestead Stable. Cassius Hanover (Kevin Wallis) was a neck beaten in third.

The fast-class pace was the last race on the card, and in a dramatic finish, the four-year-old Sweet Lou-Osprey Blue Chip gelding Dream Bird came from last at the stretch call to catch the chalk I Did It Myway (Matt Kakaley) by a head in 1:51.4 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc., David Wills, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby.  Magnifico Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.) was third. Dream Bird had no wins but seven seconds this year in 17 outings before his upset, which helps to explain the $120.60 win price.

However, the payout is mare more confounding by the fact that Dream Bird was driven by the meet’s leading driver, Tyler Buter, and is trained by the meet’s leading trainer, Ron Burke. Buter and Burke are the only horsemen to have two $100+ winners this meet, as they combined as well with The Bizzness N ($112.40) on Oct. 21. Burke, the same guy who broke the single-season money record for a trainer on Thursday, is also the only conditioner to have four $50+ bombers at Pocono this year.

With Dream Bird’s upset coming in the final event, there will be a carryover – now a double-carryover – into Monday’s last-race High 5 pool. Monday at Pocono will also feature three divisions of the Winter Is Coming Pacing Series.

(With files from PHHA/Pocono)