by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Freehold, NJ — Messenger Stakes winner Downbytheseaside moved up a spot to No. 3 in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll while undefeated 2-year-old female trotter Manchego joined the Top 10 following her victory in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship.
Fear The Dragon, who was scratched sick from his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final, remained No. 1 while Simcoe Stakes winner Ariana G stayed No. 2.
Resolve, who was idle, was fourth in the rankings while Huntsville, who finished third in his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship, slipped from No. 3 to fifth.
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 15 – 9/5/2017
|
Rank
|
Name (First Place Votes)
|
Age/Gait/Sex
|
Record
|
Earnings
|
Points
|
Pvs
|
|
1
|
Fear The Dragon (29)
|
3pc
|
12-10-2-0
|
$1,034,810
|
343
|
1
|
|
2
|
Ariana G (3)
|
3tf
|
9-7-1-1
|
$610,840
|
303
|
2
|
|
3
|
Downbytheseaside (2)
|
3pc
|
12-8-1-2
|
$956,216
|
254
|
4
|
|
4
|
Resolve
|
6th
|
9-4-2-1
|
$485,149
|
183
|
5
|
|
5
|
|
3pc
|
12-7-3-1
|
$916,078
|
164
|
3
|
|
6
|
Hannelore Hanover
|
5tm
|
8-4-3-0
|
$272,424
|
125
|
4
|
|
7
|
Marion Marauder
|
4th
|
6-3-1-1
|
$456,097
|
106
|
6
|
|
8
|
Agent Q
|
3pf
|
11-7-2-1
|
$481,066
|
83
|
9
|
|
9
|
|
3tc
|
2-2-0-0
|
$83,615
|
60
|
8
|
|
10
|
Manchego (1)
|
2tf
|
6-6-0-0
|
$335,898
|
59
|
—
|
Also:Blazin Britches (56); Lady Shadow (51); International Moni (22); Sintra (20);Emoticon Hanover, Keystone Velocity (19); Pure Country (11); Percy Bluechip,Rainbow Room (10); Devious Man (9); Firedrake (6); Crazy Wow, Nike Franco N(3); Yes Mickey, You Know You Do (2); Perfect Spirit, Top Flight Angel (1).