Brandon Blvd back at head of Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll

Brandon Blvd (Downbytheseaside) returned to No. 1 and two unbeatens joined the Top 10 in the Week 13 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released Wednesday (Sept. 9).

Brandon Blvd, who was at the top of the poll in Weeks 6 through 8, moved up from second after winning the fourth leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for 3-year-old male pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 8) at the Red Mile. He replaced Apex, who finished fourth in his New Jersey Classic elimination for 3-year-old male trotters this past Friday at the Meadowlands, at No. 1. Apex dropped to fourth in this week’s rankings after spending four weeks at the summit.

Super Chapter, who won the Grade 1 Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, vaulted from fourth to second in this week’s poll. On To Norway, who won the Open trot at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, remained third.

Brandon Blvd received 13 of 35 first-place votes, one more than Super Chapter and seven more than On To Norway. Apex retained three first-place votes.

Nezuko Kamado S, who races Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 9) at the Red Mile, took over the fifth spot in the rankings in an exchange of positions with idle Miki And Minnie. Also idle last week were No. 7 Big Ranger and No. 9 Bourbonista S.

Joining the Top 10 were 2-year-old male pacer Shalom Hanover and 2-year-old female trotter Wall Of Fame. Shalom Hanover improved to 6-for-6 this season with a win in his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final on Monday at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania and Wall Of Fame improved to 7-for-7 with a victory in her New Jersey Classic elimination on Friday at the Big M.

Twin B Joe Fresh and Loua Dipa 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 13 – 9/9/2026

ALSO: Francent N 35; Best Chip 32; Melillo 26; Miss Jum Jabber 21; Starstruck Dreamer 20; Odds On Mr Mamba 18; Loua Dipa 17; Twin B Joe Fresh 16; Al Papi 15; Prince Hal Hanover 9; Victorianas Secret 8; Nordic Catcher S, Walspea 4; Sea Bistro Hanover 2; Geologic, Jimdougie Armitage, Waves Of Fortune 1.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA