Wilkes-Barre, PA — After losing in a photo finish to Heaven Hanover in the Hambletonian Oaks two weeks ago, Bond turned the tables on her rival in the $250,000 Delmonica Hanover, for 3-year-old trotting fillies, on Saturday (Aug. 19) at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Bond took full advantage of a pocket trip behind Heaven Hanover before rallying up the open stretch to score in 1:52.1.

Bond (inside) beat Heaven Hanover in the Delmonica Hanover. Curtis Salonick photo.

Bond and trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt made the strongest push for the early lead, clearing Blonde Bombshell on the first turn before ceding control to Heaven Hanover (driven by Tim Tetrick) at the conclusion of a :26.3 first quarter. Heaven Hanover stole a :56 half before bracing for a first-over attack from Quick Stop (Scott Zeron), who ascended out of fifth, on approach to the far turn to force the pace to quicken.

After controlling three-quarters in 1:23.4 and being nudged by Quick Stop through the far turn, Heaven Hanover was asked by Tetrick for all she had in the stretch — and Svanstedt dove to the open stretch with Bond. The Southwind Frank-Boccone Dolce filly surged in the final sixteenth to chase down an all-out Heaven Hanover and prevail by a head. Quick Stop finished a detached third after leveling off.

“It was a good horse that came up on the outside of us,” Svanstedt said of Heaven Hanover and the pocket trip she availed Bond. “She was a nice horse to sit behind.”

Of his own filly, Svanstedt was equally succinct: “I’m happy with her.”

Bond, now an 11-time winner from 16 starts with $908,165 in lifetime earnings, is owned by Åke Svanstedt Inc., Little E and L Berg Inc. She paid $3.00 to win.

After her last four Plainridge Park appearances all resulted in victories, The Wise One ($26.00) took the show on the road in the $125,000 first consolation of the Delmonica Hanover, rallying out of mid-division to win in 1:54.1. Scott Zeron kept the Muscle Hill-Grandma’s Moni filly in sixth early as 25-1 long shot Kaddari tore through early fractions of :26.4 and :55.2. As both Portulaca and Fashion Annie broke stride up the backstretch, The Wise One inherited fourth before Kaddari hit three-quarters in 1:23.4 and began her bid on the far turn as Heart On Fire pulled the pocket to engage the pacesetter. Heart On Fire struck the front at the top of the stretch, but The Wise One reeled her in with a sixteenth to go and won going away by two lengths. Bella Macchiato chased evenly for third.

Domenico Cecere trains The Wise One, now a six-time winner with $172,475 in career earnings, for owner-breeder Moni Maker Stable.

In the $75,000 second consolation, Soderberg Bloodstock LLC’s Pure Hope S ($2.80) rode the pocket behind stablemate Wild Jiggy S from the bell until the top of the stretch, where trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt hooked the Brillantissime-Final Hope filly three-wide around dueling leaders to strike the front. Pure Hope S responded instantaneously and sprinted 2-1/4 lengths clear of Check Her Out to win in 1:54.1. Lie In Wait finished third.