Distaffers dominated Week 14 of the 2018 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Poll, as the top four positions were occupied by females. Week 15 has seen a male crack the top three.
The Casie Coleman-trained McArdle warhorse McWicked dazzled fans at Woodbine Mohawk Park this past Saturday night (Sept. 1), as he shot past Down Under superstar Lazarus to capture the $600,000 Canadian Pacing Derby in 1:49.
The win added $300,000 to McWicked’s bankroll, and it also shot him up from seventh to third on Week 15 of the 2018 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Poll, courtesy of 233 points.
The top two positions on the poll remain unchanged from Week 14, as 2018 Hambletonian winner Atlanta still occupies the top spot with 318 points, and Manchego, who recently defeated Atlanta in the Casual Breeze, remains at No. 2 with 301 points.
Shartin N (208) and Courtly Choice (171) round out the top five, respectively.
Atlanta and Manchego are scheduled to lock horns on Saturday, September 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the $340,000 Elegantimage Stakes. Eliminations for the showdown were not required, as the connections of seven fillies entered their charges to contest the event. For more information, click here.
The results from Week 15 of the poll appear below.
(Rank – Horse [first-place votes] – Total Points – Previous)
1 – Atlanta (18) – 318 – 1
2 – Manchego (11) – 301 – 2
3 – McWicked (3) – 233 – 7
4 – Shartin N (1) – 208 – 3
5 – Courtly Choice (2) – 171 – 5
6 – Hannelore Hanover – 126 – 4
7 – Kissin In The Sand – 109 – 10
8 – Marion Marauder – 107 – 6
9 – Lazarus N – 78 – 9
10 – Ariana G – 70 – 8
Also: Stay Hungry (41); Lather Up (40); Youaremycandygirl (22); Jimmy Freight (19); Mets Hall (17); Six Pack (15); Crazy Wow (8); Captain Ahab, Plunge Blue Chip (6); Crystal Fashion, Dont Letem, Homicide Hunter, Proof (5); Phaetosive, Western Joe (3); Beckhams Z Tam, Caviart Ally, De Los Cielos Deo, Dorsoduro Hanover (1).
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll is voted on by harness racing media representatives that cover North American Standardbred racing.
The rankings are based on the votes of harness racing media representatives on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine Horse of the Year. The U.S. Harness Writers Association votes in December on all Dan Patch Award division winners plus Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year. The Dan Patch Awards are separate from the O'Brien Awards, which recognize Canada's top Standardbreds of a given racing season.