by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager

Freehold, NJ — Hannelore Hanover, who won her elimination of the Armbro Flight Stakes last week, strengthened her hold on the No. 1 spot in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released Tuesday. The defending Horse of the Year added seven first-place votes to her ledger and 25 points.

Shartin N, who was No. 2 in last week’s rankings but went off stride in her Roses Are Red Stakes elimination and was fourth-placed-fifth, dropped to third in a swap of places with undefeated Filibuster Hanover, who won his division of the Graduate Series on Sunday.

Will Take Charge dropped from fourth to eighth after going off stride in the Charlie Hill Memorial and finishing sixth. Atlanta, who was idle, moved up a notch to No. 4 while North America Cup elimination winner Lather Up, who is unbeaten this year in five races, vaulted from ninth to fifth.

Rounding out the Top 10 were No. 6 Manchego, No. 7 Bit Of A Legend N, No. 9 Keystone Velocity, and No. 10 Rockin Ron. None of those horses were in action 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.

HambletonianSociety/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll: Week 3 – 6/12/2018

Also:Ariana G (37); Wes Delight (36); Six Pack (28); Stay Hungry (25); HomicideHunter (24); Blazin Britches, Trump Nation (20); Jimmy Freight (18); MarionMarauder (12); NF Happenstance (9); Mach It So (7); Alarm Detector (6); KJ’sJustine (5); Emoticon Hanover, Elmo Blatch, Highalator (4); Done Well,Dorsoduro Hanover, Wolfgang (3); Crazy Wow, Jet Airway (2); Fox Valley Gemini,Plunge Blue Chip, St Lads Neptune, Theresademoninme (1).