by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager

Hightstown, NJ — New Zealand-bred pacing stallion Lazarus won his North American debut last week in the Dan Patch Stakes and this week debuts at No. 6 in the Hambletonian Society Breeders Crown poll.

There were no other newcomers to the Top 10.

No. 1-ranked Atlanta, who was idle, increased her advantage over No. 2 Hannelore Hanover, who finished third in last week’s Joie De Vie Stakes. Atlanta gained eight first-place votes from last week and holds a 76-point lead over Hannelore Hanover, an increase of 51 points.

Winners in the Top 10 were Courtly Choice, who captured his elimination for the Empire Breeders Classic, and Kissin In The Sand, who won a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes.

Lather Up, who went off stride in the Carl Milstein Memorial, dropped from sixth to 10th.

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.

Rankings based on the votes of harness racing media representatives on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

HambletonianSociety/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll: Week 12 – 8/14/2018

Also:Ariana G (64); Youaremycandygirl (42); Crystal Fashion (18); Stay Hungry (16);Dream Together, Six Pack (9); Dorsoduro Hanover (8); Will Take Charge, Wolfgang(7); Bit Of A Legend N, Captain Ahab, Don’t Let’em, Filibuster Hanover, JimmyFreight (6); Sonnet Grace (4); Melodies Major, Phaetosive, Plunge Blue Chip(3); Caviart Ally, Risk N, Thinkbig Dreambig (2); De Los Cielos Deo, Fox ValleyGemini, Western Joe (1).