Atlanta takes over top spot in Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll
August 7, 2018,by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
Hightstown, NJ — Hambletonian Day’s results led to a number of changes in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, including a new No. 1 knocking Hannelore Hanover off the top spot for the first time this year.
Atlanta, who became the 14th filly to win the Hambletonian, vaulted from fourth to first in this week’s poll and received 23 of 35 first-place votes. Hannelore Hanover, who finished third in the John Cashman Memorial, dropped to second and received 11 first-place nods.
Hambletonian Oaks winner Manchego rejoined the Top 10, moving from 11th to third. Lady Liberty winner Shartin N also got a boost, from seventh to fourth, and received the remaining first-place vote. McWicked, who finished second in the Sam McKee Memorial, fell from second to fifth.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Lather Up, Ariana G, Marion Marauder, Courtly Choice, and Kissin In The Sand.
Lather Up returned from a five-week absence to win a division of the Director of Agriculture Pace at Scioto Downs in a track-record 1:49.4, eclipsing a record held for 13 years by P-Forty-Seven. Marion Marauder, who became the first Hambletonian winner since Mack Lobell in 1988 to win the Cashman (formerly Nat Ray) was unranked in the Top 10 last week.
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.
|
Rank
|
Name (First Place Votes)
|
Age/Gait/Sex
|
Record
|
Earnings
|
Points
|
Pvs
|
|
1
|
Atlanta (23)
|
3tf
|
7-6-1-0
|
$703,234
|
335
|
4
|
|
2
|
Hannelore Hanover (11)
|
6tm
|
7-6-0-1
|
$265,328
|
310
|
1
|
|
3
|
Manchego
|
3tf
|
7-5-1-0
|
$362,222
|
229
|
—
|
|
4
|
Shartin N (1)
|
5pm
|
17-13-1-0
|
$681,831
|
224
|
7
|
|
5
|
|
7ph
|
9-6-2-0
|
$617,304
|
176
|
2
|
|
6
|
|
3pc
|
9-8-0-0
|
$500,365
|
123
|
8
|
|
7
|
Ariana G
|
4tm
|
6-3-0-0
|
$354,105
|
96
|
3
|
|
8
|
Marion Marauder
|
5th
|
7-4-3-0
|
$316,494
|
87
|
—
|
|
9
|
|
3pc
|
9-6-0-0
|
$475,195
|
77
|
5
|
|
10
|
Kissin In The Sand
|
3pf
|
7-4-3-0
|
$376,982
|
75
|
6
|