Bythemissal makes biggest move in Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll
August 29, 2023,Hightstown, NJ — Bythemissal, who romped by eight lengths in his Canadian Pacing Derby elimination this past weekend at Woodbine Mohawk Park, made the biggest move in the Week 12 edition of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released Tuesday while one horse rejoined the Top 10 after a two-week absence.
Ranked ninth last week, Bythemissal vaulted to No. 5 in this week’s rankings. The top four horses in the poll were unchanged: Confederate, followed by Sylvia Hanover, It’s My Show, and It’s Academic. It’s My Show was the only one of the four to race last week, finishing second to Cannibal in a leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series.
Cannibal was the newcomer to the Top 10, coming in at No. 10. Cannibal spent two previous weeks in the Top 10, with a best position of eighth.
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.
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 12 – 8/29/2023
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Confederate (33) | 3cp | 7-6-1-0 | $837,929 | 341 | 1 |
| 2 | Sylvia Hanover | 3fp | 7-6-0-0 | $326,830 | 302 | 2 |
| 3 | It’s My Show (1) | 3gp | 10-8-1-0 | $560,584 | 229 | 3 |
| 4 | It’s Academic | 6ht | 10-7-1-2 | $466,784 | 207 | 4 |
| 5 | Bythemissal | 4gp | 7-6-0-0 | $192,343 | 144 | 9 |
| 6 | Silver Label | 4mp | 13-8-3-1 | $321,661 | 119 | 6 |
| 7 | Tactical Approach | 3ct | 11-5-1-4 | $641,489 | 102 | 5 |
| 8 | Jiggy Jog S | 4mt | 6-4-2-0 | $368,486 | 81 | 7 |
| 9 | M-M’s Dream | 4mt | 8-5-0-1 | $319,362 | 76 | 8 |
| 10 | Cannibal | 3cp | 9-7-1-0 | $306,680 | 42 | — |
ALSO: Grace Hill 41; Covered Bridge 32; Charlie May 27; Drawn Impression, Twin B Joe Fresh 25; T C I 24; Legendary Hanover 21; Seven Colors 20; Geocentric 17; Special Way 16; Bond, Up Your Deo 7; Lyons Legend 6; Hellabalou 5; Better Is Nice, Desperate Man, Heaven Hanover, Stockade Seelster 2; Mirage Hanover 1.
Charlie May received 1 first-place vote.