Harness: Kakaley now enjoying the ups of the wild catch-driver life

To say the life of a catch-driver has its ups and downs is a bit of an understatement. When you consider the careers of two very successful drivers, it’s somewhat ironic that the down for one would prove to be the up for the other.

Specifically Matt Kakaley, who last Sunday had the very good fortune of driving five stakes winners during an afternoon-evening workload that saw him at Tioga Downs during the day and at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono at night.

“No I don’t think I’ve ever won five stakes races in one day,” Kakaley said on Monday. For Kakaley, who in March of 2018 found himself on the wrong end of a bad spill at Yonkers that sidelined him for 10 weeks, three of the victories came behind horses that driver Mark MacDonald was previously handling for trainer Ray Schnittker. One of those was the Empire Breeders Classic winner Hickfromfrenchlick, a colt Kakaley got onto a few weeks back and has vaulted in the 3-year-old rankings ever since.

“I’ve actually got to thank Mark (MacDonald). He lobbied for me and thought I would be a good fit for the horse,” said Kakaley. “Originally it didn’t appear as if Mark was going to be out for long.”

“Ray (Schniktter) asked me if I would drive Hickfromfrenchlick in a New York Sire Stakes at Batavia,” said Kakaley of the August 4 event. “I really didn’t have a 3-year-old colt I was committed to so I went.”

Kakaley didn’t need any arm-twisting following that New York Sire Stakes race. “He was so impressive,” said Kakaley. “He fought off horses the entire mile and refused to quit.”

Since then Hickfromfrenchlick easily captured his elimination for the $238,200 Empire Breeders Classic and then put in a career best 1:48 4/5 performance this past Sunday (Aug. 18) that elevated his status even higher. “Ray really had him sharp for Sunday,” said Kakaley. “Sure, I think he can go with the Captain Crunch’s.”

Kakaley’s work for Schnittker continued at Pocono on Sunday night where he got the job done with a pair of colts in the “Stallion Series” portion of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for juvenile pacing colts. Lake Charles and Captain Groovy had both been winners in the series for MacDonald before his accident and Kakaley doubled up with both this past Saturday night, with Captain Groovy, a son of Captaintreacherous, equaling his 1:52 personal best in the process.

Kakaley has been one of trainer Ron Burke’s go-to guys for a long time but when it comes to the 2-year-olds from the sport’s leading trainer, Kakaley doesn’t necessarily get first choice. “I know Yannick gets his choice at times but there are plenty of good horses in his stable,” said Kakaley, more than happy that he gets to sit behind quality colts.

Two Burke freshmen went at it in the first of four Sire Stakes events at Pocono on Sunday and it was the Kakaley-driven Mac’s Big Boy who upset stablemate and Gingras-driven Caliber to score in 1:52 in a mild upset. Kakaley is quite aware that patience is a virtue when it comes to driving young horses.

“You’ve got to be careful with these horses and not bruise their feelings early,” said Kakaley. “Mac’s Big Boy was actually very good in his start prior to Sunday. We got in behind a lot of cover at The Meadows and he was strong.”

Kakaley was even more impressed with the Somebeachsomewhere-sired colt’s performance this week. “He was vicious finishing up,” Kakaley said.

Kakaley got the call in the final of the four Sire Stakes divisions from Jim Campbell to drive a gelded son of Sweet Lou named Tell Them Lou. “Jimmy really liked that horse,” said Kakaley. “He told me to give him a chance and I wouldn’t be disappointed.”

Tell Them Lou had the outer post seven in the field and was overlooked at 44-1 by the betting public, but those two impediments didn’t stop Kakaley from following directions. He sent Tell Them Lou right to the top in a 27 1/5 opening quarter then willingly followed the 2-5 favored Cattlewash driven by Gingras for trainer Ron Burke. The fractions gave the favorite what he needed but Kakaley was able to get a 27 1/5 final quarter out of Tell Them Lou and went by for the 1:52 victory.

The fact that Kakaley even drove Tell Them Lou in the Sire Stakes one race after an near tragedy kind of explains the plight that catch-drivers go through on a daily basis.

Driving 5-2 shot Tequila Party for trainer Chris Oakes, Kakaley had the filly on the lead and in front turning for home when she made a sudden break in stride with horses all around. “That was a close call,” said Kakaley. “She made a dirty break on me and I started yelling immediately. Marcus (Miller) did a great job of avoiding me and the other drivers were all alert.”

But just how does a driver with a previous bad accident on his résumé get behind a horse 10 minutes afterwards and actually win a race?

“It’s just the way it is in this business. You can’t go out there and be afraid,” Kakaley said.

For Kakaley, a more enjoyable drive took place on the way from Tioga on Sunday afternoon to Pocono that evening. “It was a great trip. I had my grandparents and my uncle down visiting. It was nice having something to celebrate,” Kakaley said.

The party continued on Monday at Pocono for Kakaley with the bounce-back effort of Sans Defaut in Sire Stakes action for juvenile trotting fillies. “I was disappointed that she didn’t make the Doherty final,” Kakaley said, “But I found out that she didn’t have a good week heading into that race. She showed me a lot when she came first over and won from post eight at Harrah’s (July 19).” Sans Defaut captured her $60,435 division for Kakaley and trainer Ron Burke in 1:55.

Maybe the ups and downs are the only sure things in the sport. We look forward to Mark MacDonald’s healthy return.