Nicholas Beach, Perfect Sting, and Hellabalou all improved their position in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll thanks to wins last week. Nicholas Beach, who won the preferred handicap at The Meadowlands, moved from 10th to sixth while Tompkins-Geers winner Perfect Sting and Adios champion Hellabalou were newcomers to the Top 10 in Week 11 of the rankings.
Manchego and This Is The Plan remained 1-2 in the poll. Manchego received 33 of 35 first-place votes, gaining a first-place nod after Test Of Faith suffered her first defeat of the season.
Dancinginthedark M and Johan Palema dropped from the Top 10 following losses in their Hambletonian eliminations.
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 11 – 8/3/2021
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Manchego (33) | 6mt | 6-5-0-1 | $292,971 | 348 | 1 |
| 2 | This Is The Plan (1) | 6gp | 13-5-7-0 | $610,845 | 291 | 2 |
| 3 | Hot Mess Express (1) | 3fp | 7-7-0-0 | $314,590 | 235 | 4 |
| 4 | Test Of Faith | 3fp | 6-5-1-0 | $179,050 | 220 | 3 |
| 5 | Cattlewash | 4hp | 5-2-2-1 | $274,815 | 123 | 5 |
| 6 | Nicholas Beach | 5gp | 8-6-2-0 | $128,950 | 102 | 10 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 6mt | 4-2-1-0 | $106,520 | 88 | 6 |
| 8 | Perfect Sting | 3cp | 6-3-2-1 | $307,277 | 74 | — |
| 9 | Lyons Sentinel | 4mp | 9-3-1-2 | $178,248 | 68 | 8 |
| 10 | Hellabalou | 3cp | 11-5-1-0 | $308,253 | 59 | — |
ALSO: Charlie May 31; King Of The North 29; Dancinginthedark M 27; Captain Corey 25; When Dovescry 23; Lawless Shadow 21; Beads 18; Johan Palema 17; Winning Ticket 15; Venerable 13; Ahundreddollarbill, Fire Start Hanover 10; Abuckabett Hanover, Betterhavemymoney 9; Bulldog Hanover, Gotthegreenlight, Lady Chaos 8; It’s Academic, Lindy The Great 7; Awesome Trix 4; Bella Bellini, JK First Lady, You Ato Dream 3; American Courage, Delayed Hanover, Love That Smile, Sea Silk 2; Southwind Amazon 1.
(USTA)
The only 3 horses in this
The only 3 horses in this week's poll that will NOT be racing at The Big M tomorrow afternoon are Hot Mess Express, Test of Faith and Hellabalou.