Rebuff jumps four spots in Top Ten Poll

Hightstown, NJ — Rebuff (Muscle Hill), who won one of last week’s two Hambletonian eliminations, made the biggest move in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, going from No. 8 to No. 4 in this week’s harness racing rankings released Tuesday (Aug. 2).

The top three positions were unchanged, with No. 1 Bulldog Hanover (Shadow Play) followed by Joviality S (Chapter Seven) and Test Of Faith (Art Major). Joviality S was the only one of the three to race last week, finishing third by a neck in the Hambletonian elimination won by Jiggy Jog S.

Bella Bellini (Bar Hopping), who was third in a leg of the Miss Versatility Series, was fifth in the poll. Adios runner-up Beach Glass (Somebeachsomewhere) and Adios third-place finisher Pebble Beach (Downbytheseaside) were sixth and seventh, respectively. All three dropped one position from a week ago.

Venerable (Walner), who won one of last week’s two Hambletonian Oaks eliminations, was the lone newcomer to the Top 10, arriving at No. 10.

Treacherous Dragon (Captaintreacherous) dropped from the Top 10.

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