The Week 1 results of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll have been released, and an undefeated bay has gotten the most support for the top spot.
Downbytheseaside, who is eligible to the upcoming Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack, has been voted as the No. 1 overall Standardbred currently racing.
The son of Somebeachsomewhere kicked off his 2017 campaign with a convincing score in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at the Meadows, and followed it up with a sweep of the Art Rooney at Yonkers Raceway.
The results from the poll appear below.
(Rank – Horse [first-place votes] – Total Points – Previous)
1 – Downbytheseaside (21) – 295 – N/A
2 – Lady Shadow (7) – 235 – N/A
3 – Bit Of A Legend N (1) – 167 – N/A
4 – Crazy Wow – 134 – N/A
5 – Somewhere In LA (2) – 129 – N/A
6 – Mossdale Conner N (1) – 109 – N/A
7 – Resolve (1) – 91 – N/A
8 – Keystone Velocity – 82 – N/A
9 – Arianna G (1) – 75 – N/A
10 – Fear The Dragon – 72 – N/A
Also: Hannelore Hanover (65); Missile J (63); Huntsville (52); Mackenzie A (37); What The Hill (29); Broadway Donna (28); Clear Vision (25); Rock N Roll World (23); Rockeyed Optimist (17); Highalator (15); Cousin Mary (13); Lord Cromwell (12); Medusa, Mel Mara, Red Hot Herbie (11); Soto, Western Fame (10); Christen Me N, Enterprise (8); Safe From Terror, Sintra, Tequila Monday (7); Hemi Seelster, Tight Lines (6); American Virgin, Caviart Wonder, Major Uptrend, Sortie (5); Bags To Riches, Sandbetweenurtoes (4); Caviart Luca, Freeze Out, Keystone I Wish, Treviso (3); Barn Girl, Charmed Life, Mach It So, Magic Presto, Master Clave (2); Bellesvictoryring, Donttellmeagain, Knocking Around, Mach It A Par, Odds On Amethyst (1).
Huntsville received one first-place vote.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll is voted on by harness racing media representatives that cover North American Standardbred racing.
The rankings are based on the votes of harness racing media representatives on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
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. The Dan Patch Awards are separate from the O'Brien Awards, which recognize Canada's top Standardbreds of a given racing season.