WILKES-BARRE PA – Win the Messenger Pace final, a Triple Crown event, with Pleaseletmeknow on Friday night, then come back and win with American Courage (American Ideal) in 1:47.4 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday afternoon (Jul. 2). Just a routine 19 hours for harness racing driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Travis Alexander, and owners Fiddler’s Creek Stables LLC.
Matt Kakaley pilots American Courage to a blistering win (Curtis Salonick Photo)
American Courage came to town with lofty credentials ($576,372, a recent win in 1:49.4 at Yonkers), and the crowd bet the four-year-old down to 3-5 in the $27,500 featured pace. They might have been worried early as he got away fifth, but ducking proved a good move as Vettel N shot out to the lead in :25.4, then refused to yield to Im Sir Blake A, feature winner here last week, forcing him into the pocket by a :53.2 half.
That left a softened front end for American Courage and driver Matt Kakaley, who zoomed uncovered from fifth while going in :26.1 himself down the back to clear just past the 1:20.3 three-quarters, then finished out in :27.1 to win by 6¼ lengths.
The 1:47.4 time was three-fifths off the Pocono standard for four-year-old pacing horses set by Freaky Feet Pete, and just four-fifths off the all-time 1:47 record over a 5/8-mile track, set by Sweet Lou (at Pocono) and Always B Miki (twice at Pocono, once at Scioto).
Kakaley also won the co-featured $17,500 trot with the Swan For All mare Queen Of All, giving her three wins in a row. Queen Of All made two speed moves during early splits of :28 and :57.1, continued to get a breather to the 1:26.2 three-quarters, then had a :28.2 back quarter…