Woodbine Mohawk Park: Bond scores in Elegantimage Stakes final
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Bond took command from first-over entering the stretch and fought off a furious rally by Righteous Resolve to win Saturday night's C$381,000 Elegantimage Stakes final for 3-year-old filly trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The final time of 1:51 3/5 was a stakes record.
Righteous Resolve and James MacDonald led early, but were overtaken by a two-wide Rose Run Yolanda (Yannick Gingras) past the opening quarter of 26 4/5. Bond and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt landed third and remained in that position as Rose Run Yolanda put the half on the board in 55 3/5.
With horses pulling out two-wide behind Bond, Svanstedt put his charge in motion first-over on the final bend, and she moved up into second and to within half a length of Rose Run Yolanda at the 1:24 three-quarters. Bond then sustained her bid into the lane and went by Rose Run Yolanda, but Righteous Resolve found room on the inside, setting up a good battle to the wire.
Both Bond and Righteous Resolve sprinted hard to the wire, but Bond had the jump on Righteous Resolve and responded when called upon by Svanstedt to keep a head in front and get the victory. Tactical Mounds (Scott Zeron) turned a second-over trip behind Bond into a third-place finish, Baroness Hill (Doug McNair) got fourth and Rose Run Yolanda faded to end up fifth.
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"I think I've been too many races in the front, but she can race everywhere now. She feels good and she can leave fast. She's nice to drive and nice to handle," Svanstedt remarked. "There were horses coming from behind, so I had to pull her two-wide, but she was really nice, and she wanted to go. When we came to the stretch I let her go. I didn't think (Righteous Resolve) was going to come on the inside, but it was her coming and she's a good horse. Bond fought and she wanted to win."
A daughter of Southwind Frank bred by Diamond Creek Farm and owned by Svanstedt, Little E LLC. and L Berg Inc., Bond has a summary of 13-3-1 from 18 career starts and has now earned C$1,116,165. She paid $3.70 to win.