Atlanta takes over top spot in Poll
October 9, 2018,by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
Hightstown, NJ — Action at Red Mile resulted in shuffling of the rankings in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll. Manchego, who finished third in her Kentucky Filly Futurity elimination and did not return for the final, dropped from No. 1 to No. 6 after three weeks in the top spot. She was replaced by Kentucky Filly Futurity winner Atlanta, who had been No. 1 in the six weeks prior to Manchego’s ascent.
McWicked, who paced the second-fastest race mile in history — 1:46.2 — to win the Allerage Farms Open Pace, moved from No. 6 to No. 2. Shartin N, who won the Allerage Farms Mare Pace, went from No. 4 to No. 3 while Courtly Choice dropped from second to fourth after a fifth-place finish in a division of the Tattersalls Pace.
Kissin In The Sand, who won her division of the Glen Garnsey in 1:47.4, the third-fastest mile ever by a 3-year-old filly pacer, improved from No. 7 to No. 5. Six Pack, who won the Kentucky Futurity in 1:49.1, the fastest mile ever by a 3-year-old trotter, was the only newcomer to the Top 10, entering the rankings at No. 8.
Results last week for the remainder of the Top 10: Marion Marauder, idle; Crystal Fashion, third in Kentucky Futurity elimination and second in final; Stay Hungry, second in Tattersalls division.
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 (20)
|
3tf
|
12-7-4-1
|
$889,778
|
311
|
3
|
|
2
|
McWicked (6)
|
7ph
|
15-8-3-2
|
$1,053,864
|
282
|
6
|
|
3
|
Shartin N (2)
|
5pm
|
21-16-1-0
|
$820,861
|
243
|
4
|
|
4
|
Courtly Choice (3)
|
3pc
|
15-10-1-0
|
$910,603
|
204
|
2
|
|
5
|
Kissin In The Sand (3)
|
3pf
|
14-10-4-0
|
$730,495
|
192
|
7
|
|
6
|
Manchego (1)
|
3tf
|
12-7-3-1
|
$655,994
|
185
|
1
|
|
7
|
Marion Marauder
|
5th
|
10-6-4-0
|
$544,680
|
131
|
5
|
|
8
|
|
3tc
|
12-9-1-1
|
$958,073
|
121
|
—
|
|
9
|
Crystal Fashion
|
3tg
|
15-9-4-1
|
$1,027,867
|
43
|
9
|
|
10
|
|
3pc
|
14-6-1-4
|
$759,967
|
41
|
8
|