Joviality S Takes Top Spot In Standardbred Poll
For the third time in four weeks, the No. 1 spot changed hands in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll. And for the second time in the poll’s overall five weeks, the two top horses were separated by fewer than five points.
Joviality S, who last week became the first filly to beat the boys in the Yonkers Trot since Continentalvictory in 1996, this week received 12 of 35 first-place votes and a total of 304 points to move from fourth to first in the rankings.
Bulldog Hanover, who equalled the fastest mile in history with his 1:46 score in a division of the Roll With Joe Stakes at The Meadowlands, jumped from sixth to second. He also garnered 12 first-place votes, but fell three points shy of Joviality S, with 301.
It is the closest margin between first and second since Week 8 in 2020 when one point separated No. 1 Ramona Hill and No. 2 Tall Dark Stranger.
Dropping to third was previous poll-leader Jimmy Freight, who was idle last week. Jimmy Freight received the remaining 11 first-place votes and totaled 289 points.
Test Of Faith, who finished second to Racine Bell in the Perfect Sting Mare Pace, fell from second to fourth and was followed by Pebble Beach, who was idle.
There were two newcomers to the Top 10, with Six Pack Mare Trot winner Bella Bellini at No. 6 and Crawford Farms Open Trot champion Alrajah One IT at No. 10.
Funatthebeach N and Fast As The Wind dropped from the Top 10.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine Horse of the Year. The members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association vote on all Dan Patch Award division winners plus Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year.
Rankings based on the votes of harness racing media representatives on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll: Week 5 – July 5, 2022
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Joviality S (12) | 3ft | 5-5-0-0 | $310,477 | 304 | 4 |
| 2 | Bulldog Hanover (12) | 4hp | 6-5-0-0 | $149,431 | 301 | 6 |
| 3 | Jimmy Freight (11) | 7hp | 18-11-1-3 | $283,337 | 289 | 1 |
| 4 | Test Of Faith | 4mp | 7-3-3-0 | $202,462 | 214 | 2 |
| 5 | Pebble Beach | 3cp | 4-3-1-0 | $441,900 | 206 | 3 |
| 6 | Bella Bellini | 4mt | 7-3-2-2 | $155,402 | 142 | — |
| 7 | Treacherous Dragon | 3fp | 6-6-0-0 | $261,001 | 113 | 7 |
| 8 | Ecurie D DK | 6ht | 2-1-0-1 | $99,104 | 82 | 5 |
| 9 | Atlanta | 7mt | 5-2-2-0 | $122,755 | 39 | 8 |
| 10 | Alrajah One IT | 6ht | 1-1-0-0 | $72,030 | 38 | — |
ALSO: Racine Bell 33; Funatthebeach N 31; Linedrive Hanover 28; Fast As The Wind 25; Rebuff 16; Rockyroad Hanover 15; Charlie May 14; Lovedbythemasses 8; Mikala 4; Allywag Hanover, Gulf Shores, Leonidas A, Lyons Sentinel, Pleaseletmeknow 3; Boudoir Hanover, Fashion Schooner, Forbidden Trade 2; Beach Glass, Velvet Stinger 1.
(USTA)
Sectionline Bigry absent from top 10?
I can't believe that aged pacer Sectionline Bigry failed to receive a single vote. His 12 wins this year are the most of any pacer in North America and second overall, and he has finished in the money in every one of his 20 starts. He mainly faces Open and Preferred horses but he raced in The Battle of Lake Erie last month and finished 3rd, a neck behind #3 Jimmy Freight, and had the race been 1/16 of a mile longer he would have undoubtedly zoomed right by Jimmy Freight and finished 2nd. His $209,500 in earnings in 2022 are higher than 6 of the horses in the top 10. The only negative about the horse that I can think of is why on earth would anyone name their horse Sectionline Bigry???