Manchego remains dominant in Top Ten Poll

Hightstown, NJ — Nicholas Beach, Perfect Sting, and Hellabalou all improved their position in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown harness racing poll thanks to wins last week. Nicholas Beach, who won the preferred handicap at The Meadowlands, moved from 10th to sixth while Tompkins-Geers winner Perfect Sting and Adios champion Hellabalou were newcomers to the Top 10 in Week 11 of the rankings.

Manchego and This Is The Plan remained 1-2 in the poll. Manchego received 33 of 35 first-place votes, gaining a first-place nod after Test Of Faith suffered her first defeat of the season.

Dancinginthedark M and Johan Palema dropped from the Top 10 following losses in their Hambletonian eliminations.

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