Apex Still No. 1 In Harness Racing Poll
Apex remained No. 1 for the fourth consecutive week as the top three spots were unchanged in the Week 12 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
Apex, winner of the Hambletonian in his last start on Aug. 8, garnered 20 of 35 first-place votes. His next start is slated for Saturday at The Meadowlands, where he is the even-money morning line favourite in an elimination for the New Jersey Classic for three-year-old male trotters.
Apex was followed by Brandon Blvd and On To Norway – who were all idle – in the top three rankings.
Super Chapter moved up to his highest ranking of the season. Super Chapter, who won his Maple Leaf Trot elimination in 1:49.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park last week and is the 6-5 morning line favourite in this Saturday’s Grade 1 final, vaulted from sixth to fourth in the Top 10 and received one first-place vote.
Miki And Minnie dropped from fourth to fifth in the poll and was followed by Nezuko Kamado S, Big Ranger, Bourbonista S, Twin B Joe Fresh and Loua Dipa. Only two horses from that group raced last week – Nezuko Kamado S won the third preliminary leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for three-year-old female trotters last week while Twin B Joe Fresh finished third in the Open for fillies and mares at Mohawk ahead of Saturday’s Grade 2 Milton Stakes.
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 United States Harness Writers Association vote on all Dan Patch Award division winners plus U.S. 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 12 – Sept. 2, 2026
| Rank | Name (First-Place Votes) | Age/Sex/Gait | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Previous |
| 1 | Apex (20) | 3ct | 5-4-1-0 | $739,716 | 328 | 1 |
| 2 | Brandon Blvd (7) | 3cp | 9-6-2-1 | $895,695 | 280 | 2 |
| 3 | On To Norway (6) | 4gt | 9-8-1-0 | $413,250 | 255 | 3 |
| 4 | Super Chapter (1) | 4ht | 6-4-2-0 | $348,507 | 186 | 6 |
| 5 | Miki And Minnie (1) | 4mp | 8-6-0-2 | $372,099 | 178 | 4 |
| 6 | Nezuko Kamado S | 3ft | 7-6-1-0 | $543,905 | 175 | 7 |
| 7 | Big Ranger | 3ct | 8-5-1-0 | $402,337 | 144 | 5 |
| 8 | Bourbonista S | 5mt | 8-4-2-1 | $185,840 | 81 | 8 |
| 9 | Twin B Joe Fresh | 6mp | 8-3-2-1 | $245,178 | 46 | 9 |
| 10 | Loua Dipa | 3fp | 7-4-1-0 | $293,090 | 33 | 10 |
ALSO: Al Papi 32; Starstruck Dreamer 31; Shalom Hanover 28; Wall Of Fame 26; Odds On Mr Mamba 25; Sangria Summer 18; Victorianas Secret 12; Nordic Catcher S 11; Melillo 10; Lexus Kody 8; Prince Hal Hanover 6; Francent N 5; Inexpressable 3; Beau Jangles, Miss Jum Jabber, Sea Bistro Hanover, Woodmere Rock It 1.
(With files from USTA)