Weekend winners Niki Hill, Lyons Sentinel, Allywag Hanover and Joviality S were among the horses that made gains in this week’s penultimate Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released Tuesday (Nov. 23).
Three Diamonds winner Niki Hill moved from third to second in the Top 10, trailing only idle No. 1 Test Of Faith, who topped the rankings for the fourth consecutive week.
Jujubee, also idle, dropped from second to third and was followed by TVG Mare Pace champ Lyons Sentinel and TVG Open Pace winner Allywag Hanover in rounding out the top five.
Joviality S, who defeated then-No. 6 Venerable in the Goldsmith Maid with a stakes record performance, joined the Top 10 at No. 10. Venerable slid one spot to seventh.
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.
The final poll will be November 30 following the completion of the Grand Circuit season.
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 27 – November 23, 2021
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Test Of Faith (30) | 3fp | 16-14-2-0 | $1,069,739 | 339 | 1 |
| 2 | Niki Hill (5) | 2fp | 10-9-1-0 | $904,557 | 280 | 3 |
| 3 | Jujubee | 3ct | 18-14-3-0 | $948,791 | 246 | 2 |
| 4 | Lyons Sentinel | 4mp | 19-10-2-4 | $767,233 | 216 | 5 |
| 5 | Allywag Hanover | 4gp | 19-10-3-1 | $942,000 | 198 | 7 |
| 6 | Bella Bellini | 3ft | 19-11-6-1 | $1,111,500 | 176 | 4 |
| 7 | Venerable | 2ft | 11-9-1-0 | $1,039,966 | 135 | 6 |
| 8 | Perfect Sting | 3cp | 16-7-8-1 | $1,273,847 | 123 | 8 |
| 9 | Atlanta | 6mt | 12-6-3-1 | $440,949 | 36 | 10 |
| 10 | Joviality S | 2ft | 12-9-2-0 | $895,341 | 33 | — |
ALSO: Charlie May 25; Ecurie D DK 23; When Dovescry 20; Forbidden Trade 16; Monte Miki 14; Hot Mess Express, Ocean Rock 10; Bulldog Hanover 7; Manchego 5; Dover In Motion, Enavant, Rocknificent 4; Prohibition Legal 1.
(USTA)