BOND COMMANDER OF KINDERGARTEN FILLY TROT FINAL

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Bond and driver-trainer Ake Svanstedt shunned post 10 and made two strong moves to win the $279,290 Kindergarten Classic Final for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday night (Nov. 12) at The Meadowlands.

When the 10-horse field left the gate, Svanstedt guided Bond freely to the front to score a :26.4 first quarter into the turn. Instagram Model and Heart On Fire followed at the pylons while Mambacita rushed after Bond on the outside and took over the lead. Svanstedt, with Instagram Model looming to move off the pegs, took Bond out again to pass Mambacita and command the field to a :55.3 half.

Bond’s nine rivals stepped lively to keep up with the big favorite as she stayed smoothly in front to a three-quarter mark in 1:24. The back of the pack clearly fought tough as the early chasers behind Bond tired while she showed no signs of letting any filly pass her after the two engaging moves. Bond owned the mile to score her fifth-straight win, this one in 1:52.3 – a lifetime mark – and gamely earned by a nose. Three wide late to pick up second was Heart On Fire, followed by four-wide Quick Stop and another longshot in Wild Jiggy S.

“She was really fast,” Ake Svanstedt said after the race. “I was the first one before the turns. That horse is good. I had a feeling before that she’s fast, but I’d never left so fast before [with her]. She felt tired in the stretch, but she fought. She really wanted to win.”

Bond, a daughter of Southwind Frank, paid a generous $3.60 to win and spiked her earnings to $361,447 for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc., Little E LLC and L. Berg Inc. Svanstedt also said after the race that Bond’s next start should come in the Goldsmith Maid, which is part of the Fall Final Four and TVG Finals extravaganza card on Saturday, Nov. 26 at The Meadowlands.

A LITTLE MORE: Todd McCarthy and Yannick Gingras were the top drivers on the night with three winners apiece. … Trainer Ron Burke took the conditioner’s colony to school on Kindergarten Series finals night with four winner’s circle trips. … Just over $41,000 in “new money” was added to the $5,000 carryover in the 20-cent Pick-6, and those who had all six correct walked away with a payoff of $3,487.32. … All-source handle busted the $3-million barrier as $3,085,385 was pushed through the windows on the 14-race program. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.