Week 17 of the 2018 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Poll features a new leader atop the heap.
Manchego, who hauled down Atlanta but was defeated by Phaetosive this past Saturday in the $340,000 Elegantimage, has emerged as the top point-getter in Week 17 of the poll. The Jimmy Takter-trained and Yannick Gingras-driven daughter of Muscle Hill has trotted to six wins from 10 starts this year, including a victory in the Hambletonian Oaks.
Atlanta, who had held the No. 1 spot in the poll before being dethroned by Manchego, is No. 2 on Week 17 of the poll, but it sure is tight. McWicked sits third in Week 17 rankings.
Manchego attracted 13 first-place votes and 287 overall points, while Atlanta received 11 first-place nods and 277 overall points. McWicked attracted three first-place votes and 231 overall points.
Voting for Week 17 was spread out compared to previous weeks, as every horse that cracked the top ten attracted at least one first-place vote.
Phaetosive, who beat both Manchego and Atlanta on the track this past weekend, failed to crack the top ten, as the daughter of Explosive Matter attracted 28 poll points, which ranked her 13th in the Week 17 voting.
The results from Week 17 of the poll appear below.
(Rank – Horse [first-place votes] – Total Points – Previous Rank)
1. Manchego (13) - 287 - 2
2. Atlanta (11) - 277 - 1
3. McWicked (3) - 231 - 3
4. Shartin N (1) - 210 - 4
5. Courtly Choice (2) - 169 - 5
6. Kissin In The Sand (1) - 102 - 7
7. Lather Up (1) - 99 - 8
8. Marion Marauder (1) - 98 - 9
9. Stay Hungry (1) - 96 - 10
10. Crystal Fashion (1) - 94 - N/A
Also: Hannelore Hanover (87); Ariana G (31); Phaetosive (28); Green Manalishi S (24); Captain Ahab (14); Six Pack (12); Plunge Blue Chip (11); The Ice Dutchess (10); Jimmy Freight (9); Dorsoduro Hanover, Wisdom Tree (7); Caviart Ally, Lazarus N, Youaremycandygirl (4); Mets Hall, Will Take Charge (3); Woodside Charm (2); Melodies Major, Only Take Cash (1).
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.