Bond rallies against stablemate in BC track record

Bond (Southwind Frank) rallied past stablemate Special Way (Tim Tetrick) to set a harness racing track record in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for sophomore trotting fillies at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday night (October 28th).

Bond sat second early but following a :26.3 opening quarter, driver/trainer Ake Svanstedt made his move to the front in a 30.1 second quarter, passing the half in :56.4. But she would soon face the challenge from her stablemate, and she gave up the lead to the accelerating Special Way on the way to the three-quarter pole.

Special Way sped past the three quarters in 1:24.0 with Bond lurking in the pocket and Railee Something (Dexter Dunn) futilely trying to gain ground racing first up. Down the lane this Breeders Crown title was clearly going to be decided by the Svanstedt trainees.

Bond forged to the front and looked home free, but Special Way showed tenacity in angling to the outside and producing a late rally to fall only a half-length short. Bond hit the wire in 1:51.2, the new track record for three-year-old trotting fillies. Her clocking was only 1/5th of a second off the stakes record set by Jiggy Jog S last year at Woodbine Mohawk Park. It was several lengths back to Raillee Something who stayed for third.

BOND REPLAY

Svanstedt commented on Bond’s tenacity as he celebrated the win. “Today she showed up with a very great fighter instinct,” Svanstedt said. “I never felt it in her earlier like I did today. He also explained the winning strategy. “The only way to beat Special Way was to let her go then go behind her in the stretch,” he noted. “But she really fought today.”

Bond won for the eighth time in 12 starts this year and she boosted her lifetime earnings for just over $1.39 million for Svanstedt who shares ownership with Little E LLC and L Berg Inc. She paid $3.60 to win as favorite.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink