Harness Racing Poll Week 16

Freehold, NJ — Maple Leaf Trot contender Hannelore Hanover and presumptive Peaceful Way Stakes favorite Manchego made gains in this week’s harness racing Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll while the three horses at the top of the rankings remained unchanged.

Fear The Dragon, who was idle, held on to No. 1 while Elegantimage Stakes elimination winner Ariana G and Jug Preview winner Downbytheseaside followed in the next two spots.

Hannelore Hanover won her Maple Leaf Trot elimination and moved from sixth to fourth. Resolve, who finished seventh in his Maple Leaf Trot elim and failed to advance to Saturday’s final, dropped a notch to fifth while idle Huntsville slipped a spot to sixth.

Manchego, who is 7-for-7 this year, won her Peaceful Way elimiatnion and vaulted from No. 10 to seventh.

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.

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

Also: Lady Shadow (34); Walner (32); Pure Country (27); Rainbow Room (17); Sintra (16); International Moni (13); Keystone Velocity (12); Emoticon Hanover (10); Devious Man (7); McWicked (5); Bettor’s Up, Blue Moon Stride (4); Alarm Detector, Bit Of A Legend N, Boogie Shuffle, Mambo Lindy (3); Kendall Seelster, Yes Mickey, You Know You Do (2); Art Scene, Carmensdaleyapple, Crazy Wow, Firedrake, Nike Franco N, Rockin Ron, Two AM (1).

by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications