McWicked moves into top spot in Poll
October 30, 2018,Hightstown, NJ —– For the first time this year, a male pacer or trotter is No. 1 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll.
Seven-year-old pacing stallion McWicked, fresh off his win in Saturday’s Breeders Crown Open Pace, moved from No. 2 to the top spot following No. 1 Atlanta’s second-place finish in her Breeders Crown final for 3-year-old female trotters. McWicked is the year’s richest horse, with $1.39 million in purses.
Prior to this week, the No. 1 position was held by trotting mare Hannelore Hanover (weeks 1 through 10), Atlanta (weeks 11 through 16 and weeks 20 through 22) and 3-year-old filly trotter Manchego (weeks 17 through 19).
Atlanta dropped to third in the rankings as Breeders Crown Mare Pace winner Shartin N moved from No. 3 to No. 2. Shartin N set the record for the richest season ever by a pacing mare with her victory. She has earned $968,361.
Undefeated 2-year-old filly trotter Woodside Charm jumped from ninth to fourth following her Breeders Crown triumph. Kissin In The Sand, a parked-out second in the Breeders Crown final for 3-year-old filly pacers, rounded out the top five.
Breeders Crown champs Gimpanzee (2-year-old male trotter), Dorsoduro Hanover (3-year-old male pacer) and Tactical Landing (3-year-old male trotter) were newcomers to the Top 10. The remaining two horses in the Top 10, Six Pack and Courtly Choice, did not race last weekend.
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.
Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll: Week 23 – 10/30/2018
| Rank | Name (1st Votes) | A/G/S | Record | Earnings | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | McWicked (26) | 7ph | 17-10-3-2 | $1,393,864 | 340 | 2 |
| 2 | Shartin N (7) | 5pm | 23-18-1-0 | $968,361 | 306 | 3 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 3tf | 14-8-5-1 | $1,017,278 | 243 | 1 |
| 4 | Woodside Charm (2) | 2tf | 7-7-0-0 | $521,658 | 214 | 9 |
| 5 | Kissin In The Sand | 3pf | 15-10-5-0 | $845,495 | 186 | 4 |
| 6 | Gimpanzee | 2tc | 9-9-0-0 | $591,358 | 120 | — |
| 7 | Dorsoduro Hanover | 3pg | 18-10-4-1 | $1,181,612 | 91 | — |
| 8 | Six Pack | 3tc | 13-10-1-1 | $970,573 | 85 | 5 |
| 9 | Courtly Choice | 3pc | 16-10-1-0 | $910,603 | 81 | 6 |
| 10 | Tactical Landing | 3tc | 13-8-2-2 | $642,800 | 67 | — |
Also: Homicide Hunter 62; Warrawee Ubeaut 40; Manchego 23; Jimmy Freight, Marion Marauder 12; Crystal Fashion 10; Emoticon Hanover, Lather Up 9; Captain Crunch 7; Plunge Blue Chip, Stay Hungry 3; Lily Stride, Met’s Hall 1.