Bulldog Hanover remained No. 1 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll for the 11th consecutive week while Charlie May joined the Top 10 in the Week 16 edition released Tuesday (Sept. 20), giving the four-year-old male pacer his first appearance in the upper echelon of the rankings this season.
Charlie May won the Ohio Breeders Championship on Sunday at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, extending his win streak to three.
Little else changed in the poll as Test Of Faith and Stockade Seelster were the only two horses in last week’s Top 10 that saw action. Test Of Faith won the Milton Stakes and moved to No. 3 in the rankings, swapping places with Beach Glass, while Stockade Seelster was third in his Metro elimination and dropped from the Top 10.
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 16 – Sept. 20, 2022
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Bulldog Hanover (34) | 4hp | 11-10-0-0 | $924,331 | 349 | 1 |
| 2 | Joviality S (1) | 3ft | 11-9-1-1 | $882,427 | 297 | 2 |
| 3 | Test Of Faith | 4mp | 14-8-5-0 | $541,592 | 251 | 4 |
| 4 | Beach Glass | 3cp | 10-7-3-0 | $930,069 | 248 | 3 |
| 5 | Bella Bellini | 4mt | 13-6-3-4 | $532,477 | 171 | 5 |
| 6 | Fashion Schooner | 3ft | 10-7-2-1 | $614,437 | 155 | 6 |
| 7 | Bythemissal | 3gp | 10-8-2-0 | $534,750 | 114 | 7 |
| 8 | Alrajah One IT | 6ht | 3-3-0-0 | $332,345 | 61 | 8 |
| 9 | Cool Papa Bell | 3gt | 10-5-1-2 | $751,225 | 52 | 9 |
| 10 | Charlie May | 4gp | 15-7-3-2 | $336,258 | 38 | — |
ALSO: Pebble Beach 37; Stockade Seelster 22; Sylvia Hanover, Twin B Joe Fresh 16; Rebuff 11; Jimmy Freight 10; I Did It Myway 9; Righteous Resolve, Save America 8; Max Contract, Tattoo Artist 7; Back Of The Neck, Oh Well, Voukefalas 5; Boudoir Hanover 4; Beach Cowgirl, Cuatro De Julio, Ecurie D DK, Special Way 3; Kilmister 2; Allywag Hanover, Confederate, Ponda Adventure, Rockyroad Hanover, Warrawee Xenia 1.
(With files from USTA)
Joviality #1???
Two weeks ago, it was Test Of Faith, now it's Joviality. To the person that gave her his first-place vote, please explain your reasoning for doing so. Bulldog Hanover and Joviality have both raced 11 times in 2022. Bulldog has more wins, has earned more money, and paced the fastest mile in harness racing history. Joviality doesn't hold a single world record for a 3yotf. Three major stakes races for standardbreds her age, sex, and gait, The Buckette, The Moni Maker, and The Elegant Image, are all being held this week. She hasn't raced since 9/10. If she's #1, then why did she skip all 3 races???