Wakizashi Hanover picked up a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victory in track record fashion and Matt Kakaley recorded his 3,000th career driving victory during the Wednesday night program at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
There were four Sire Stakes divisions held for two-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 two-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: 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.
Kakaley later earned his 3,000th career driving victory aboard trotter Commander K, reaching the milestone at age 26. He moved to 2,999 with his win aboard McArdles Lightning in PASS action earlier in the night and then sealed the deal with Commander K, a fitting horse to do it 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.
(With files from Pocono Downs)