Bulldog Hanover is now unanimous top dog

Hightstown, NJ — It’s unanimous. Bulldog Hanover is the top dog.

Bulldog Hanover (Shadow Play), who won the Canadian Pacing Derby with a Canadian-record-equaling 1:46.4 mile this past weekend at Woodbine Mohawk Park, received all 35 first-place votes in the Week 14 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown harness racing poll released Tuesday (Sep. 6). He is the first unanimous No. 1 since Shartin N in Week 19 of 2019.

Joviality S (Chapter Seven), the winner of a New York Sire Stakes leg last week, strengthened her hold on No. 2 in the rankings, adding 31 points to her total to open a 50-point gap over idle Beach Glass (Somebeachsomewhere) at No. 3. Beach Glass was fourth a week ago, but swapped positions with Test Of Faith, who finished second in a conditioned handicap at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Bella Bellini (Bar Hopping), who was idle, remained fifth. Bythemissal (Downbytheseaside), who won a leg of the Ohio Sire Stakes, and Fashion Schooner, who was victorious in an open for 3-year-old female trotters at The Meadowlands, both moved up a spot as injured Alrajah One IT (Maharajah) dropped from sixth to eighth. Idle Pebble Beach (Downbytheseaside) stayed ninth.

Two-year-old male pacer Stockade Seelster (State Treasurer), undefeated in six races after winning a leg of the Ontario Sire Stakes, joined the Top 10 at No. 10.

Jimmy Freight, who finished fourth in the Canadian Pacing Derby, dropped from the Top 10.

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.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA