American Pharoah, Texas Red top Experimental Free Handicap

American Pharoah, the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male of 2014, and Texas Red, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, were assigned the co-high weight of 126 pounds in the Experimental Free Handicap, a weight-based ranking of the previous year’s 2-year-olds put out annually by The Jockey Club that was released on Thursday.

The Experimental weights are based on a theoretical race at 1 1/16 miles on dirt, the exact conditions of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the FrontRunner Stakes, a race won by American Pharoah. The 126-pound figure is the standard high weight assignment.

The weights are compiled by a four-person committee appointed by The Jockey Club, this year that panel being racing officials P.J. Campo of the Stronach Group, Ben Huffman of Churchill Downs and Keeneland, Martin Panza of the New York Racing Association, and Tom Robbins of Del Mar.

The Experimental was first published in 1933. When it was first produced, there was no significant winter racing, and no Eclipse Awards, so the ratings served as the first bright crocus of spring and a flowering Triple Crown chase. Now, there is winter racing, and the list comes out after the Eclipse Awards, so it serves as a fun parlor game for debate, but not much more.

:: Complete list of weights for 2014 Experimental Free Handicap

Calculator, who was second to American Pharoah in the FrontRunner while finishing in front of Texas Red in that race, was given 117 pounds, below the weights assigned to Carpe Diem and Hootenanny (122 pounds), Competitive Edge and Dortmund (121), Luck of the Kitten (120), Blofeld and Daredevil (119), and El Kabeir, Firing Line, Leave the Light On, Mr. Z, and Ocho Ocho Ocho (all 118), and equal to that given Conquest Typhoon and Imperia.

There were 100 male 2-year-olds of 2014 who were ranked.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

On the filly side, Breeders’ Cup winners Lady Eli, who never ran on dirt, and Take Charge Brandi – the Eclipse Award winner in the division – were given the co-high weight of 123 pounds, two more than Condo Commando.

By the Moon, Feathered, Peace and War, Sunset Glow, Top Decile, and Wonder Gal were next at 119 pounds. There were 88 fillies ranked by the committee.

Of the 188 horses who were ranked, 130 were bred in Kentucky, including the co-high weights in both divisions. To be eligible for the list, a 2-year-old must have run in a graded or listed stakes race in the continental United States in 2014.