Hightstown, NJ — Three-year-old male harness racing pacer It’s My Show (Sweet Lou), undefeated in five races this year and a finalist in Saturday’s (Jun. 17) $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, tops the Week 1 edition of the 2023 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll.
It’s My Show, who collected 189 points, was among 10 horses receiving first-place votes from the 35-member panel of voters. A total of 55 horses received at least one point in this season’s first poll.
Lochinvar Art A (Modern Art), fresh off his victory in the Battle of Lake Erie, was No. 2 in the rankings. Returning Dan Patch Award-recipient Special Way (Walner), who captured the New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old female trotters, was third followed by Graduate Series Trot first-round winner Jiggy Jog S (Walner) and world-record-setting Joe Auger Memorial-winner Ruthless Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere).
Completing the top 10 were Camluck Classic winner Covered Bridge (American Ideal), Fan Hanover Stakes finalist Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki), New Jersey Sire Stakes champ and NA Cup finalist Voukefalas (Lazarus N), MGM Borgata Pacing Series winner Hellabalou (Sweet Lou), and Armbro Flight finalist Bella Bellini (Bar Hopping).
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