I'm sure that many of you have heard of and looked at the Experimental Free Handicaps, released every year by the Jockey Club. A fascinating chart, one over which racing fans could argue for hours, it comprises two charts containing the names of all of the best juveniles from the previous year. On the first chart are the names of all the best males; on the other chart are the names of all the best females. The horses on the list are given a weight assignment for a hypothetical mile and a sixteenth handicap race, just like you would do for a real handicap. For example, last year, Lookin at Lucky and Vale of York, the 1-2 finishers in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, were assigned the standard high weight of 126 pounds, while Jackson Bend, winner of several stakes races in Florida, was assigned 116 pounds. Therefore, the people in charge of compiling the list felt that Lookin at Lucky was ten pounds better than Jackson Bend at that time.
When a juvenile is considered to be better than usual, such as War Pass was in 2007, they get assigned a higher-than-standard number. War Pass received 127 pounds on the 2007 Experimental Free Handicap. The record for the highest weight assignment goes to Count Fleet, who was given a massive 132 pounds in 1942.
I have always been fascinated by this list, which got me to thinking: Why don't I compile a similar list?
Finding no reason not to, I decided to undertake the monumental but fun task of handicapping all of the best horses from 2010. But I wouldn't stop at the juveniles! I would continue on and compile handicaps for the three year olds and the older horses! It wouldn't take all that long, and it sure would look impressive when I'm done!
Of course, reality soon set in. For example, when I sat down to compile a handicap for the best three year old fillies, I realized that I had no idea as to how to go about it. At what distance would this hypothetical race be? And tougher still, how do you compare a sprinting filly like Champagne d'Oro to the brilliant 9-10 furlong filly Blind Luck?
It soon became apparent that this task is considerably harder than it looks. However, I did my best and compiled several charts which I hope you will enjoy. Each list contains roughly ten horses; I go over that limit only to include horses involved in ties, as you will see below. Also, please note that these imaginary races are being run on an imaginary "super surface" upon which dirt, turf, and synthetic runners can run their best races. :-)
KEELERMAN HANDICAP FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD MALES
A hypothetical race at 1 1/16 miles
Standard weight: 126 pounds
Weight (in pounds)/Horse
128 Uncle Mo
123 Boys at Tosconova
123 To Honor and Serve
121 Comma to the Top
120 Brethren
120 Jaycito
119 Clubhouse Ride
119 Gourmet Dinner
119 Pluck
119 Rogue Romance
119 Santiva
119 The Factor
KEELERMAN HANDICAP FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALES
A hypothetical race at 1 1/16 miles
Standard weight: 123 pounds
Weight (in pounds)/Horse
123 Awesome Feather
122 Turbulent Descent
121 A Z Warrior
121 R Heat Lightning
120 Kathmanblu
119 Delightful Mary
119 Dixie City
118 More Than Real
118 Rigoletta
118 Wickedly Perfect
118 Winter Memories
KEELERMAN HANDICAP FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD MALES
A hypothetical race at 1 1/8 miles
Standard weight: 126 pounds
Weight (in pounds)/Horse
126 Lookin at Lucky
125 Eskendereya
123 Afleet Express
123 Fly Down
123 Super Saver
122 First Dude
120 Paddy O'Prado
119 Concord Point
119 Drosselmeyer
119 Morning Line
119 Sidney's Candy
119 Twirling Candy
(Honorable mentions go out to Discreetly Mine, Prince Will I Am, and Smiling Tiger. All three are brilliant colts, but would not relish the nine furlongs of this hypothetical race. If the race was 1 1/2 miles or longer, I would put Prince Will I Am on top. If the distance was six furlongs, Discreetly Mine and Smiling Tiger would sit 1-2.)
KEELERMAN HANDICAP FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALES
A hypothetical race at 1 1/8 miles
Standard weight: 123 pounds
Weight (in pounds)/Horse
123 Blind Luck
122 Evening Jewel
122 Havre de Grace
120 Devil May Care
118 Harmonious
118 No Such Word
118 Switch
117 Franny Freud
117 It's Tea time
116 Amen Hallelujah
116 Champagne d'Oro
(An honorable mention goes out to Rose Catherine, a brilliant turf sprinter who would have no chance at a nine-furlong dirt race but would be at the top of the list if running in her type of race.)
KEELERMAN HANDICAP FOR MALES FOUR-YEARS-OLD AND UP
A hypothetical race at 1 1/8 miles
Standard weight: 126 pounds
Weight (in pounds)/Horse
127 Blame
126 Quality Road
124 Gio Ponti
121 Haynesfield
121 Richard's Kid
121 Successful Dan
120 Giant Oak
120 Redding Colliery
119 Court Vision
119 Misremembered
119 Rail Trip
KEELERMAN HANDICAP FOR FEMALES FOUR-YEARS-OLD AND UP
A hypothetical race at 1 1/8 miles
Standard weight: 123 pounds
Weight (in pounds)/Horse
129 Zenyatta
125 Goldikova
123 Unrivaled Belle
123 Life at Ten
122 Rachel Alexandra
122 St. Trinians
120 Proviso
120 Shared Account
120 Tuscan Evening
118 Persistently
118 Malibu Prayer
(This was a very tough list to create, and the distance plays an important role. At a solid mile, Goldikova would defeat everyone in this field, including Zenyatta. However, going nine furlongs or farther, I do believe that Zenyatta would be able to rally with speed to spare.)
Did I forget anyone? Do you have any thoughts regarding my weight assignments? If so, feel free to leave a comment!
-Keelerman
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