Chantilly joins Top 10 poll

Undefeated 2-year-old female pacer Chantilly (Big Jim) joined the Top 10 and Highland Kismet improved his harness racing position by one spot in the only changes to the upper echelon of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released Tuesday.

The Week 12 edition of the rankings found Highland Kismet, coming off a victory in the Simcoe Stakes, move from ninth to eighth in the poll in a swap of positions with Captain Albano, who won a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division last week.

Chantilly, who improved to 5-for-5 last week with a win in a leg of the Ontario Sire Stakes, joined the Top 10 at No. 10. Abuckabett Hanover, who was second in the Canadian Pacing Derby, dropped out of the Top 10.

Twin B Joe Fresh remained No. 1 for the eighth consecutive week.

The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, which will be released every Tuesday through the remainder of the Grand Circuit season, 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: Week 12 – 9/3/2024

ALSO: Abuckabett Hanover 24; Periculum 23; Papi Grad 17; Sig Sauer 14; M-M’s Dream 7; Maryland 5; It’s My Show 4; Sabonis 3; Rocket Deo, Swingtown 2; Greenspan, Howlenthehills, It’s Academic, Logan Park, Rose, Shark Week 1.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA