'Bulldog' Tops Poll For 10th Straight Week
While idle this week, world champion Bulldog Hanover maintained his position in the No. 1 spot for the 10th straight week in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll.
Cool Papa Bell returned to the Top 10 in the Week 15 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released Tuesday (Sept. 13) following a track record performance in the New York Sire Stakes championship for three-year-old male trotters this past Saturday (Sept. 10) at Tioga Downs.
The gelding, who was ranked No. 9 this week, previously enjoyed three weeks in the Top 10 following his victory in the Hambletonian in August. Cool Papa Bell was the only newcomer in this week’s Top 10, which saw little movement as a number of ranked horses posted victories over the weekend.
Idle No. 1 Bulldog Hanover remained in the top spot but dropped a first-place vote to No. 2 Joviality S, a three-year-old female trotter who also won a New York Sire Stakes championship Saturday with a track record effort.
Following those two were Beach Glass, who won a division of the Simcoe Stakes, and Test Of Faith, who captured an elimination of the Milton Stakes. Bella Bellini finished second in a leg of the Miss Versatility Series and dropped 32 points but remained at No. 5 just ahead of New Jersey Classic Series winner Fashion Schooner.
The remaining horses in the Top 10 – Bythemissal, Alrajah One IT and Stockade Seelster – were idle.
Pebble Beach dropped from the Top 10.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine U.S. 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 15 – Sept. 13, 2022
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Bulldog Hanover (34) | 4hp | 11-10-0-0 | $924,331 | 349 | 1 |
| 2 | Joviality S (1) | 3ft | 11-9-1-1 | $882,427 | 298 | 2 |
| 3 | Beach Glass | 3cp | 10-7-3-0 | $930,069 | 256 | 3 |
| 4 | Test Of Faith | 4mp | 13-7-5-0 | $455,342 | 240 | 4 |
| 5 | Bella Bellini | 4mt | 13-6-3-4 | $532,477 | 164 | 5 |
| 6 | Fashion Schooner | 3ft | 10-7-2-1 | $614,437 | 154 | 7 |
| 7 | Bythemissal | 3pg | 10-8-2-0 | $534,750 | 117 | 6 |
| 8 | Alrajah One IT | 6ht | 3-3-0-0 | $332,345 | 68 | 8 |
| 9 | Cool Papa Bell | 3gt | 10-5-1-2 | $751,225 | 55 | — |
| 10 | Stockade Seelster | 2cp | 6-6-0-0 | $222,468 | 45 | 10 |
ALSO: Pebble Beach 43; Charlie May 34; Rebuff 17; Jimmy Freight 15; Twin B Joe Fresh 12; Max Contract 11; Sylvia Hanover 9; Back Of The Neck, Ecurie D DK 5; Allywag Hanover 4; Beach Cowgirl, Cuatro De Julio, Kilmister, Velvet Stinger 3; I Did It Myway, Save America, Voukefalas 2; Forbidden Trade, Monkey Queen, Ponda Adventure, Rockyroad Hanover, Vivians Dream, Warrawee Xenia 1.
(With files from USTA)