Tall Dark Stranger Tops 2020's Final Poll

Published: December 1, 2020 12:58 pm EST

Three-year-old male pacer Tall Dark Stranger finished the Grand Circuit season the No. 1-ranked horse in the final Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, garnering 25 of 35 first-place votes. Tall Dark Stranger, who was retired following his Breeders Crown runner-up finish Oct. 31, won 11 of 13 races and more than $1.4 million. His earnings led all harness racing horses in North America, and he was the only Standardbred to win more than $1 million in 2020.

Tall Dark Stranger was ranked no worse than third at any point during the poll’s 21 weeks. He took over the top spot in Week 13 of the rankings and stayed there for the remaining nine weeks.

There were no changes to the rankings in the poll’s top 10 this week. Party Girl Hill, Gimpanzee, Kissin In The Sand, and Perfect Sting completed the top five. Party Girl Hill received eight first-place votes while Gimpanzee and Perfect Sting split the remaining two.

Rounding out the rankings were Bettors Wish, Amigo Volo, Manchego, Atlanta, and Ramona Hill.

Gimpanzee led the rankings for the first six weeks before giving up No. 1 to Ramona Hill, who spent the next six weeks at the top of the poll.

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: FINAL – 12/1/2020

Rank Name (First Votes) A/G/S Record Earnings Points Pvs
1 Tall Dark Stranger (25) 3pc 13-11-1-0 $1,428,681 334 1
2 Party Girl Hill (8) 3pf 16-15-0-0 $932,545 301 2
3 Gimpanzee (1) 4th 11-8-1-1 $997,092 245 3
4 Kissin In The Sand 5pm 12-8-1-0 $523,059 221 4
5 Perfect Sting (1) 2pc 10-10-0-0 $534,300 214 5
6 Bettors Wish 4ph 13-6-3-2 $685,432 142 6
7 Amigo Volo 3tg 15-9-1-2 $939,498 123 7
8 Manchego 5tm 13-6-2-2 $606,171 119 8
9 Atlanta 5tm 12-5-4-1 $816,742 82 9
10 Ramona Hill 3tf 10-6-1-1 $968,282 79 10

ALSO: Anoka Hanover, 19; Shartin N, 18; Test Of Faith, 13; Action Uncle, Caviart Ally, Leonidas A, Sorella, Venerate, 2; Charlie May, Major Custard, Peaky Sneaky, Plunge Blue Chip, Yall Beneath Me, 1.

(with files from the USTA)

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