Bulldog Hanover solid as #1 in Top Ten Poll

Hightstown, NJ — Bulldog Hanover (Shadow Play) solidified his hold on No. 1 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll thanks to his harness racing record-setting 1:45.4 mile to win the William R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands this past Saturday. The 4-year-old male pacer received all but one first-place vote and was one point shy of a perfect 350 points.

Joviality S (Chapter Seven), who won a division of the Delvin Miller Memorial, and Dorothy Haughton Memorial champ Test Of Faith (Art Major) remained second and third, respectively. Hambletonian Maturity winner Bella Bellini (Bella Bellini) moved up a spot to fourth and Meadowlands Pace winner Beach Glass (Somebeachsomewhere) vaulted from eighth to fifth.

Jimmy Freight (Sportswriter), who was idle, slipped from fourth to sixth. He was followed by the idle Pebble Beach (Downbytheseaside), Stanley Dancer Memorial division winner Rebuff (Muscle Hill), Mistletoe Shalee third-place finisher Treacherous Dragon (Captaintreacherous), and Miller Memorial division winner Fashion Schooner (Walner).

Rebuff and Fashion Schooner were newcomers to the Top 10. Ecurie D DK (Infinitif) and Alrajah One IT (Maharajah), who were both idle, dropped out.

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