Harness racing’s newest young “gunslinger” Matt Kakaley has gotten off to a fast start at Pocono Downs
.
After six nights of racing at the Northeastern Pennsylvania racetrack, Kakaley sits tied for second-place in the driver standings with Jim Morrill, Jr., each with eight victories. Kakaley also has a UDR of .362 with eight wins, four seconds and three third-place finishes on just 31 starts.
“I’m very pleased with my first week here,” said the Ohio native and the youngest driver ever in the history of the sport to reach the 1,000 win mark. “The area is nice and I like it here.
“You learn something every day when competing in this sport and there are different driving styles at each and every track, depending on the sizes of the racing surface. I get along with the other drivers. We are all so competitive and want to win.
“Ronnie (Ron Burke) has been good to me. He takes good care of me.”
Burke just happens to be one of the top trainers in North America year in and year out and Kakaley was chosen to drive his stable of horses at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
It sure helps to have the power out on the racetrack but it also puts pressure on the 22-year-old to win with the Burke horses. So far, Burke and Kakaley have produced six wins through the first six nights of the 2010 meet.
“I’m planning on staying at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs for the entire meet but one never knows what the future holds,” Kakaley offered. “I’m starting to pick up catch drives from other trainers. My goal is to get better and better. I take it one race at a time and give it my best effort.”
Kakaley said he’s lucky to have his girlfriend, Anna Larrabee, working for Burke and that she’s also here at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The two met while he was racing at Northfield Park in Ohio. They have been seeing each other for the past two years.
Someday, Kakaley would like to be competing on a bigger stage—like the Meadowlands--- and many veterans in the sport feel that will happen in time.
“I’ve competed against him and he’s an outstanding young talent,” said Morrill Jr., last year’s top percentage driver at Pocono Downs. “He can drive. He’s also a very modest young man.”
Kakaley has always been around harness racing horses. His dad, John, is a driver while mom, Linda, trains horses. They’ll be competing at Plainridge Racecourse in Massachusetts when the track opens for the season in several days.
(Pocono Downs)