by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager
Hightstown, NJ — Atlanta remained in first place in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, but rival Manchego moved to No. 2 and pulled within 33 points of the leader.
Manchego defeated Atlanta in last week’s Casual Breeze Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a Canadian-record-equaling 1:51.4 mile. It was the first meeting of the year between the Hambletonian Oaks winner, Manchego, and Hambletonian champ, Atlanta. Manchego was ranked No. 4 last week and trailed Atlanta by 146 points.
Shartin N, who was idle, stayed at No. 3 while Hannelore Hanover, who finished third in her Maple Leaf Trot elimination, dropped from second to fourth. Courtly Choice, also idle, remained No. 5.
Maple Leaf Trot elimination winners Marion Marauder and Ariana G moved up in the rankings. Marion Marauder went from No. 9 to No. 6 while Ariana G went from outside the Top 10 to No. 8.
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.