Three-year-old male pacer Its My Show, undefeated in five races this year and a finalist in Saturday’s $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, tops the Week 1 edition of the 2023 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll.
Its My Show, who collected 189 points, was among 10 horses receiving first-place votes from the 35-member panel of voters. A total of 55 horses received at least one point in this season’s first poll.
Lochinvar Art A, fresh off his victory in the Battle of Lake Erie, was No. 2 in the rankings. Returning Dan Patch Award recipient Special Way, who captured the New Jersey Sire Stakes final for three-year-old female trotters, was third followed by Graduate Series Trot first round winner Jiggy Jog S and world record-setting Joe Auger Memorial winner Ruthless Hanover.
Completing the top 10 were Camluck Classic winner Covered Bridge, Fan Hanover Stakes finalist Sylvia Hanover, New Jersey Sire Stakes champ and NA Cup finalist Voukefalas, MGM Borgata Pacing Series winner Hellabalou and Armbro Flight finalist Bella Bellini.
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 1 – June 13, 2023
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Its My Show (5) | 3gp | 5-5-0-0 | $80,084 | 189 | — |
| 2 | Lochinvar Art A (3) | 8hp | 12-6-3-2 | $262,925 | 161 | — |
| 3 | Special Way (5) | 3ft | 3-3-0-0 | $150,000 | 150 | — |
| 4 | Jiggy Jog S (4) | 4mt | 1-1-0-0 | $36,908 | 129 | — |
| 5 | Ruthless Hanover (3) | 6gp | 6-4-0-1 | $94,000 | 118 | — |
| 6 | Covered Bridge (3) | 7gp | 18-8-1-5 | $281,060 | 113 | — |
| 7 | Sylvia Hanover (4) | 3fp | 2-2-0-0 | $21,155 | 104 | — |
| 8 | Voukefalas | 3cp | 4-3-1-0 | $159,375 | 102 | — |
| 9 | Hellabalou (4) | 5hp | 12-5-2-0 | $354,450 | 89 | — |
| 10 | Bella Bellini (2) | 5mt | 4-1-1-1 | $33,779 | 82 | — |
ALSO: Venerate 74; Confederate 71; Air Power 63; Amazing Dream N 55; Twin B Joe Fresh 54; Khaosan Road 48; Treacherous Dragon 42; Fulton 39; Leonidas A 27; Grace Hill 25; Bond 19; Christchurch 17; So Much More 16; Hillexotic 15; C Is For Cookie 14; Keg Stand 10; Charlie May, Idealsomemagic A 8; Drama Act, Little Rocket Man 7; Adare Castle, Nautical Hanover, This Is The Plan 6; Ammo, Raised By Lindy 5; Boudoir Hanover, Max Contract, Stockade Seelster 4; Let It Ride N, Oh Well, Sadie Hanover, Shark Week 3; Delitfulcatherin N, Hey Livvy, Officer Jim, South Beach Star 2; Gaines Hanover, I Did It Myway, Iron Sharpens Iron, Jet Hill, Lit De Rose, Outlaw C My Shadow, Ponda Jet, Southwind Gendry, Spitfire Oversees 1.
NOTE: Confederate received 2 first-place votes.
(USTA)
Wow!! Amazing poll!
55 horses received votes and 10 of them received first-place votes! Not only that but every horse that received first-place votes received at least two of them! I don't think that's ever happened in a poll before.