Eclipse Award winners Shanghai Bobby and Beholder, both graduates of Keeneland's 2011 September Yearling Sale, were assigned high weight in the male and filly divisions, respectively, of the 2012 Experimental Free Handicap, announced Wednesday by The Jockey Club.
Each of the nine high-weighted colts, and five of the top eight fillies, on the Experimental were sold at Keeneland auctions.
High weighted among males at 126 pounds, Shanghai Bobby was undefeated in five starts in 2012, winning the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and honors as champion two-year-old male. The Harlan’s Holiday colt was purchased at the September Sale by co-owner Jack Wolfe’s Starlight Racing for $105,000 from breeder Stonehaven Steadings.
Shanghai Bobby was weighted three pounds higher than fellow September Sale grads He’s Had Enough, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; and Violence, undefeated winner of the CashCall Futurity (G1) and Nashua (G2). Red Wings Enterprises paid $200,000 for He’s Had Enough, who was consigned by Middlebrook Farm, agent. Violence, consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, sold for $600,000 to Sallusto and Albina, agents for owner Black Rock Stable.
Keeneland sales alumni rounded out the top nine high-weighted males: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner George Vancouver and Front Runner (G1) winner Power Broker, each assigned 121 pounds; Remsen (G2) and Futurity (G2) winner Overanalyze and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and Iroquois (G3) winner Uncaptured, each at 120 pounds; and graded stakes-placed Capo Bastone and Pilgrim (G3) winner Noble Tune, each receiving 119 pounds.
Keeneland sales graduates also dominated the upper echelon of the filly division, accounting for five of the eight high weights, led by champion Beholder, who earned 123 pounds following last year’s win in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and close second in the Del Mar Debutante (G1). Owner Spendthrift Farm bought Beholder, a daughter of Henny Hughes, for $180,000 at the September Sale from her breeder, Clarkland Farm.
Executiveprivilege, second to Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and winner of the Chandelier (G1), Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Sorrento (G3), was awarded 122 pounds. Hubert Guy, agent, bought the First Samurai filly for $23,000 at the September Sale from Betz Thoroughbreds, agent.
Other Keeneland sales graduates to earn high weights were: Matron (G2) and Adirondack (G2) winner Kauai Katie, assigned 120 pounds; and Tempted (G3) winner My Happy Face and Hollywood Starlet (G1) winner Pure Fun, each ranked at 119 pounds.
The Jockey Club Experimental Free Handicap, published annually since 1935, is a weight-based assessment of the previous year’s leading two-year-olds, with weights compiled for a hypothetical race at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
Keeneland will conduct its next auction, the 2013 April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, on Monday, April 8. The preview show will be held Thursday, April 4. The 2013 September Yearling Sale begins Monday, September 9; closing date is Wednesday, May 1.
