Apex rises to No. 1 in Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll

Hightstown, NJ – This time, it wasn’t as close.

Apex (Walner), who won the Grade 1 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian this past Saturday by a nose in a stakes-record 1:49.2 at the Meadowlands, came out comfortably on top of the Week 9 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released Wednesday. The 3-year-old colt trotter received 22 of 35 first-place votes and a total of 330 points, putting him 44 ahead of No. 2-ranked Miki And Minnie as he moved from fifth to first in the harness racing rankings.

Miki And Minnie, who won the Lady Liberty (G2) by a half-length over stablemate Twin B Joe Fresh (No. 10 in the poll this week) moved from third to second in a swap of positions with Harrah’s Hoosier Park Open Trot winner On To Norway.

Brandon Blvd, who held the No. 1 spot for three weeks, dropped to fourth this week after a third-place finish in the Cane Pace (G2). Hambletonian runner-up Big Ranger completed the top five, gaining a spot following his narrow loss.

Three newcomers occupied positions six through eight: Super Chapter, who won the John Cashman Memorial (G1); Nezuko Kamado S, who captured the Hambletonian Oaks (G1); and Bourbonista S, who defeated male rivals in the Vincennes for her third consecutive victory.

Odds On Mr Mamba, who finished fourth in the Cane Pace, dropped from fourth to ninth in the poll. Loua Dipa, Al Papi, and Endurance dropped out of the Top 10.

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.

Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll: Week 9 – 8/12/2026
For a PDF version of the poll, click here.

Rank	Name (First-Place Votes)	Age/Sex/Gait	Record	Earnings	Points	Pvs
1	Apex (22)	3ct	5-4-1-0	$739,716	330	5
2	Miki And Minnie (5)	4mp	8-6-0-2	$372,099	286	3
3	On To Norway (7)	4gt	8-7-1-0	$403,250	254	2
4	Brandon Blvd	3cp	8-5-2-1	$745,695	172	1
5	Big Ranger	3ct	8-5-1-0	$402,337	169	6
6	Super Chapter	4ht	5-3-2-0	$330,257	153	—
7	Nezuko Kamado S	3ft	6-5-1-0	$503,905	152	—
8	Bourbonista S (1)	5mt	8-4-2-1	$185,840	95	—
9	Odds On Mr Mamba	3gp	7-4-0-2	$525,220	80	4
10	Twin B Joe Fresh	6mp	7-3-2-0	$240,858	78	8

ALSO: Loua Dipa 52; Al Papi 41; Walspea 13; Lexus Kody 11; Lifetime Dreamer, Shalom Hanover 8; Sweet Lovin Lou 5; Be Perfect BG, Best Chip, Endurance 3; Captain Albano, Captain Optimistic, Wall Of Fame 2; Antognoni S, Carve, Southwind Chaska 1.

 

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA