With little activity last week among horses receiving points in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, there was little change in the Week 9 rankings released on Tuesday, Aug. 13 with Twin B Joe Fresh holding the top spot.
The potential for movement appears greater for Week 10 with a number of horses, beginning today with No. 2-ranked Karl, already entered for races this week. Karl won on Tuesday afternoon in the second leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series at Lexington’s Red Mile.
Other horses in the Top 10 entered so far are Legendary Hanover, Jiggy Jog S, Papi Grad and Warrawee Michelle. Papi Grad races Thursday in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Harrah’s Philadelphia while the remaining three will head to Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Pocono Downs for Sun Stakes Saturday.
Also set for Sun Stakes Saturday are poll point-getters Elista Hanover, Captain Albano, My Girl EJ, T C I, Odds On Platinum, Coaches Corner, and Sig Sauer. In addition, Cowgirl Hanover races Wednesday in a division of the New York Sire Stakes at Batavia Downs.
Last week, two horses in the Top 10 were in action, with Its A Love Thing winning a leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series and Papi Grad winning a Hoosier Stakes.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, which will be released every Tuesday through the remainder of the Grand Circuit season, 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 9 – Aug. 13, 2024
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Twin B Joe Fresh (22) | 4mp | 7-6-1-0 | $369,962 | 333 | 1 |
| 2 | Karl (11) | 3ct | 7-6-0-1 | $757,839 | 300 | 2 |
| 3 | Legendary Hanover (1) | 3cp | 8-5-2-0 | $551,555 | 281 | 3 |
| 4 | Jiggy Jog S | 5mt | 3-3-0-0 | $259,188 | 229 | 4 |
| 5 | Nijinsky (1) | 3cp | 8-7-1-0 | $689,280 | 220 | 5 |
| 6 | Its A Love Thing | 3fp | 8-6-2-0 | $411,074 | 173 | 6 |
| 7 | Highland Kismet | 3gt | 9-5-2-0 | $362,400 | 75 | 7 |
| 8 | M Ms Dream | 5mt | 9-6-3-0 | $227,388 | 69 | 8 |
| 9 | Papi Grad | 2fp | 4-4-0-0 | $87,218 | 46 | 10 |
| 10 | Warrawee Michelle | 3ft | 4-1-0-1 | $269,750 | 39 | 9 |
ALSO: Abuckabett Hanover 32; Elista Hanover 23; Southwind Tyrion 18; Captain Albano 16; Its Academic 11; My Girl EJ, Sir Pinocchio 7; T C I 6; Cowgirl Hanover, Odds On Platinum 5; Sabonis, Yo Tillie 4; Coaches Corner, Outlawguns N Roses, Sylvia Hanover 3; Chantilly, Logan Park, Rocknroll Runa A, Swingtown, Winners Bet 2; Chapercraz, Sig Sauer, Tactical Mounds 1.
(With files from USTA)