by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Freehold, NJ — Three-year-old female trotter Ariana G beat the boys in her elimination for Saturday’s $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial at Pocono and moved up two spots in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll.
Fear The Dragon, who finished second in his elimination for Saturday’s $500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial for 3-year-old male pacers at Pocono for his first loss of the season, remained No. 1 in the rankings. Lady Shadow, who was idle, held on to second while Hannelore Hanover (idle) and Downbytheseaside (a Hempt elim winner) rounded out the top five.
Mel Mara, who won his elimination for Saturday’s $500,000 Ben Franklin for older pacers at Pocono, joined the rankings at No. 10.
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 5 – 6/27/2017
|
Rank
|
Name (First Place Votes)
|
Age/Gait/Sex
|
Record
|
Earnings
|
Points
|
Pvs
|
|
1
|
Fear The Dragon (17)
|
3pc
|
7-6-1-0
|
$461,953
|
309
|
1
|
|
2
|
Lady Shadow (11)
|
6pm
|
4-4-0-0
|
$271,000
|
284
|
2
|
|
3
|
Ariana G (4)
|
3tf
|
3-3-0-0
|
$72,500
|
258
|
5
|
|
4
|
Hannelore Hanover (1)
|
5tm
|
4-3-1-0
|
$146,138
|
242
|
3
|
|
5
|
Downbytheseaside (2)
|
3pc
|
6-5-0-1
|
$298,500
|
227
|
6
|
|
6
|
|
3pc
|
5-3-2-0
|
$238,529
|
177
|
4
|
|
7
|
Resolve
|
6th
|
2-2-0-0
|
$120,500
|
112
|
8
|
|
8
|
|
5th
|
5-2-3-0
|
$231,500
|
101
|
7
|
|
9
|
|
3tc
|
2-2-0-0
|
$102,565
|
36
|
9
|
|
10
|
Mel Mara
|
8ph
|
4-3-1-0
|
$45,000
|
28
|
—
|
Also:Keystone Velocity (26); Somewhere In LA (24); Dr J Hanover (19); Bit Of ALegend N (14); Mossdale Conner N (13); Barn Bella, Long Tom (10); MarionMarauder (9); Tequila Monday (7); Devious Man (5); Bettor’s Up (4); McWicked(3); Western Fame (2); All Bets Off, Charmed Life, Magic Presto, Missile J,Nirvana Seelster (1).
NorthAmerican statistics only.
- Ariana G aims to be Beal’s first female champ (Wednesday, June 28, 2017)
Ariana G starts Saturday’s $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old trotters from an unfavorable spot, but trainer Jimmy Takter is confident the filly can step up and defeat eight male rivals in one of the season’s few remaining preps for August’s Hambletonian Stakes.