Lyons Sentinel, who equaled the all-time pacing record at Plainridge Park with her 1:48.1 win in the Clara Barton Distaff Pace, joined the Top 10 in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll.
The four-year-old mare equaled the mark set by Shartin N in last year’s Barton and climbed to No. 8 in the rankings.
There were no other newcomers to the Top 10. Perfect Sting, who was ninth last week and did not race, dropped from the group.
Manchego, who won the Spirit of Massachusetts, remained in the No. 1 spot while Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial winner This Is The Plan moved from fourth to second. Test Of Faith, who was idle, slipped a notch to third and Hot Mess Express, who won a leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes, dropped to fourth.
All the remaining horses in the Top 10 were idle last week.
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 10 – 7/27/2021
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Manchego (32) | 6mt | 6-5-0-1 | $292,971 | 346 | 1 |
| 2 | This Is The Plan (1) | 6gp | 13-5-7-0 | $610,845 | 274 | 4 |
| 3 | Test Of Faith (1) | 3fp | 5-5-0-0 | $163,350 | 259 | 2 |
| 4 | Hot Mess Express (1) | 3fp | 7-7-0-0 | $314,590 | 239 | 3 |
| 5 | Cattlewash | 4hp | 5-2-2-1 | $274,815 | 137 | 5 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 6mt | 3-2-0-0 | $96,520 | 117 | 6 |
| 7 | Dancinginthedark M | 3ct | 5-4-0-0 | $106,347 | 107 | 7 |
| 8 | Lyons Sentinel | 4mp | 9-3-1-2 | $178,248 | 81 | — |
| 9 | Johan Palema | 3ct | 5-4-1-0 | $316,627 | 60 | 10 |
| 10 | Nicholas Beach | 5gp | 7-5-2-0 | $107,950 | 53 | 8 |
ALSO: Perfect Sting 36; Charlie May 32; Beads 25; Lawless Shadow 20; It’s Academic 19; Abuckabett Hanover 17; Winning Ticket 16; American Courage 14; Venerable 11; Ahundreddollarbill 10; Bulldog Hanover 9; Lindy The Great, Southwind Gendry 8; Hellabalou 4; Beltassima, Betterhavemymoney, JK First Lady, Sea Silk, You Ato Dream 3; Allywag Hanover, King Of The North, Ready For Moni 2; Love That Smile, Southwind Amazon 1.
(USTA)
The 2021 class of 3yopc's is
The 2021 class of 3yopc's is a very weak one. Perfect Sting, who received more votes than any other horse, has only been the first horse to cross the finish line in one race this year, and it wasn't even a stakes race - it was a conditioned race for NW's of $12,500 - not exactly the most difficult competition. And Maritime Canada's Time To Dance didn't receive any votes in this week's poll, but that could change next week if he wins The Walter Dale on Saturday at Exhibition Park.