by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Freehold, NJ — The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine Horse of the Year but it might give an indication how difficult the choice will be for the members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association when they vote on year-end honors next month.
Hannelore Hanover moved into the No. 1 spot in this week’s rankings following her win in last weekend’s TVG Series championship for female trotters. She took over the top position from Ariana G, whose season ended with her Breeders Crown victory, although each horse received 14 first-place votes. The two female trotters were separated by five points in the voting.
Manchego was third in the poll followed by Hap Hansen Progress Pace elimination winner Downbytheseaside and elimination runner-up Fear The Dragon.
What The Hill, who beat older horses to win last weekend’s TVG Series championship for male trotters, was sixth in the rankings followed by Three Diamonds Stakes winner Youaremycandygirl, who moved up a notch past TVG female trot runner-up Emoticon Hanover.
Lost In Time, who won the Governor’s Cup, joined the ratings at No. 10.
The final Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll for 2017 will be released next week.
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 27 – 11/28/2017
|
Rank
|
Name (First Place Votes)
|
Age/Gait/Sex
|
Record
|
Earnings
|
Points
|
Pvs
|
|
1
|
Hannelore Hanover (14)
|
5tm
|
17-10-5-0
|
$1,049,129
|
319
|
2
|
|
2
|
Ariana G (14)
|
3tf
|
15-12-2-1
|
$1,123,690
|
314
|
1
|
|
3
|
Manchego (4)
|
2tf
|
12-12-0-0
|
$873,948
|
286
|
3
|
|
4
|
Downbytheseaside (1)
|
3pc
|
21-13-2-3
|
$1,448,422
|
216
|
4
|
|
5
|
Fear The Dragon (2)
|
3pc
|
17-12-3-0
|
$1,273,141
|
164
|
5
|
|
6
|
|
3tc
|
18-9-1-2
|
$948,178
|
154
|
6
|
|
7
|
Youaremycandygirl
|
2pf
|
11-9-0-0
|
$895,615
|
150
|
8
|
|
8
|
Emoticon Hanover
|
4tm
|
13-5-4-3
|
$429,416
|
66
|
7
|
|
9
|
Blazin Britches
|
3pf
|
15-11-2-0
|
$540,424
|
63
|
9
|
|
10
|
Lost In Time
|
2pc
|
9-5-2-0
|
$608,112
|
49
|
—
|
Also:Pure Country (32); Agent Q (28); Fourth Dimension (26); Stay Hungry (15);Keystone Velocity (11); Twister Bi (9); Huntsville (8); Plunge Blue Chip (6); DeviousMan (3); Crazy Wow (2); Alarm Detector, All Bets Off, Beckhams Z Tam,Filibuster Hanover (1).