Lookin At Lucky and Vale of York have been named top-weights of the 2009 Free Handicap for American 2YO colts and geldings.
In their only meeting, Vale of York defeated Lookin At Lucky by a head in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in November. However, Lookin At Lucky did win the Eclipse Award based on his overall body of work, which included wins in all five of his other races.
Lookin At Lucky is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, and is trained by Bob Baffert. Vale of York is owned by Godolphin and trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Both colts are being pointed to the 136th Kentucky Derby on May 1.
The last Free Hcp top-weight to win the Kentucky Derby was Darley colt Street Sense in 2006.
Blind Luck and She Be Wild are top-weights in the filly division. She Be Wild was the Eclipse champion based largely on her win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, in which Blind Luck was a close third. Blind Luck raced once more in 2009, winning the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet by seven lengths.
The last tie on top was back in 1999. That was a truly vintage year with Cash Run, Chilukki and Surfside all rated equal.
She Be Wild is owned by Nancy Mazzoni and trained by Wayne Catalano. Blind Luck is owned by Mark DeDomenico, John Carver and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
The Free Hcp has assigned handicap weights for a hypothetical race at 1700m on dirt every year since 1935. In 1985, The Jockey Club began weighting fillies separately. The lists are assigned strictly according to 2-year-old form and do not purport to speculate about future performance.
USA 2yo Colts and Geldings
126 LOOKIN AT LUCKY – Smart Strike
126 VALE OF YORK – Invincible Spirit
124 NOBLE’S PROMISE – Cuvee
123 BUDDY’S SAINT – Saint Liam
122 POUNCED – Rahy
122 SUPER SAVER – Maria’s Mon
120 PISCITELLI – Victory Gallop
119 AIKENITED – Yes It’s True
119 D’ FUNNYBONE c- D ‘wildcat
118 BRIDGETOWN – Speightstown
118 MAKE MUSIC FOR ME – Bernstein
117 AWESOME ACT – Awesome Again
117 DUBLIN – Afleet Alex
117 HOMEBOYKRIS – Roman Ruler
117 INTERACTIF – Broken Vow
USA 2yo Fillies
123 BLIND LUCK – Pollard’s Vision
123 SHE BE WILD – Offlee Wild
121 HOT DIXIE CHICK – Dixie Union
120 BEAUTICIAN – Dehere
120 NEGLIGEE – Northern Afleet
119 TAPITSFLY – Tapit
118 BIOFUEL – Stormin Fever
118 MI SUENO – Pulpit
118 SASSY IMAGE – Broken Vo w
116 DEVIL MAY CARE b Malibu Moon
116 ROSE CATHERINE – Speightstown
116 ALWAYS A PRINCESS – Leroidesanimaux
116 AWESOME MARIA – Maria’s Mon
114 TIZAHIT – Tiznow
113 AILALEA – Pulpit