by Steve Wolf, Director of Marketing, Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, Florida – April 3, 2006 – In only his second start as a professional harness racing driver, 18-year-old high school senior Matt Kakaley of Pompano Beach, a third generation horseman, drove his first winner, capturing the 3rd race $3,500 trot at Pompano Park Monday with OG’s Charlene ($6.40, $3.80, $3.60) in 2:00.2.

Lap Time Photo – Skip Smith

MATT KAKALEY drives OB’s Charlene to his first pari-mutuel victory as a driver in the 3rd race trot Monday at Pompano Park in 2:00.2. Matt, age 18, is a high school senior and a third generation horseman. He is the son of Linda and John Kakaley.

Competing in the Florida Amateur Driving Club, Kakaley left with OG’s Charlene from post five and went right to the lead. They held the field at bay until the backstretch when Ty’s Revelation (Gary Barbere) challenged on the outside and those two were noses apart around the final turn and down the stretch until the finish when OB’s Charlene won by a half length. Ty’s Revelation paid $6.80 and $6.40 to place with Miracle Sahbra (Diane Helen) paying $10.20 to show.

Trained by his father, John Kakaley, OB’s Charlene is owned by Larry Silber of Lake Worth. The five-year-old mare by Nowak Hanover won for the second time this year.

“It feels really good to win for the first time.” Kakaley said. “My dad told me to go to the top right away and I did. I knew I had a shot to win at the top of the stretch. I was just hoping that we could hold on at the finish. I have to thank my mom and dad because they were the ones who taught me and they were the ones who gave me a chance to become a professional driver.”

Matt parents, John and Linda Kakaley, watched the race with anticipation from the paddock area.

“I was watching from the chute gate by the paddock and it was so close I could not tell who won.” Said Linda Kakaley. “Then after they crossed the finish I saw my husband John come running from the paddock and then I knew Matt had won. We are so proud of him. He sorta had no choice in learning about the horses as a child. He was at the barn all the time. He helps us so much in the stable and does a great job with our top horses. Then when he wanted to become a driver he was ready to go.

“Matt is a third generation horseman.” Linda Kakaley explained. “His grandfather, Joseph Kakaley, was a horse owner and because of his interest, John became a trainer and driver and now Matt has joined them.”

Matt Kakaley made his pari-mutuel driving debut last Friday, finishing fourth. He turned age 18 just two weeks ago on March 19.

Tweedle Dum ($3.80) and driver Walter Ross, Jr. made it four-straight wins in the $9,000 Preferred Handicap Trot with a 1:54.3 triumph. Ultimate Sundance (Bruce Ranger) was second with Railee Possible (Wally Hennessey) third.

Ultimate Sundance went to the early lead with Tweedle Dum getting the pocket seat but that was short lived as they passed the opening quarter mile, Ross moved to the front for good with Tweedle Dum and they led the rest of the mile, winning by a half length.

It was the 5th win this year for Tweedle Dum, a six-year-old gelding by Star Challenge, trained by Gordon Norris and owned by Diane Norris and Alfred Brotter of Pompano Beach.