SPECIAL WAY AND BOND HEADED FOR A CROWN SHOWDOWN IN SOPHOMORE FILLY TROT FINAL

ANDERSON, IN -- October 20, 2023 -- Special Way and driver Tim Tetrick came from off the pace wide down the homestretch to capture the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday night, Oct. 20. Last year’s Crown champion in this division, Special Way trotted the mile in 1:55 for her fifth win in seven sophomore starts.

Kentucky Futurity Filly champion Mommamia Volo was sent off as the 1-2 favorite and driver Todd McCarthy left strongly looking for the front but made a break heading into the first turn and was never a threat afterwards. Quick Stop and Tony Hall left from the pole position and kept control of the race as a 67-1 offering, cutting the first half fractions of :28.1 and :58.1 uncontested.

Special Way moved to the outside with Tetrick following to the half and flushed the cover first of Heaven Hanover and Brian Sears and then Silly Me Hanover came up without cover nearing three quarters to put him in third over position.

Following a three quarters set by Quick Stop in 1:27.2 Special Way rallied wide and quickly gained traction swooping the field by midstretch and coasting home to an easy score. Hambletonian Oaks winner Heaven Hanover rallied late for second with Baroness Hill coming between horses for third. Quick Stop held well enough for the fourth spot with Silly Me Hanover completing the qualifiers.

Trained by Ake Svanstedt, Special Way is owned and was bred by Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

“She was a little short in the Futurity,” said Tetrick, “She just flew by them tonight.”

As the second choice in the field Special Way returned $8.60 to win.

Svanstedt-trained fillies swept the divisions when Ake piloted Bond in the second $25,000 stanza to an impressive 1:52.2 victory pulling away late from pacesetter Railee Something for her seventh win in 11 starts this year. The daughter of Southwind Frank scored as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite.

Bond and Railee Something left out hard at the start with the latter assuming control before the field hit the first turn for driver Dexter Dunn. Railee Something cut the opening fraction in :27 1/5 and was able to settle the pace down nicely in the second quarter hitting the halfway marker in :56 4/5.

With little action coming from the rear Railee Something and Bond pulled away from the field through the three quarters clocked in 1:25 2/5 and the two locked horns in early stretch where Bond shifted into high gear and trotted off powerfully through the :27 final quarter to win in hand. Railee Something was a solid second with Rose Run Yolanda rallying late for the third spot. Bravo Angel S and Blonde Bombshell will also return for the final having finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Owned by Svanstedt along with partners Little E LLC and L. Berg Inc., Bond was bred by Diamond Creek Farms.

“My plan was to sit behind Dexter (Dunn),” Svanstedt said following the race. “And it worked out.”

Now with 14 victories in 20 career starts Bond and Special Way will have the advantage of drawing within the first five posts for the final. 

The draw was conducted for the $600,000 sophomore filly final and the post positions are:

1.      Special Way

2.      Bond

3.      Blonde Bombshell

4.      Rose Run Yolanda

5.      Baroness Hill

6.      Bravo Angel S

7.      Heaven Hanover

8.      Silly Me Hanover

9.      Quick Stop

10.  Railee Something