Bulldog strengthens lead in Top Ten Poll

Hightstown, NJ — Top-ranked Bulldog Hanover upped his lead over his nearest rival in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll to 108 points, his largest advantage of the harness racing season, in the Week 22 ratings released Tuesday.

Bulldog Hanover won the Breeders Crown Open Pace in 1:46.4 this past Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park, equaling the Canadian record he already shared, and received all 35 first-place votes in the poll. He has been No. 1 for 17 consecutive weeks.

Breeders Crown Mare Trot winner Bella Bellini vaulted from No. 5 to No. 2 in the rankings, followed by Breeders Crown Mare Pace Runner-up Test Of Faith. Jiggy Jog S and Joviality S, who finished first and third, respectively, in the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old female trotters, completed the top five.

Pebble Beach, who won the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers, was among three newcomers in the final five positions of the Top 10. Pebble Beach was sixth, 2-year-old filly trot champ Special Way was ninth, and Open Trot winner Ecurie D DK was No. 10.

Sylvia Hanover, who won the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old female pacers, moved from 10th to seventh while Bythemissal, who was third in the final for 3-year-old male pacers, fell from fourth to eighth.

Dropping from the Top 10 were Fashion Schooner, Beach Glass, and Allywag Hanover.

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.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA

Rankings based on the votes of harness racing media representatives on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.