Dateline: 01/28/03

As expected, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vindication and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Storm Flag Flying are the topweights on the 2002 Experimental Free Handicap. This makes the seventh straight year that the winners of the Breeders' Cup were made the high weights. The Experimental Free Handicap has been published annually by The Jockey Club since 1933, and is compiled for a hypothetical 1 1/16-mile race on the dirt in the spring.

Vindication was assigned 126 pounds while Storm Flag Flying was assigned 123 pounds, the standard top assignments. The last time a horse received more than the standard was in 1997 when Favorite Trick received 128 as top colt and Countess Diana received 125 as top filly. Racing secretary Mike Lakow of NYRA said: "We thought about assigning Storm Flag Flying one pound above the standard, but felt she fit right in at 123." He along with Frank Gabriel Jr. of Arlington Park and Tom Robbins of Del Mar determined the ratings for the 64 colts/geldings and 56 fillies rated.

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, who are considered to have a better chance at winning the Derby. Dual qualifiers are highlighted below by their names being in red letters.

Photo ©2003, Cindy Pierson Dulay, licenced to About.