Tall Dark Stranger takes over top spot in poll
October 6, 2020,Hightstown, NJ — For the third time in 2020, there is a new No. 1 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll. Three-year-old colt pacer Tall Dark Stranger, who won a Bluegrass Stakes division last week, took over the top spot from 3-year-old filly trotter Ramona Hill, who finished second in a Bluegrass split. Ramona Hill had been ranked first for six weeks.
Third-ranked Party Girl Hill, who improved to 12-for-12 this season with a Bluegrass division victory, pulled within two points of second place.
Tall Dark Stranger received 18 of 35 first-place votes. Ramona Hill received seven and Party Girl Hill got 10. Each of the horses in the top three garnered at least 300 points, something that has not occurred in at least a decade.
Idle Gimpanzee, who was No. 1 for the poll’s first six weeks, remained fourth this week and Dayton Trotting Derby winner Atlanta moved from sixth to fifth, swapping places with Dayton Distaff Derby runner-up Shartin N.
Bluegrass division winner Sorella traded places with idle Ready For Moni in positions seven and eight. Two newcomers grabbed the final places in the top 10, with unbeaten Perfect Sting at No. 9 and Dayton Distaff Derby winner Kissin In The Sand at No. 10.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine Horse of the Year. The members of the U.S. Harness Writers Association vote 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 13 – 10/6/2020
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/G/S | Record | Earnings | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Tall Dark Stranger (18) | 3pc | 10-9-0-0 | $1,057,931 | 329 | 2 |
| 2 | Ramona Hill (7) | 3tf | 8-6-1-1 | $915,615 | 302 | 1 |
| 3 | Party Girl Hill (10) | 3pf | 12-12-0-0 | $616,870 | 300 | 3 |
| 4 | Gimpanzee | 4th | 8-6-1-1 | $718,464 | 236 | 4 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 5tm | 9-4-3-0 | $539,564 | 169 | 6 |
| 6 | Shartin N | 7pm | 7-5-2-0 | $326,269 | 147 | 5 |
| 7 | Sorella | 3tf | 10-7-0-1 | $485,424 | 94 | 8 |
| 8 | Ready For Moni | 3tc | 7-5-1-0 | $575,670 | 72 | 7 |
| 9 | Perfect Sting | 2pc | 7-7-0-0 | $254,450 | 67 | — |
| 10 | Kissin In The Sand | 5pm | 8-4-1-0 | $221,484 | 36 | — |
ALSO: Venerate 25; Action Uncle 22; Manchego 19; Reflect With Me 18; Donna Soprano 15; Test Of Faith 11; Cattlewash 10; Captain Barbossa 9; Captain Corey 8; Bettor’s Wish, Century Farroh, Charlie May 5; Ab’sattitudexpress, Guinevere Hall, Tattoo Artist 4; Darlene Hanover, Ocean Rock, Pemberton, Southwind Gendry 2; Warrawee Vital 1.