$250,000 Delmonica Hanover won in photo

In a classic stretch drive to the wire, Bond (Southwind Frank) was able to edge Hambletonian Oaks harness racing winner Heaven Hanover in winning the $250,000 Delmonica Hanover for three-year-old trotting fillies Saturday (Aug. 19) at Pocono Downs.

The 10^th race co-feature got underway with race favorite Bond and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt leaving and getting to the front with a quick opening quarter mile in :26.3.

Then Tim Tetrick came after the lead with Heaven Hanover and took command before the half mile in :56. They raced to the three-quarters in 1:23.4 with Quick Stop (Scott Zeron) moving up first-over to join the leader on the final turn.

As they started down the stretch, Svanstedt took Bond into the passing lane and was able to nip Heaven Hanover at the wire by a head in 1:52.1. Quick Stop was third.

BOND REPLAY

Bond, who lost to Heaven Hanover by a neck in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks, got their revenge in posting her fourth win of the year. She is owned by Ake Svanstedt, Little E LLC and L. Berg, Inc. She paid $3.00 to win. It was her 11^th win in 16 career starts and has now won $908,165 in earning.

12-1 upset winner in $125,000 Delmonica Hanover Consolation I

The Wise One (Muscle Hill) waiting until the three-quarter mark in the race to get into gear for driver Scott Zeron and then brush home in the stretch to win the $125,000 Consolation I of the Delmonica Hanover for three-year-old harness racing trotting fillies.

The 7^th race got underway with Kaddari (Brian Sears) going right out to the lead with Heart On Fire (Todd McCarthy) sitting the two-hole trip. Kaddari led to the quarter in :26.4 and kept on rolling, getting separation from the field at the half mile in :55.2.

Then in the backstretch, Heart Of Fire caught up to Kaddari and moved to the outside to challenge while The Wise One was able to get into the race in third place around the final turn.

Heart Of Fire was able to pass by Kaddari but could not stop The Wise One in the stretch as she went on to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:54.1. Heart Of Fire held for second with Bella Macchiato (Dexter Dunn) third.

THE WISE ONE REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the third straight win for The Wise One. She is trained by Domenico Cecere for the Moni Maker Stable of Enfield, CT and paid $26.00 to win.

Pure Hope S finds room to take $75,000 trot

The Sun Stakes Saturday (Aug. 19) at Pocono Downs kicked off with the first race of the day the $75,000 Consolation II for the Delmonica Hanover Stake for three-year-old harness racing trotting fillies.

The 1^st race saw 6/5 race favorite Pure Hope S (Brillantissime) and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt work her way to the lead over Lie In Wait (Tim Tetrick) by the opening quarter mile in :27.2.

Then coming on strong on the outside to take away the lead was Wild Jiggy S (Dexter Dunn) and they led the field to the half mile in :56.1. Going into the backstretch, Check Her Out (Todd McCarthy) started up first-over and pressured Wild Jiggy S to the three-quarters in 1:24.4.

Around the final and starting down the stretch it was four horses across the track as Svanstedt was able to move out three-wide with Pure Hope S from getting trapped in the two-hole. Once they found clearance, Pure Hope S kicked in another gear and blew by the field to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:54.1. Check Her Out was second with Lie In Wait third.

PURE HOPE S REPLAY

It was the second win this season for Pure Hope S and her time of 1:54.1 tied her lifetime mark for Soderberg Bloodstock, LLC of Lexington, KY. She paid $2.80 to win.

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink