Confederate maintained the top spot in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll for the fourth consecutive week.
Confederate, who was idle, and Sylvia Hanover, who won a Simcoe Stakes division, remained entrenched in spots one and two, respectively.
Bythemissal, who won the Aria Invitational Pace at Yonkers Raceway in a track record 2:21.2 for 1-1/4 miles, shifted the Week 14 rankings released on Tuesday, Sept. 12 by moving up to third while one newcomer joined the Top 10.
Bythemissal’s move from fifth to third resulted in idle Its My Show and International Trot fourth-place finisher Its Academic each dropping one position.
The next three spots were unchanged as Alrajah One IT, Seven Colors and Special Way were idle. Tattoo Artist, who won the Jim Ewart Memorial for his third consecutive victory, joined the Top 10 at No. 9 while Tactical Approach, who won a leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series, dropped to 10 despite adding two points from last week.
Geocentric, who was idle, dropped from the Top 10.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine U.S. 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 14 – Sept. 12, 2023
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Confederate (34) | 3cp | 8-7-1-0 | $877,929 | 349 | 1 |
| 2 | Sylvia Hanover (1) | 3fp | 8-7-0-0 | $355,884 | 309 | 2 |
| 3 | Bythemissal | 4gp | 9-7-1-0 | $419,741 | 183 | 5 |
| 4 | Its My Show | 3gp | 11-8-2-0 | $623,584 | 176 | 3 |
| 5 | Its Academic | 6ht | 12-7-2-2 | $638,951 | 120 | 4 |
| 6 | Alrajah One IT | 7ht | 1-1-0-0 | $196,100 | 118 | 6 |
| 7 | Seven Colors | 3cp | 14-7-1-3 | $477,220 | 97 | 7 |
| 8 | Special Way | 3ft | 4-4-0-0 | $190,000 | 88 | 8 |
| 9 | Tattoo Artist | 6hp | 17-5-5-1 | $664,522 | 84 | — |
| 10 | Tactical Approach | 3ct | 12-6-1-4 | $681,489 | 71 | 9 |
ALSO: M Ms Dream 68; Jiggy Jog S 48; Geocentric 40; Grace Hill 22; Cannibal, Legendary Hanover 21; T C I, Twin B Joe Fresh 18; Silver Label 16; Newsroom 11; Covered Bridge, Drawn Impression 9; Pass Line 8; Charlie May 5; Allywag Hanover, Lyons Legend, Sig Sauer 3; Allegiant, Bond, Vivid Wise As 2; Funtime Bayama 1.
(With files from USTA)