Apex Maintains Top Spot In Racing Poll
Hambletonian champion Apex maintained his kingpin status for the third consecutive week in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Brandon Blvd, who this past Saturday won the Grade 2 Max C. Hempt Memorial at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, vaulted from fourth to second in Week 11 of the poll while idle Apex remained No. 1.
Brandon Blvd, who held the poll’s top position for the three weeks prior to Apex taking the spot, garnered eight first-place votes after receiving none in Week 10. Apex saw his total of first-place votes decrease by three, to 19, while third-ranked On To Norway got six first-place nods (a loss of one) and fourth-ranked Miki And Minnie got two (a loss of three).
On To Norway won a leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes for older trotters last week as his spot in the rankings remained unchanged. Miki And Minnie, who has been sidelined by an injury expected to keep her out the rest of the season, was No. 2 in the poll a week ago.
Odds On Mr Mamba was the only other horse in last week’s Top 10 to race, finishing seventh in the Hempt. He was ranked ninth last week but dropped out of the Top 10 as his points total dipped below idle Loua Dipa’s in the battle for the final position.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, which will continue weekly on Wednesdays through the Grand Circuit season, does not determine year-end awards. 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 11 – Aug. 26, 2026
| Rank | Name (First-Place Votes) | Age/Sex/Gait | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Previous |
| 1 | Apex (19) | 3ct | 5-4-1-0 | $739,716 | 329 | 1 |
| 2 | Brandon Blvd (8) | 3cp | 9-6-2-1 | $895,695 | 277 | 4 |
| 3 | On To Norway (6) | 4gt | 9-8-1-0 | $413,250 | 263 | 3 |
| 4 | Miki And Minnie (2) | 4mp | 8-6-0-2 | $372,099 | 287 | 2 |
| 5 | Big Ranger | 3ct | 8-5-1-0 | $402,337 | 167 | 5 |
| 6 | Super Chapter | 4ht | 5-3-2-0 | $330,257 | 155 | 6 |
| 7 | Nezuko Kamado S | 3ft | 6-5-1-0 | $503,905 | 141 | 7 |
| 8 | Bourbonista S | 5mt | 8-4-2-1 | $185,840 | 87 | 8 |
| 9 | Twin B Joe Fresh | 6mp | 7-3-2-0 | $240,858 | 58 | 10 |
| 10 | Loua Dipa | 3fp | 7-4-1-0 | $293,090 | 34 | -- |
ALSO: Odds On Mr Mamba 31; Al Papi 27; Nordic Catcher S, Shalom Hanover 19; Melillo 15; Starstruck Dreamer, Victorianas Secret 14; Lexus Kody, Wall Of Fame 11; Inexpressable 6; Sangria Summer 5; Walspea, Woodmere Rock It 3; Antognoni S, Donttruckwithme, Fifth And Five, Lifetime Dreamer 2; Best Chip 1.
(With files from USTA)
Starstruck Dreamer, again
Starstruck Dreamer raced in a division of The Kindergarten at The Meadowlands this evening and won easily in 1:53.1, last quarter in 27.2. It was a non-betting race, since The Meadowlands probably realized that even if no place or show betting was permitted, the track would probably have the largest minus-pool in the history of The Meadowlands. Starstruck Dreamer will face the acid test in his next start in The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship on Sept. 7, (Labor Day in the USA) since he'll be facing Shalom Hanover, who is also undefeated and received more votes in this week's Top 10 poll than he did.
Starstruck Dreamer
Starstruck Dreamer, a 2yopc, is undefeated in 4 starts this year. Let's compare him to Apex, a horse that is not undefeated and has only raced 5 times in 8 months in 2026. Even Golden Tempo, a thoroughbred, winner of The Kentucky Derby and The Belmont, will be making his 6th start of the year on Saturday, putting him ahead of Apex. Starstruck Dreamer's last win was in a world record time of 1:48.4, the fastest freshman on a five-eighth mile track in the sport's history. He is also the fastest 2-year-old anywhere, on any size track, in North America in 2026, and has already won in sub-1:50 twice. In his world-record win, he won by 5-3/4 lengths at odds of 1-20. In comparison, Apex's win in the Hambo was by just a nose in a race in which he wasn't even the favorite. Apex hasn't broken or even tied any world records this year. Why then is Apex the top-ranked horse in this week's poll and why isn't Starstruck Dreamer even in the top 10???