Kakaley king at the Hilltop

Harness racing driver Matt Kakaley caught fire during the Friday evening card at Yonkers Raceway with four wins in 10 races.

Kakaley strung together three straight victories early, beginning with a second race score behind Griffon Hanover. The Michigan native steered his charge into the three-hole and waited for a third-quarter pocket pop from Tiger Baron (George Brennan) to make his move. Griffon Hanover stalled on the final turn but kicked on again in the stretch to put away his rival and take his first win of the season in 1:55.2. Nicholas Devita trains the nine-year-old Dragon Again gelding for Robert Stasio of Staten Island. The horse is now 23-for-184 lifetime with $338,214 in earnings.

Kakaley produced a similar third race showing as he sent Next Big Thing out from third on the backstretch and lifted the four-year-old son of Shadow Play past Texas Terror N (Jason Bartlett) in deep stretch to win in 1:55.3. Next Big Thing snapped a five-race streak of moneyless outings and sealed his seventh career win in start 35, increasing his career earnings to $98,885. Devita also trains Next Big Thing; Samuel Abdoo of Grosse Point Woods owns the horse.

Bolt Of Luck pulled Kakaley to a triple in the fourth, marching first-up from the half and digging in late to get past longtime leader Hurrikanekingjames (Daniel Dube) for a 1:56.2 triumph. Ken Koch conditioned Bolt Of Luck to his 12th lifetime win as he hit 50 total starts and $114,908 in earnings. Thomas Milici of Montgomery owns the five-year-old by Bolt The Duer.

Kakaley was absent from the winner’s circle for only two races before he completed his grand slam. The 34-year-old reinsman quarter-poled to the front with Rockin Jukebox who later repelled late challengers and crossed the line a half-length winner in 1:57. Rockin Jukebox, a five-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven, scored in his first start for trainer Jared Bako and recent claimant L T F Racing Stable. The horse has won 12 of his 50 career appearances and has racked up a $193,848 bankroll.

Kakaley has won 5,325 races in a 16-year career with over 37,396 starts.

Yonkers Raceway goes dark for the weekend and returns on Monday, Feb. 21 at 6:55 p.m. EST. The 12-race card features a $39,000 Open.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink