Stevie Wonderboy, Folklore top Experimental Free Handicap
divisions
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner STEVIE WONDERBOY (Stephen Got Even) is the
126-pound highweight on the 2005 Experimental Free Handicap. Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Fillies (G1) queen FOLKLORE (Tiznow) heads the filly division at 123
pounds.
Published annually by The Jockey Club since 1935, the Experimental Free
Handicap is compiled for a hypothetical race at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. This
year’s weighting committee of racing secretaries was comprised of Ben Huffman of
the Keeneland Association and Fair Grounds, 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 85 males and 84 fillies. Eligible for
weighting were all two-year-olds of 2005 that finished among the top four in
graded or unrestricted races with an added value of at least $75,000 or higher,
run in the continental United States.
Merv Griffin’s Stevie Wonderboy won three of five starts, including the Del
Mar Futurity (G2), and earned more than $1 million en route to being named
champion two-year-old in 2005. His 126-pound impost is the standard top weight
assignment for Experimental colts and is the same as the assignment given to
last year’s co-highweights, Declan’s Moon (Malibu Moon) and Wilko (Awesome
Again).
FIRST SAMURAI (Giant’s Causeway) comes next at 124 pounds. Winner of the
Champagne S. (G1) and Hopeful S. (G1), the chestnut captured his first four
career starts before finishing third as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile. At 123 pounds is Juvenile runner-up HENNY HUGHES (Hennessy). The
Darley-owned colt won the Saratoga Special S. (G2) and the Tremont S. last
season.
Hollywood Futurity (G1) hero BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) received 121 pounds.
Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) winner PRIVATE VOW (Broken Vow) and Hollywood
Futurity runner-up YOUR TENT OR MINE (Forest Camp) are both listed at 119
pounds. The ill-fated WHAT A SONG (Songandaprayer), winner of the Best Pal S.
(G2) and Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G3), is next at 118.
Folklore received the standard 123-pound assignment given to the leader in
the filly division. Last year’s highweight, Sweet Catomine, was given 124
pounds.
Bred and owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, Folklore won the Adirondack S. (G2)
and Matron S. (G1), the latter by 14 lengths, in addition to the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Fillies, and she also finished second in the Spinaway S. (G2) and Astoria S.
She was named champion during Monday night’s Eclipse Award presentations.
Frizette S. (G1) and Spinaway winner ADIEU (El Corredor) is the second highweight at 122 pounds. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up WILD FIT (Wild
Wonder), who had previously captured the Del Mar Debutante S. (G1), received a 120-pound assignment.
Frizette second-place finisher ALONG THE SEA (Anees) and the ill-fated DIAMOND
OMI (Giant’s Causeway), winner of the Oak Leaf S. (G2), both come next at 117 pounds.