Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) received the high-weight assignment of 128 on the 2010 Free Handicap just released by the North American Jockey Club.  It is the highest rating since Horse of the Year Favorite Trick received 128 pounds in 1997.

Published annually since 1935, the Free Handicap is a weight-based assessment for a hypothetical race at 1700m on dirt.

Uncle Mo won his three starts last year by a combined 23 lengths for Repole Stable.  He easily captured the G1 Champagne Stakes prior to his  prior to four length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs.

Uncle Mo is weighted five pounds higher than To Honor And Serve (Bernardini).  He was a winner of the G2 Remsen Stakes and G2 Nashua Stakes at the back end of the year.

Boys At Tosconova (Officer) was next best after scoring at Group 1 level in the Hopeful Stakes prior to a runner-up berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

NORTH AMERICAN 2010 FREE HCP (MALES)

128 Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie)
123 To Honor and Serve (Bernardini)
122 Boys At Tosconova (Officer)
121 Comma to the Top (Bwana Charlie)
121 Pluck  (More Than Ready)

120 J P’s Gusto (Successful Appeal)
120 Jaycito  (Victory Gallop)
120 Kantharos  (Lion Heart)
119 J. B.’s Thunder (Thunder Gulch)
119 Soldat (War Front)

Undefeated Awesome Feather (Awesome of Course) finished on top of the fillies division with 123 pounds.  She won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and was rated equal to last year’s high-weight Blind Luck (Pollard’s Vision).

Bred in Florida by Jacks or Better Farm, Awesome Feather won six races and, apart from her Breeders’ Cup triumph, was successful in all three divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes series.  She earned over $1.49 million in 2010 and was then sold for $2.30 million following the Breeders’ Cup.

G2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner More Than Real (More Than Ready) and G1 Hollywood Starlet winner Turbulent Descent (Congrats) were next best on 120.

G1 Frizette Stakes scorer A Z Warrior (Bernardini) and G1 Spinaway Stakes winner R Heat Lightning (Trippi) followed on 119.  

NORTH AMERICAN 2010 FREE HCP (FILLIES)

123 Awesome Feather (Awesome of Course)
120 More Than Real (More Than Ready)  
120 Turbulent Descent (Congrats)
119 A Z Warrior (Bernardini)
119 R Heat Lightning (Trippi)

118 Dancinginherdreams (Tapit)
118 Kathmanblu (Bluegrass Cat)
118 Rigoletta (Concerto)
118 Tell a Kelly (Tapit)
118 Wickedly Perfect (Congrats)

Bernardini topped the Free Handicap list with four reps in the colts and geldings division.  Lion Heart and Tapit head the fillies’ list with five representatives each.  Of the 191 juveniles weighted, 113 were bred in Kentucky, 43 in Florida and five each in California and Texas.