Max C. Hempt Memorial winner Confederate returned to the No. 1 spot in the Week 11 edition of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released on Tuesday, Aug. 22. Confederate previously was ranked first in Week 6.
Confederate received 32 of 35 first-place votes. Third-ranked Its My Show, who was idle last week, received the remaining three. (Note: Voting was completed Tuesday morning, prior to Its My Show racing Tuesday afternoon at Red Mile.)
Sylvia Hanover, who spent the past three weeks at No. 1, dropped to second after making a break and finishing eighth in the James M. Lynch Memorial.
The only other change in the rankings was a swap of positions six and seven between Silver Label, who won a Free For All Pace for fillies and mares at Woodbine Mohawk Park and idle Jiggy Jog S. The only other horse to race last week in the Top 10 was No. 5 Tactical Approach, who won a Kentucky Sire Stakes leg.
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine U.S. 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.
Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll: Week 11 – Aug. 22, 2023
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Confederate (32) | 3cp | 7-6-1-0 | $837,929 | 347 | 2 |
| 2 | Sylvia Hanover | 3fp | 7-6-0-0 | $326,830 | 294 | 1 |
| 3 | Its My Show (3) | 3gp | 9-8-0-0 | $540,584 | 290 | 3 |
| 4 | Its Academic | 6ht | 10-7-1-2 | $466,784 | 202 | 4 |
| 5 | Tactical Approach | 3ct | 10-5-0-4 | $621,489 | 154 | 5 |
| 6 | Silver Label | 4mp | 13-8-3-1 | $321,661 | 120 | 7 |
| 7 | Jiggy Jog S | 4mt | 6-4-2-0 | $368,486 | 101 | 6 |
| 8 | M Ms Dream | 4mt | 8-5-0-1 | $319,362 | 73 | 8 |
| 9 | Bythemissal | 4gp | 6-5-0-0 | $173,843 | 50 | 9 |
| 10 | Grace Hill | 5mp | 9-6-2-1 | $314,626 | 48 | 10 |
ALSO: Twin B Joe Fresh 32; Covered Bridge 29; Up Your Deo 27; Bond, Geocentric 23; Cannibal, Charlie May 21; Special Way 18; Legendary Hanover 12; Heaven Hanover 7; Seven Colors 6; Ari Ferrari J 5; Drawn Impression, Fashion Frenzie, Newsroom 4; Allywag Hanover, T C I 3; Allegiant, Mirage Hanover, Oh Well, Stockade Seelster 1.
(USTA)