Jimmy Freight surges to #1 in Top Ten Poll

Hightstown, NJ — As Frank Sinatra sang, “Here’s to the winners.”

There was considerable movement in this week’s Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, where winners of races this past weekend occupied five of the top-six positions and seven of 10 overall. The top three in the harness racing rankings all were victorious Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Leading the poll at No. 1 was Jimmy Freight (Sportswriter), who captured the Mohawk Gold Cup. The 7-year-old male pacer was the top-ranked horse in Week 1 but slipped to third in Week 2. He received 21 of 35 first-place votes and 313 points.

Test Of Faith (Art Major) vaulted from fourth to second off her triumph in the Roses Are Red Stakes while North America Cup champion Pebble Beach (Downbytheseaside) moved from fifth to third.

Ecurie D DK (Infinitif), who was idle, dropped from second to fourth. Completing the top five was Joviality S (Chapter Seven), who won last week’s Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old female trotters. She was one of four newcomers to the Top 10.

Also joining the Top 10 this week were Fan Hanover winner Treacherous Dragon (Captaintreacherous) (No. 6), Armbro Flight winner Atlanta (Chapter Seven) (No. 8) and Goodtimes winner Fast As The Wind (Cantab Hall) (No. 10).

Dropping out of the Top 10 were Lyons Sentinel, Lovedbythemasses, Bulldog Hanover, and Fashion Schooner.

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