Wilkes-Barre, PA — A trio of $15,300 contests for horses winning their way up the class ladder led the Tuesday afternoon (July 6) program at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Mankat earned his third win in his last four starts in Tuesday’s featured pacing event at Pocono. Curtis Salonick photo.

Mankat controlled the throttle from the pole in the feature division for pacing males, posting fractions of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:23.3. Pocket rival Cigar Smoking Tony tried to catch him in the Pocono Pike, but Mankat was able to overcome that late threat by a neck in 1:51.2 for driver Jim Pantaleano, trainer Christen Pantaleano and owner Matthew Morrison, who has seen his son of Somebeachsomewhere win two straight and three of his last four.

The Sweet Lou mare Shouldabeenatd, whom Matt Kakaley rated through a :56.4 half, smoked home in :54 to take a new mark of 1:50.4 in the distaff pace headliner. Only pocket sitter Mackie Hanover could stay remotely close in the last half, ending up 2-1/4 lengths behind the winner, whom Ron Burke trains for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Beyond Ordinary overcame a tough two-move journey in the top trotting section, yet moved to the lead at the three-quarters and then stayed strong to the finish line to win in 1:54.4. Jenny Melander trains the son of Kadbara for Melander Racing Inc. and Noonan Harness Racing LLC. Marcus Miller, who drove Beyond Ordinary to victory, won four races on the card, boosting him to 13 wins at Pocono in the last four days.