Midshipman is the top weight but only by 2 pounds over runner-up Vineyard Haven.
2008 Experimental Free Handicap
Date: 01/29/2009
Midshipman, winner of the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile, received the high weight assignment of 126 pounds on the 2008 Experimental Free Handicap released today by The Jockey Club. The 126 pounds assigned to Midshipman is 1 pound less than the assignment on last year's high weight, War Pass, and is the standard impost for top Experimental colts. The filly division is headed by Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Stardom Bound at 124 pounds.
The Experimental Free Handicap, published annually by The Jockey Club since 1935, is a weight-based assessment of the previous year's leading 2-year-olds, with the weights compiled for a hypothetical race at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. This year's weighting committee of racing secretaries was composed of Ben Huffman of Churchill Downs, P.J. Campo of the New York Racing Association and Thomas S. Robbins of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
The committee weighted a total of 104 males and 87 fillies. Eligible for weighting were all 2-year-olds of 2008 that finished among the top four in graded or other unrestricted races with an added value of at least $75,000, run in the continental
United States. The full lists for both colts and fillies are accessible here on the Jockey Club website.
The other use of the Experimental rankings is 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. Dual qualifiers are highlighted below with an asterisk by their name.
Manhattan Handicap (G1) and Just a Game Stakes (G1) Results - On the Belmont undercard, Gio Ponti won over Marsh Side and Better Talk Now in the Manhattan Handicap, while Diamondrella beat favorite Forever Together in the Just a Game Stakes. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Acorn Stakes (G1), True North Handicap (G2), and Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) Results - Also on the Belmont undercard, Gabby's Golden Gal upset favorite Justwhistledixie in the Acorn, top choice Fabulous Strike beat defending champ Benny the Bull in the True North Handicap, and Munnings won by 5 1/4 lengths in the Woody Stephens Stakes. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Brooklyn Handicap (G2) and Hill Prince Stakes - Eldaafer got up by a nose to win the Brooklyn Handicap over pacesetter Nite Light in the slop, with favorite Rising Moon third. In the Hill Prince Stakes, which was taken off the turf, Despite the Odds drew away to win by 7 1/2 lengths. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
2009 Belmont Stakes Entries - A field of 10 was entered with Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird the 2-1 morning line favorite from post 7. Get the entries, post positions, odds, and free past performances here.
Belmont Stakes Friday Workouts - Photos of 5 of the Belmont Stakes horses on the sloppy track in the rain Friday morning, including Mine That Bird. Get the details and photos here.
Belmont Contenders Weekend Workouts - Five of the likely entrants for next weekend's Belmont Stakes had timed works at Belmont Park on May 30-31, including Charitable Man and Dunkirk. Get the details and photos here.
Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness - She led most of the way and was ahead by 4 at the top of the stretch, then held off Mine That Bird by a length. Musket Man was another 1/2 length back in third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Preakness undercard stakes results - There were 7 other stakes on the card, most of them grade 2 or 3, including the Dixie Stakes (G2) won by Parading.
