Wilkes-Barre, PA — Matt Kakaley closed out a storybook week at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania — one in which he went over $100 million in total career purses — by notching his 6,000th career driving victory with Willing Hanover in a co-featured $15,000 conditioned trot on Tuesday afternoon (May 16).

The 35-year-old Kakaley teamed with the Donato Hanover gelding to overcome an uncovered trip with ease, guiding him to a lifetime mark of 1:55 for trainer Tim Lancaster, who shares ownership with Mark and Meghan Lancaster.

The connections of Willing Hanover join the family and friends of Matt Kakaley, who drove the 6,000th winner of his career on Tuesday at Pocono Downs. Curtis Salonick photo.

Both co-featured pacing events saw their winners take matching 1:52.3 lifetime marks. The first went to the Betting Line mare Zeus Hanover, who was used early and had enough late to win a three-way photo. Jim Marohn Jr. drove the Lisa Martin trainee for owners Mary Martin and Roger Dirlam. In the other split, the Stay Hungry sophomore gelding Full Support moved to the lead off the first turn and held off pocket-pulling favorite Erinwood Yves for the victory. Matt Kakaley capped off his day with his third win on the card, tops among the local crew, for trainer Joe Pavia Jr. and the partnership of Steven Held, Joe Pavia Jr. Stable Inc., Bridgette Jablonsky and PCW Racing LLC.

There were also three divisions of the top claiming handicap trot, each going for $15,500. Two of the winners were driven by Tyler Buter and trained by Jason Brewer, although Brewer lost both to $30,000 claims: Town Mister won in 1:55.3 as he departs the ownership of First Up Racing Stable, and Lady’s Image took a new mark of 1:54.2 before leaving owner Ameer Najor. The other winner was 14-1 shot Mushana, piloted to a 1:55 victory by Marcus Miller for trainer Steven Brabrook and owner Jaypaul Hoover.

Racing at Pocono resumes on Saturday (May 20) at 1 p.m. Sunday’s (May 21) 6 p.m. card will feature the second preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available on the PHHA website.