Experimental Free Handicap

A different take than the Eclipse voters, as Declan's Moon and Wilko get the 126 pound top weight in this annual hypothetical ranking of the newly turned 3 yo crop, based on their juvenile performances.

"We felt that the Juvenile was the strongest race, so Wilko had to be ranked at the top," [NYRA racing secretary Mike]Lakow said. "As for Declan's Moon, he was unbeaten and defeated Wilko (who was third) in the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I). So, he had to be co-high-weighted." [Bloodhorse]

Sweet Catomine takes the top slot for the fillies, at 125 pounds, 1 more than the standard 124 generally awarded to fillies. A complete list can be found at the bottom of the Bloodhorse piece. One thing to keep in mind:

The last colt or gelding topweighted in the Experimental to win the Kentucky Derby was Spectacular Bid, who was a 2-year-old in 1978. He was also the last topweighted male in the Experimental to be voted champion at 3. The last filly topweight to win a championship at 3 was Surfside, who was a co-topweight among fillies in the 1999 Experimental.

[DRF]

[CORRECTION: Sweet Catomine was weighted at 124.]