Karl, T C I make gains in Top Ten Poll

The Week 7 edition of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released Tuesday saw Hambletonian Stakes harness racing elimination winners Karl and T C I make gains ahead of their meeting in Saturday’s $1.05 million final at The Meadowlands.

Karl moved from sixth to fourth in the rankings while T C I rejoined the Top 10, at No. 9, after dropping out a week ago.

The top-three horses in the poll — Twin B Joe Fresh, Nijinsky and Legendary Hanover — were idle and held their spots. The only horse in addition to Karl in action from last week’s Top 10 was Elista Hanover, who won her Hambletonian Oaks elimination and moved from eighth to seventh.

Winner’s Bet, who won the 4- and 5-year-old open trot at The Meadowlands, also rejoined the Top 10 after a week away. He was ranked No. 10.

Sylvia Hanover and Papi Grad dropped out of the Top 10.

The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, which will be released every Tuesday through the remainder of the Grand Circuit season, 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