Tall Dark Stranger tops final poll of 2020

December 1, 2020, by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager

Hightstown, NJ — Three-year-old male pacer Tall Dark Stranger finished the Grand Circuit season the No. 1-ranked horse in the final Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, garnering 25 of 35 first-place votes. Tall Dark Stranger, who was retired following his Breeders Crown runner-up finish Oct. 31, won 11 of 13 races and $1.30 million. His earnings led all harness racing horses in North America.

Tall Dark Stranger was ranked no worse than third at any point during the poll’s 21 weeks. He took over the top spot in Week 13 of the rankings and stayed there for the remaining nine weeks.

There were no changes to the rankings in the poll’s top 10 this week. Party Girl Hill, Gimpanzee, Kissin In The Sand, and Perfect Sting completed the top five. Party Girl Hill received eight first-place votes while Gimpanzee and Perfect Sting split the remaining two.

Rounding out the rankings were Bettor’s Wish, Amigo Volo, Manchego, Atlanta, and Ramona Hill.

Gimpanzee led the rankings for the first six weeks before giving up No. 1 to Ramona Hill, who spent the next six weeks at the top of the poll.

The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll does not determine 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.

334 Points (Previous #1)

| Breeders Crown Elim | North America Cup | Meadowlands Pace | Cane Pace | KYSS Final | Bluegrass Series | Tattersalls

301 Points (Previous #2)

| Matron Stakes | Breeders Crown Elim | Fan Hanover | Adioo Volo | Jugette Final | Tattersalls

245 Points (Previous #3)

| Breeders Crown Final | Breeders Crown Prep |Cashman Memorial | Hambletonian Maturity | Graduate Final | Caesar’s Trotting Classic

221 Points (Previous #4)

| TVG Mares | Breeders Crown Final | Breeders Crown Elim | Dayton Distaff | Allerage Open

214 Points (Previous #5)

| Breeders Crown Final | Breeders Crown Elim | Bluegrass Series

142 Points (Previous #6)

| TVG Open | Breeders Crown Prep | Allerage Open |

123 Points (Previous #7)

| Matron Stakes | Breeders Crown Final |

119 Points (Previous #8)

| TVG Open | Breeders Crown Final |

82 Points (Previous #9)

Maple Leaf Trot | Dayton Trotting Derby | Lexington Open

79 Points (

Previous #10)

Hambletonian Final | Hambletonian Elim | Del Miller Memorial | Simcoe Stakes | Elegantimage

ALSO: Anoka Hanover 19; Shartin N 18; Test Of Faith 13; Action Uncle, Caviart Ally, Leonidas A, Sorella, Venerate 2; Charlie May, Major Custard, Peaky Sneaky, Plunge Blue Chip, Yall Beneath Me 1.