The Monday, Nov. 17 afternoon features at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on a chilly day proved exciting contests, each decided by a neck. Two of the trio of features were won by the favourite, while the third winner paid $106.20 – while being driven by meet leader Tyler Buter.

The $28,169 Winter Is Coming Pacing Series Championship had its major players in line early – favoured Boston Rocks, Big Bang Bang, Lyons Music and Points North were already 1-2-3-4 before the :27 quarter. Points North was up into uncovered position challenging the leader by the :56 half and continued the fight to and past a 1:23.3 three-quarters.

In the stretch, it appeared that Big Bang Bang would have the best chance to catch the leader via the Pocono Pike – Points North had dropped back slightly, while Lyons Music was moved by Tyler Buter into a blindswitch position, with no immediate path to gain. Big Bang Bang was commencing a rally when he went off-stride mid-stretch and was taken inside the pylons; Buter shot Lyons Music to the left of the leader in the suddenly vacant space and the pacer hit his best gear quickly, out-sprinting the chalk in the last 100 yards; Points North was only three parts of a length back at the wire after a brave effort.

Lyons Music, an altered son of A Rocknroll Dance, was third in his only Winter Is Coming start; he had two recent wins, but both were at the track’s lowest conditioned level. But he was on song for a big mile in his championship for trainer Susan Marshall, co-owner with John Marshall of White Haven, Pennsylvania.

Three Times Bettor went one more than her name by winning her fourth straight race, a $30,986 fast-class handicap pace for females in 1:51.3. Coming off a sweep of the Kentucky stakes program at Cumberland Run, the sophomore Bettors Delight miss went first-over from the half, advancing while her pacing her own third quarter in :26.4, then swept to the lead early in the stretch. But a battle with another distaff who likes to win, Louisville GB (14-for-27 over the last two years), with the latter having the advantage of a cover trip, had Three Times Bettor keep digging to win for Team Pelling (driver Jack, trainer/father Brett) and owner Thaddeus Wier of East Aurora, New York.

In a $22,535 trot for developing horses, the Bar Hopping three-year-old gelding Onemore Volo won for the second time in his last three outings, gradually working to the lead into turn two, then holding off a long, game first-over bid by Beersnsunshine Deo in 1:55.4. Braxten Boyd was the sulky-sitter for trainer John Butenschoen. 

Buter and Matt Kakaley both had three winners on the card.

The Tuesday, Nov. 18 card will be the next-to-last presentation of 2025 at Pocono and it will feature the $20,000 USD Winter Is Coming Trotting Series Championship, as well as two carryovers into the fifth race Pick 5 wager and into the last race High 5.

(With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs)