Bond comes out firing in 2023 debut

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Special Way was the Breeders Crown champion and voted the two-year-old harness racing trotting filly of the year in 2022, and she’s undefeated in three starts this year. And yet there is still a question if Special Way is even the best filly – in Åke Svanstedt’s barn.

The cause of doubt is the Southwind Frank filly Bond, who won the PA Sires Final, Kindergarten Final, and Goldsmith Maid Final last year; in her seasonal debut at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Sunday (June 4) evening, she cleared to the lead from post eight before the first turn, rated the pace, then sprinted home in :26.4 for a powerful victory in 1:52.3, equaling her mark. Her victory came in one of three $30,000 divisions of her Pennsylvania All-Stars event.

Railee Something had her share of backers – she was sent off at 1-1 vs. Bond’s 4-5 off three wins to start the year – but she was outfooted away from post six by her rival’s instant acceleration, settling for the pocket through soft fractions of :28, :56.4, and 1:25.4.

Railee Something pulled out of the pocket midturn, came her own last quarter in :26.4 — and despite the giant effort of her own, lost a little stretch ground to the winner, who was a length to the good at the finish for trainer/driver Svanstedt (via Åke Svanstedt Inc.) and co-owners Little E LLC and L. Berg Inc.

BOND REPLAY

Angelpedia (Cantab Hall) rang up a lifetime best of 1:53.2 in winning her All-Stars division for driver Mike Wilder, trainer Dan Altmeyer, and owners Gil Short and Ross Stables LLC. The filly was in front before the :27.4 initial fraction, got a breather to a :57.1 half then sped up the three-quarters to 1:25.3, keeping the accelerator down through a :27.4 final split in winning by 4¼ lengths.

ANGELPEDIA REPLAY

Heavy favorite Fashion Annie got her first victory of the year by taking the other All-Stars split in 1:54.4. After a :28 opener, the Donato Hanover filly was hard used to reach a crowded front end by the :56.4 half. Fashion Annie hit the three-quarters in 1:25.2, then looked in control to the wire with a two-length final margin for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim Campbell, and Fashion Farms LLC.

FASHION ANNIE REPLAY

The American Harness Drivers Club made its first Pocono appearance of 2023 in two $11,000 contests. The faster winner was the CR Royal Flush gelding Willy Walton, with owner/driver James Slendorn going to the top early with the heavy favorite and never surrendering the lead, staying safe with a :28.4 last quarter to stop the timer at 1:57 with the Chris Height trainee.

WILLY WALTON REPLAY

The other section saw 2022 Amateur Driver of the Year Tony Beltrami come up the inside to win an exciting four-horse stretch duel with the Bar Hopping gelding Lindy’s Booze Cruz in 1:58.2. The Paul Fusco trainee is owned by Elite Harness Racing LLC.

LINDY’S BOOZE CRUZ REPLAY

Racing continues at Pocono on Monday and Tuesday, with a 1 p.m. post time. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA / Pocono Downs