With the final major stakes weekend of 2020 on the imminent horizon, there is little change above the top of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll and there's also little time left for horses and their connections to make up ground on the frontrunners.
Tall Dark Stranger kept his position atop the leaderboard with 24 first-place votes, one more than he garnered last week. Party Girl Hill doubled her top vote total after her season-ending track record score in the Matron Stakes last Thursday at Dover Downs, receiving eight first-place votes this week.
Gimpanzee, Perfect Sting and Kissin In The Sand all remained in their respective positions on the top five. Gimpanzee again received one first-place vote with Perfect Sting again receiving two.
Ramona Hill dropped from sixth to eighth after her miscue in the Matron, bumping up Atlanta and Amigo Volo each one spot. As with last week, Bettors Wish and Manchego rounded out the top 10 in advance of their final career starts on Saturday.
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 19 – 11/17/2020
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/G/S | Record | Earnings | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Tall Dark Stranger (24) | 3pc | 13-11-1-0 | $1,428,681 | 332 | 1 |
| 2 | Party Girl Hill (8) | 3pf | 16-15-0-0 | $932,545 | 311 | 2 |
| 3 | Gimpanzee (1) | 4th | 11-8-1-1 | $997,092 | 263 | 3 |
| 4 | Perfect Sting (2) | 2pc | 10-10-0-0 | $534,300 | 228 | 4 |
| 5 | Kissin In The Sand | 5pm | 11-7-1-0 | $451,059 | 196 | 5 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 5tm | 11-5-3-1 | $736,742 | 130 | 7 |
| 7 | Amigo Volo | 3tg | 15-9-1-2 | $939,498 | 127 | 8 |
| 8 | Ramona Hill | 3tf | 10-6-1-1 | $968,282 | 126 | 6 |
| 9 | Bettors Wish | 4ph | 12-5-3-2 | $522,232 | 55 | 9 |
| 10 | Manchego | 5tm | 12-5-2-2 | $446,171 | 53 | 10 |
ALSO: Shartin N, 22; Test Of Faith, 16; Cattlewash, 11; Century Farroh, Fire Start Hanover, Sorella, 10; Action Uncle, 6; Anoka Hanover, 4; Leonidas A, Peaky Sneaky, Venerate, 3; Charlie May, Lindy The Great, On A Streak, Ready For Moni, 2; Pemberton, Yall Beneath Me, 1.
(with files from the USTA)
I believe that there are 2
I believe that there are 2 remaining top-10 polls in 2020, the penultimate one next Tues, and the final on Dec. 1. However, there will likely be no more changes in votes between the top 2 HOTY candidates, Tall Dark Stranger and Party Girl Hill. TDS's racing career is over, and Party Girl's season is most likely over, since her connections didn't enter her in The TVG against older mares on Saturday at The Meadowlands. (although 3yo Peaky Sneaky is entered)