Confederate maintained the top spot in the Week 12 edition of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released on Tuesday, Aug. 29 while Bythemissal, who romped by eight lengths in his Canadian Pacing Derby elimination this past weekend at Woodbine Mohawk Park, made the biggest move.
Confederate last raced on Aug. 19 at Pocono Downs, winning the Max C. Hempt Memorial in 1:48.3. The top four horses in the poll were unchanged: Confederate, followed by Sylvia Hanover, Its My Show and Its Academic. Its My Show was the only one of the four to race last week, finishing second to Cannibal in a leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series.
Ranked ninth last week, Bythemissal vaulted to No. 5 in this week’s rankings.
Cannibal was the only newcomer to the Top 10, coming in at No. 10. Cannibal spent two previous weeks in the Top 10, with a best position of eighth.
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 12 – Aug. 29, 2023
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Confederate (33) | 3cp | 7-6-1-0 | $837,929 | 341 | 1 |
| 2 | Sylvia Hanover | 3fp | 7-6-0-0 | $326,830 | 302 | 2 |
| 3 | Its My Show (1) | 3gp | 10-8-1-0 | $560,584 | 229 | 3 |
| 4 | Its Academic | 6ht | 10-7-1-2 | $466,784 | 207 | 4 |
| 5 | Bythemissal | 4gp | 7-6-0-0 | $192,343 | 144 | 9 |
| 6 | Silver Label | 4mp | 13-8-3-1 | $321,661 | 119 | 6 |
| 7 | Tactical Approach | 3ct | 11-5-1-4 | $641,489 | 102 | 5 |
| 8 | Jiggy Jog S | 4mt | 6-4-2-0 | $368,486 | 81 | 7 |
| 9 | M Ms Dream | 4mt | 8-5-0-1 | $319,362 | 76 | 8 |
| 10 | Cannibal | 3cp | 9-7-1-0 | $306,680 | 42 | — |
(With files from USTA)