Pocono: Bond shines brightest in Pennsylvania All-Stars

Special Way was the Breeders Crown champion and voted the 2-year-old trotting filly of the year in 2022, and she's undefeated in three starts this year. And yet there is still a question if Special Way is even the best filly – in Ake Svanstedt's barn.

The cause of doubt is the Southwind Frank filly Bond, who won the PA Sire Stakes final, Kindergarten final, and Goldsmith Maid final last year; in her seasonal debut at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania Sunday evening, she cleared to the lead from post eight before the first turn, rated the pace, then sprinted home in 26 4/5 for a powerful victory in 1:52 3/5, equaling her mark. Her victory came in one of three $30,000 divisions of her Pennsylvania All-Stars event.

Railee Something had her share of backers - she was sent off at 1-1 vs. Bond's 4-5 off three wins to start the year - but she was out-footed away from post six by her rival's instant acceleration, settling for the pocket through soft fractions of 28, 56 4/5, and 1:25 4/5. Railee Something pulled out of the pocket mid-turn, came her own last quarter in 26 4/5 - and despite the giant effort of her own, lost a little stretch ground to the winner, who was a length to the good at the finish for trainer/driver Svanstedt (via Ake Svanstedt Inc.) and co-owners Little E LLC. and L. Berg Inc.

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Angelpedia rang up a lifetime-best of 1:53 2/5 in winning her All-Stars division for driver Mike Wilder, trainer Dan Altmeyer, and owners Gil Short and Ross Stables LLC. The Cantab Hall filly was in front before the 27 4/5 initial fraction, got a breather to a 57 1/5 half, then sped up the three-quarters to 1:25 3/5, keeping the accelerator down through a 27 4/5 final split in winning by 4 1/4 lengths.

Heavy favorite Fashion Annie got her first victory of the year by taking the other All-Stars split in 1:54 4/5. After a 28 second opener, the Donato Hanover filly was hard-used to reach a crowded front-end by the 56 4/5 half. Fashion Annie hit the three-quarters in 1:25 2/5, then looked in control to the wire with a two length final margin for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim Campbell, and Fashion Farms LLC.

--press release (Pocono/PHHA)--