Bythemissal jumps up in Top Ten Poll

Hightstown, NJ — Bythemissal, who won the $250,000 Aria Invitational Pace at Yonkers Raceway in a track-record 2:21.2 for 1-1/4 miles, shifted the Week 14 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll harness racing rankings released Tuesday by moving up to third while one newcomer joined the Top 10.

Confederate, who was idle, and Sylvia Hanover, who won a Simcoe Stakes division, remained entrenched in spots one and two, respectively. Bythemissal’s move from fifth to third resulted in idle It’s My Show and International Trot fourth-place finisher It’s Academic each dropping one position.

The next three spots were unchanged as Alrajah One IT, Seven Colors and Special Way were idle. Tattoo Artist, who won the Jim Ewart Memorial for his third consecutive victory, joined the Top 10 at No. 9 while Tactical Approach, who won a leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series, dropped to 10 despite adding two points from last week.

Geocentric, who was idle, 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