The top three Standardbreds atop the 2018 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Poll have maintained their positions after Week 19 voting.
The Hambletonian Oaks-winning Manchego has maintained her No. 1 position after having garnered 22 first-place votes and 326 overall points. The impressive three-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill last saw action on September 21 at Hoosier Park, when she shrugged off a Post 10 start and trotted to a three-length, 1:53 victory in the $172,000 Moni Maker.
Little Brown Jug winner Courtly Choice has held onto his No.2 ranking in the poll after Week 19 voting. The Blake MacIntosh-trained son of Art Major hasn’t raced since his determined effort at Ohio’s Delaware County Fair on September 20. The bay colt attracted 11 first-place votes and a total of 311 points, just 15 short of Manchego.
Hambletonian winner Atlanta sits at No. 3 after Week 19 polling. The bay daughter of Chapter Seven has yet to win since her August 4 Hambo victory, but the Rick Zeron-trained and Scott Zeron-driven filly attracted 311 overall points in Week 19, which was good enough to maintain her position on the poll.
The results from Week 19 of the poll appear below.
(Rank – Horse [first-place votes] – Total Points – Previous Rank)
1. Manchego (22) - 326 - 1
2. Courtly Choice (11) - 311 - 2
3. Atlanta - 209 - 3
4. Shartin N - 195 - 4
5. Marion Marauder (1) - 167 - 6
6. McWicked - 159 - 5
7. Kissin In The Sand - 149 - 7
8. Stay Hungry (1) - 79 - 10
9. Crystal Fashion - 67 - 9
10. Lather Up - 75 - 8
Also: Ariana G 55; Phaetosive 35; Green Manalishi S 28; Lazarus N, Stag Party 16; Donttellmeagain 9; Mets Hall 8; Gimpanzee, Six Pack 7; Caviart Ally 6; Hannelore Hanover 5; The Ice Dutchess 4; Captain Ahab, Plunge Blue Chip, Tall Drink Hanover, Will Take Charge 2; Dorsoduro Hanover, Only Take Cash 1.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll is voted on by harness racing media representatives that cover North American Standardbred racing.
The rankings are based on the votes of harness racing media representatives on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine Horse of the Year. The U.S. Harness Writers Association votes in December on all Dan Patch Award division winners plus Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year. The Dan Patch Awards are separate from the O'Brien Awards, which recognize Canada's top Standardbreds of a given racing season.