Matt Kakaley’s drive to his first Breeders Crown winner’s circle was as memorable as the stretch drive to victory, and even more emotional.
Kakaley entered this past Saturday’s Breeders Crown finals at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in search of his first trophy. He ended the night with two. The second, not unexpectedly, came with favourite Dorsoduro Hanover in the three-year-old colt and gelding pace. The first, though, was something of a surprise. It came six races earlier with 52-1 longshot Percy Bluechip in the three-year-old filly pace.
As the 30-year-old Kakaley returned to the winner’s circle with Percy Bluechip, he could not help but think back to last March when he was injured in an accident at Yonkers Raceway. Kakaley was sidelined for two months and required three surgeries, including one for a broken orbital bone and another for a fractured collarbone. For more on Kakaley’s injuries, click here and here.
“The winner’s circle was a little overwhelming for me, just full of emotion,” Kakaley said. “Coming back, I was just thinking, ‘man, seven months ago I was on the sidelines not even sure if I was going to be able to drive anymore.’ My eye was really bad. I don’t think people really understand how bad it really was. The people that were around me were a great support system. Obviously everything came back and I’m OK, but at the time I was really worried.
“It was a rush of emotions going back to the winner’s circle. My grandparents were there, my parents, my daughter, my girlfriend, all my friends that I’ve hung around with that live here. It meant a lot.”
Kakaley, who has competed regularly at Pocono for the past eight years and won a driving title there in 2011, was winless in 42 Breeders Crown finals prior to breaking through with Percy Bluechip. Kakaley positioned the filly second on the outside behind favorite Kissin In The Sand, who was engaged in a battle with Youaremycandygirl through torrid early fractions.
As the field turned for home, Kakaley dropped his whip, but was still able to sweep by the leaders in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length over Kissin In The Sand. For a recap of the race, click here.
“Everything went perfect for that filly,” Kakaley said. “It’s nice for the horse when things go the right way for them to get the job done in the big race. They were rolling up front, big numbers, and she felt strong down the backstretch. In the last turn I had a lot of ‘go.’ I thought I could get there. I lost my whip, but she just powered through and got up. She raced super.”
It was somewhat fitting Kakaley’s first Breeders Crown win came with a longshot. Of his 42 previous drives in finals, 27 were at odds of 40-1 or longer and nine of his 11 on-the-board finishes were at odds of at least 27-1.
Of course, the odds mattered little to Kakaley.
“It’s unexpected, so a little bit of a surprise factor maybe makes it a little bit better, but just winning a Breeders Crown race is amazing,” Kakaley said. “I’m just so thankful for the opportunities I’ve gotten. It happened. Thank God. I finally got one.”
And then he got two.
Dorsoduro Hanover, Kakaley’s first favourite in a final, took the lead after three-eighths of a mile and cruised to victory by three and a half lengths over Lather Up. The gelding has finished no worse than second in seven consecutive races (and has won five of those dashes). His victories in addition to the Breeders Crown include the Adios and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship. He was second in the Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug. For a recap of Dorsoduro Hanover’s Crown win, click here.
“I was very confident with him,” Kakaley said. “That was as good as he’s been all year. Ronnie has done an amazing job keeping that horse fresh. He’s danced every dance and showed up every time. He’s a gamer, that’s for sure.”
‘Ronnie’ is trainer Ron Burke, for whom Kakaley drives on a regular basis. Kakaley’s two wins were part of a three-Crown night for the ‘Burke Brigade.’
“I was fortunate to pick up the right horses at the right time and the horses were sharp going into the Breeders Crown,” Kakaley said. “I was confident coming in. Ronnie has put me in these big races. I’m happy to get a couple tonight.”
And as the rain-soaked and mud-covered Kakaley turned to walk away on a 41-degree Pocono night, he flashed a big smile.
“I can tell you this much,” he said. “I’m not cold anymore.”
(USTA)