Mamba takes top spot in Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll
Mamba' lands at No. 1 in first 2026 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll
Odds On Mr Mamba, fresh off his win in this past weekend’s Pepsi North America Cup, found himself first again when the Week 1 edition of the 2026 Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll was released on Wednesday (June 17).
Odds On Mr Mamba is 3-for-3 this year after capturing the C$1 million Grade 1 North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park and leads all horses in North America in purses, with $426,000. The 3-year-old male pacer received 29 of 35 first-place votes and totaled 343 points, giving him a 72-point cushion over No. 2-ranked Loua Dipa.
Loua Dipa, who won the Fan Hanover (G1) for 3-year-old filly pacers this past weekend at Mohawk in a Canadian-record 1:48.1, received two first-place votes and 271 points. Following Lou Dipa in spots 3 through 5 were Roses Are Red (G1) winner Miki And Minnie, Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Empire Breeders Classic champ Spencer Hanover, and North America Cup runner-up Brandon Blvd.
Ranked No. 6 was On To Norway, who received the poll’s remaining four first-place votes after stretching his winning streak to 27 races with a 1:49.3 victory this past Friday in a division of the Graduate Series at the Meadowlands. The time, in On To Norway’s fourth start of this season, was a world record for a 4-year-old gelding trotter.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Mohawk Gold Cup Invitational (G3) winner Ervin Hanover, New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Apex, North America Cup third-place finisher Beau Jangles, and Fan Hanover runner-up Be Perfect BG.
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 1 – 6/17/2026
|
Rank |
Name (First-Place Votes) |
Age/Sex/Gait |
Record |
Earnings |
Points |
Pvs |
|
1 |
Odds On Mr Mamba (29) |
3gp |
3-3-0-0 |
$426,000 |
343 |
— |
|
2 |
Loua Dipa (2) |
3fp |
3-2-1-0 |
$177,044 |
271 |
— |
|
3 |
Miki And Minnie |
4mp |
3-2-0-1 |
$139,800 |
211 |
— |
|
4 |
Spencer Hanover |
3ct |
4-4-0-0 |
$391,932 |
194 |
— |
|
5 |
Brandon Blvd |
3cp |
4-2-2-0 |
$271,580 |
128 |
— |
|
6 |
On To Norway (4) |
4gt |
4-4-0-0 |
$58,000 |
125 |
— |
|
7 |
Ervin Hanover |
6hp |
2-2-0-0 |
$50,400 |
99 |
— |
|
8 |
Apex |
3ct |
2-1-1-0 |
$118,750 |
73 |
— |
|
9 |
Beau Jangles |
3cp |
5-3-0-2 |
$189,593 |
64 |
— |
|
10 |
Be Perfect BG |
3fp |
5-4-1-0 |
$195,640 |
61 |
— |
ALSO: Periculum, Super Chapter 40; Mossdale Ben N 36; Captain Albano 27; Antognoni S, Endurance 25; Prince Hal Hanover 24; Lexus Kody 18; Bourbonista S 17; Nezuko Kamado S, Tarapasta 16; Louies Girl N 14; Bookie J, Captain Optimistic 13; Lou Hill 10; Miss Jum Jabber 7; Neighver Punt 6; Oh Look Magic 4; Ken Hanover 3; Another C Note, Big Ranger 1.
by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA
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