2003 Experimental Free Handicap

Halfbridled the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and 2003 Experimental Free Handicap topweight.

Date: 01/27/2004

For the fillies, the obvious choice was the undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Halfbridled. She was ranked at 124 pounds, four pounds higher than second ranked Ashado. She was assigned 124 pounds, one more than Storm Flag Flying was assigned in 2002 despite the similarity of their records. Halfbridled was ranked only two pounds lower than the three colt co-topweights, was the closest since 1996.

Given the lack of a dominant 2-year-old colt in 2003, it is no surprise that the Experimental Free Handicap has three co-topweights. Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day, Belmont Futurity winner Cuvee, and Norfolk winner Ruler's Court all share top billing this year at 126 pounds. The list of colt rankings is available here.

The other use of the Experimental rankings are in determining which horses are "dual qualifiers" for the Kentucky Derby. Horses ranked within 10 pounds of the male topweight or who are a champion in another country and have a Dosage Index of 4.0 or less and a Center of Distribution of 1.25 or less are considered the dual qualifiers. These horses have statistically shown that they have a better chance at winning the Derby. Fillies are not usually considered in the dual qualifiers since they rarely run in the Derby, but any of the top fillies should be given extra consideration if they do enter.

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