Winner’s Bet (Walner) was the only Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll Top 10 horse in action last week, winning the Preferred Handicap at The Meadowlands, and remained No. 8 in the unchanged Week 23 harness racing rankings released Tuesday.
Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe) was No. 1 for the 19th consecutive week, followed by the retired Jiggy Jog S, Maryland, Chantilly, and Captain Albano to complete the top five. Rounding out the Top 10 were Sig Sauer, Nijinsky, Winner’s Bet, My Girl EJ, and Karl.
Abuckabett Hanover, who won the Potomac Pace, gained 34 points this week to move within five points of Karl.
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