This time, it wasn’t as close. Apex, who won the Grade 1 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian this past Saturday by a nose in a stakes-record 1:49.2 at The Meadowlands, came out comfortably on top of the Week 9 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The three-year-old colt trotter received 22 of 35 first-place votes and a total of 330 points, putting him 44 ahead of No. 2-ranked Miki And Minnie as he moved from fifth to first in the rankings.
Miki And Minnie, who won the Grade 2 Lady Liberty by a half-length over stablemate Twin B Joe Fresh (No. 10 in the poll this week) moved from third to second in a swap of positions with Harrah’s Hoosier Park Open Trot winner On To Norway.
Brandon Blvd, who held the No. 1 spot for three weeks, dropped to fourth this week after a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Cane Pace. Hambletonian runner-up Big Ranger completed the top five, gaining a spot following his narrow loss.
Three newcomers occupied positions six through eight: Super Chapter, who won the Grade John Cashman Memorial; Nezuko Kamado S, who captured the Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks; and Bourbonista S, who defeated male rivals in the Vincennes for her third consecutive victory.
Odds On Mr Mamba, who finished fourth in the Cane Pace, dropped from fourth to ninth in the poll. Loua Dipa, Al Papi and Endurance dropped out of the Top 10.
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 9 – Sept. 12, 2026
| Rank | Name (First-Place Votes) | Age/Sex/Gait | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Previous |
| 1 | Apex (22) | 3ct | 5-4-1-0 | $739,716 | 330 | 5 |
| 2 | Miki And Minnie (5) | 4mp | 8-6-0-2 | $372,099 | 286 | 3 |
| 3 | On To Norway (7) | 4gt | 8-7-1-0 | $403,250 | 254 | 2 |
| 4 | Brandon Blvd | 3cp | 8-5-2-1 | $745,695 | 172 | 1 |
| 5 | Big Ranger | 3ct | 8-5-1-0 | $402,337 | 169 | 6 |
| 6 | Super Chapter | 4ht | 5-3-2-0 | $330,257 | 153 | -- |
| 7 | Nezuko Kamado S | 3ft | 6-5-1-0 | $503,905 | 152 | -- |
| 8 | Bourbonista S (1) | 5mt | 8-4-2-1 | $185,840 | 95 | -- |
| 9 | Odds On Mr Mamba | 3gp | 7-4-0-2 | $525,220 | 80 | 4 |
| 10 | Twin B Joe Fresh | 6mp | 7-3-2-0 | $240,858 | 78 | 8 |
ALSO: Loua Dipa 52; Al Papi 41; Walspea 13; Lexus Kody 11; Lifetime Dreamer, Shalom Hanover 8; Sweet Lovin Lou 5; Be Perfect BG, Best Chip, Endurance 3; Captain Albano, Captain Optimistic, Wall Of Fame 2; Antognoni S, Carve, Southwind Chaska 1.
(USTA)