Ken Hanover, Nijinsky movers in TOP Ten poll

Ken Hanover (Captaintreacherous) moved up three spots and Nijinsky joined the Top 10 in the Week 2 edition of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown harness racing poll released Wednesday.

Ken Hanover notched his fourth consecutive win last week, scoring in 1:48.3 at Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Pocono Downs, and moved from eighth to fifth in the rankings. The 5-year-old stallion has won each of his past four starts in 1:48.3.

Nijinsky joined the Top 10 at No. 10 following his nose victory over Captain Albano in the third round of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers at The Meadowlands this past Saturday. Nijinsky has two wins and two seconds in four races this season, with both his setbacks coming against No. 7-ranked Brue Hanover.

The only other horse in the Top 10 in action last week was 3-year-old female pacer Miki And Minnie, who was beaten by a head by Rodeo Drive Deo in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono. Miki And Minnie dropped 42 points from her Week 1 total but remained No. 3 in the poll.

Louprint and Twin B Joe Fresh stayed at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, after their week off. Louprint received 25 of 35 first-place votes, with Twin B Joe Fresh getting nine and Ken Hanover getting one.

The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, which will continue weekly on Wednesdays through the Grand Circuit season, does not determine year-end awards. 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.

ALSO: Smooth Dream 37; Aardie B Miki N 35; Super Chapter 30; Private Access 26; Bythemissal 24; Captain Albano 22; Madden Oaks 18; Periculum 12; Aetos Kronos S 11; Rodeo Drive Deo 10; Twisted Destiny 9; Antognoni S, Conversano, Desperate Man, Ponda Jet 7; Logan Park, Maryland, Overthemoonforyou, Variegated 6; Odds On Chesapeake, Walkin On Sunshine, Women Layer 5; Ervin Hanover 4; Call Me Goo, Monalishi 2; Birthday 1.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA