Meadowlands: Bond has a license to win in her Kindergarten final

Bond and driver Ake Svanstedt overcame post ten with an early power move to the front and gamely held off a string of closers in the homestretch to capture the $279,290 Kindergarten Series final for 2-year-old trotting fillies at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.

Svanstedt pushed the accelerator down completely at the start, and Bond responded with a burst of speed that saw her loop four leavers to her inside and gain control of the field heading into the first turn. With Instagram Model, Heart On Fire and Wild Jiggy S all taking early seats along the pylons, only Mambacita and driver Yannick Gingras pursued the front-end. It took well past the 26 4/5 opening panel for Mambacita to clear the, lead but Svanstedt didn't wait long, sensing Instagram Modell in third might wish to move. Bond regained control past the 55 3/5 half but was soon joined by Instagram Model and Scott Zeron on the final turn, with Heart On Fire and Todd McCarthy following in second-over position.

Bond hit three-quarters in 1:24 and for much of the homestretch seemed to be in grave danger. Mambacita and Gingras were trapped in most of the way, but once they cleared in the late stages, the filly went off-stride. Heart On Fire tripped out nicely from second-over, but despite ample urging by McCarthy, just couldn’t get by the determined Bond, a daughter of Southwind Frank, losing by a long nose in the 1:52 4/5 mile.

Quick Stop rallied from third-over placement for third, with Wild Jiggy S and Pembroke Moni earning the fourth- and fifth-place checks.

Trained by Svanstedt, who also co-owns with Little E LLC. and L. Berg Inc., Bond was a winner for the sixth time in eight career starts. The 4-5 favorite returned $3.60.

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"She's a fast filly, but I never left so fast before," said Svanstedt following the win. "She felt tired in the stretch, but she fights; she wanted to win."

Bond, an $80,000 yearling purchased from the Diamond Creek consignment at Lexington last year, is eligible for the Goldsmith Maid, the final stakes of the season for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Eliminations are at the Meadowlands next Saturday (November 19).