AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION, OCTOBER 29, 2014 —Moonist, a winner in nine of 10 starts this year and one of the fastest sophomores on the West Coast, now can call himself the No. 1-ranked runner in the AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com Poll.

The patient pollsters had been weighing Moonist’s resume in recent weeks, as the son of Separatist inched closer to the top. This week, he earned a single point more than reigning top-ranked older horse Bon Accord, 94-93, to reach the highest perch. It was the only major change to the rankings this week. Also note that DM Streakn Thru Fire snuck back into the poll this week at No. 10, the only newcomer compared to a week ago.

The race for the top of the 2-year-old rankings also remains tight, with Kiss My Hocks pacing the standings this week just ahead of a rising Heza Dasha Fire. This week, the latter supplanted All American Futurity (G1) winner JM Miracle in the No. 2 spot by a single point in the balloting, 92-91, for the first time.

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS

1. KISS MY HOCKS (100)
2. HEZA DASHA FIRE (92)
3. JM MIRACLE (91)
4. TRENDI (74)
5. MAD ABOUT THE MOON (58)
6. LOVETHEWAYYOULIE (41)
7. BF FARM BOSS (39)
8. RATTLE N BATTLE (31)
9. PAINT ME PERRY (26)
10. OLD GIRL (13)

Sam Crow (8), Bodacious Eagle (7), AJs High (7), Hezadashinbye (5), Takiana Romanova B (5), Apollitical Blood (5), Cartels Fire (2), BV Travelin Soldier (1).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS

1. MOONIST (94)
2. BON ACCORD (93)
3. TOO FLASH FOR YOU (79)
4. HOUDINI (73)
5. A TOSS UP (66)
6. STIMULUS (44)
7. FAR NIENTE (33)
8. FIVE BAR CARTEL (24)
9. NELLIE DELANEY (21)
10. DM STREAKN THRU FIRE (18)

Last To Fire (17), Rock You (10), Viva Mi Corazon (6), Significant Heart (5), Llano Cartel (5), Hes Relentless (3), JRC Callas First (3), One Valiant Hero (3), Dashin For A Prize (1), TF Featured Effort (1) .

The 11 voters are:
Ed Burgart (Los Alamitos announcer/handicapper), Martha Claussen (Q-Racing Ace, writer/handicapper), Mike Cusortelli (writer/handicapper), Tom Dawson (Q-Racing Ace, network television producer), Dale Day (Remington Park announcer/handicapper), Ben Hudson (TRACK Magazine Owner/Publisher), Mike Joyce (TVG analyst), Jeremy Plonk (Night School co-founder/host), Jerry Shottenkirk (Horseplayernow.com, handicapper/oddsmaker), Terry Turrell (Horseplayernow.com handicapper) and Ty Wyant (writer, Daily Racing Form and AQHA).

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit www.aqharacing.com.