by Jim Beviglia, for Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Wilkes-Barre, PA — Matt Kakaley earned his 3,000th career driving victory behind trotter Commander K on Wednesday night (July 16) at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Kakaley achieved the mark at age 26. Tim Tetrick was the youngest driver (at age 25) to reach the 3,000 win milestone.
Kakaley moved to 2,999 with a win aboard 25-1 shot McArdles Lightning in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action earlier in the night and then sealed the deal with Commander K, a fitting horse to do it with considering Matt’s surname.
Kakaley has been one of Pocono’s leading drivers for several seasons and is a past seasonal driving champ at the track.
Wakizashi Hanover sets track record in Sire Stakes win
Wakizashi Hanover picked up a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victory in track-record fashion on Wednesday night.
There were four Sire Stakes divisions held for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the pace, with purses ranging from $59,566 to $59,966.
Wakizashi Hanover (Dragon Again-Western Gesture), made a late first-over move with Corey Callahan in the bike for trainer Jim King Jr. and scored in 1:51. That winning time broke the Pocono track record for 2-year-old geldings on the pace of 1:51.3, which was set by Dovuto Hanover in 2012.
Other Sire Stakes winners on the night were McArdles Lightning (McArdle-Winning Venture), who rallied at 25-1 with Matt Kakaley in the bike for trainer Steve Elliott to win in 1:51; Yankee Bounty (Yankee Cruiser-Bootleg Yankee), who made it three for-three to start his career with a victory in 1:51.3 with Corey Callahan aboard for trainer Kevin Lare; and Dragon Eddy (Dragon Again-Jeska Hanover), also three-for-three in his young career, as Mike Simons guided him for trainer John Butenschoen to a victory in 1:51.1.