Sylvia Hanover remained No. 1 in the Week 9 edition of the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll released on Tuesday, Aug. 8 while Hambletonian Stakes winner Tactical Approach led a trio of newcomers into the Top 10.
Shady Daisy winner Sylvia Hanover occupied the top spot in the rankings for the second consecutive week but saw her lead over Confederate, who won the Cane Pace, narrowed to nine points.
Cashman Memorial winner Its Academic moved up from seventh to fourth, one spot behind idle Its My Show and one spot above Steele Memorial runner-up Jiggy Jog S.
Tactical Approach, who won the Hambletonian from post 10, vaulted to No. 6 in the poll and was followed by fellow newcomers M Ms Dream, who won the Steele, and Silver Label, who won the Lady Liberty.
Completing the Top 10 were Lady Liberty third-place finisher Grace Hill, who dropped from fifth, and idle Cannibal.
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 9 – Aug. 8, 2023
| Rank | Name (First Votes) | A/S/G | Record | Earnings (USD) | Points | Pvs |
| 1 | Sylvia Hanover (20) | 3fp | 6-6-0-0 | $326,830 | 332 | 1 |
| 2 | Confederate (14) | 3cp | 6-5-1-0 | $687,929 | 323 | 2 |
| 3 | Its My Show | 3gp | 8-7-0-0 | $500,584 | 214 | 3 |
| 4 | Its Academic | 6ht | 9-6-1-2 | $416,784 | 203 | 7 |
| 5 | Jiggy Jog S | 4mt | 6-4-2-0 | $368,486 | 127 | 4 |
| 6 | Tactical Approach (1) | 3ct | 9-4-0-4 | $581,489 | 126 | — |
| 7 | M Ms Dream | 4mt | 8-5-0-1 | $319,362 | 94 | — |
| 8 | Silver Label | 4mp | 12-7-3-1 | $306,121 | 84 | — |
| 9 | Grace Hill | 5mp | 9-6-2-1 | $314,626 | 68 | 5 |
| 10 | Cannibal | 3cp | 7-6-0-0 | $246,680 | 63 | 8 |
ALSO: Special Way 55; Heaven Hanover 42; Charlie May 40; Bythemissal 23; Oh Well 19; Bond 17; Newsroom 15; Ruthless Hanover 14; Mirage Hanover 8; Ari Ferrari J, Covered Bridge 6; Hellabalou 5; Sadie Hanover, Sig Sauer, Voukefalas 4; Celebrity Bambino, Mikala, Redwood Hanover, Up Your Deo 3; Carbine, Hungry Angel Boy, Legendary Hanover, Stonebridge Helios, Venerate 2; Allegiant, Allywag Hanover, Do Better, Fashion Schooner, Linedrive Hanover, Pulp Fiction, So Much More 1.
(USTA)