This Is The Plan gains big in Top Ten Poll

This Is The Plan’s narrow win in the Joe Gerrity Memorial on Saturday wooed Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll voters enough for the gelding to pick up 56 points and rise by two places from last week’s survey.

Manchego still holds a tight grip on the lead with 32 first place votes and 346 points. This Is The Plan is now second with one first place vote. He passed Test Of Faith and Hot Mess Express this week, who are now third and fourth, respectively. They both retained their first place vote. Despite her Indiana Sire Stakes win on Sunday, Hot Mess Express gained just one point on Test Of Faith, who was inactive.

Cattlewash, Atlanta, and Dancinginthedark M all maintained their positions while not racing during the week. Lyons Sentinel became the single biggest riser of the week after winning the Clara Barton Memorial on Sunday; she gained 72 points and rejoined the top 10. She landed in eighth, replacing Nicholas Beach, who dropped to 10th. Johan Palema, despite not racing, overtook Nicholas Beach and sits in ninth.

The standings will likely be shaken up in its next renewal as voters will have to monitor the stakes-laden Saturday cards at The Meadows and The Meadowlands. Among those races are the Adios, Adioo Volo, and the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks eliminations.

Rankings based on the votes of harness racing media representatives on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

ALSO: Perfect Sting 36; Charlie May 32; Beads 25; Lawless Shadow 20; It’s Academic 19; Abuckabett Hanover 17; Winning Ticket 16; American Courage 14; Venerable 11; Ahundreddollarbill 10; Bulldog Hanover 9; Lindy The Great, Southwind Gendry 8; Hellabalou 4; Beltassima, Betterhavemymoney, JK First Lady, Sea Silk, You Ato Dream 3; Allywag Hanover, King Of The North, Ready For Moni 2; Love That Smile, Southwind Amazon 1.

by Ken Weingartner and Nicholas Barnsdale