Good Journey edges Ballingarry as topweight

TORONTO, Ontario - Good Journey, impressive winner of the Grade 1 Atto Mile at Woodbine, has been made the overall topweight at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 2002.

Good Journey, weighted in the turf male category, was pegged one pound above Ballingarry in the hypothetical handicap sponsored by the Jockey Club of Canada and orchestrated by Chris Evans, Woodbine's director of Thoroughbred racing.

"To me, that means Good Journey was the best horse that raced in Canada last year," said Evans, adding that performances in other countries also come into play in the Canadian Free Handicap rankings.

"Internationally, Good Journey had the edge over Ballingarry and warrants the higher rating," he said.

Good Journey followed his Atto Mile score with a strong third-place finish in Arlington's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile and a victory in Hollywood's Grade 2 Citation.

Ballingarry, who shipped over from Ireland and won Woodbine's Grade 1 Canadian International, finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Turf in his final start of the season.

Neither Good Journey nor Ballingarry were eligible for consideration for Sovereign Awards, which require a minimum of three starts in Canada in the voting year.

Portcullis, Canada's male turf champion, was rated at only 114 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap.

To be eligible for the Canadian Free Handicap, horses must have finished first, second, or third in a stakes race or started in any Grade 1 in Canada last year and be deemed worthy of at least a 105-pound impost.

The 2-year-olds are not weighted for any particular distance, and turf performances are included.

Lismore Knight was assigned co-topweight of 124 pounds in the 2-year-old male category, based on the turf form he showed in winning Woodbine's Grade 2 Summer Stakes and finishing second in Hollywood Park's Grade 3 Generous Stakes. Wando, second to Lismore Knight in the Summer Stakes and winner of Woodbine's Grade 2 Grey on the main track, also was assigned 124 pounds, one more than the Sovereign Award winner, Added Edge.

Brusque, the Sovereign Award-winning 2-year-old filly on the strength of her victory in Woodbine's Grade 2 Mazarine, and Handpainted, runner-up in the Mazarine but a winner of two other Woodbine stakes, were co-highweighted at 121 pounds in their category.

See How She Runs, winner of Woodbine's Grade 1 Selene in her only Canadian appearance, was ranked the 122-pound highweight on the 3-year-old filly list, one pound above Sovereign Award winner Lady Shari.

Le Cinquieme Essai, the Sovereign Award-winning 3-year-old male who had his biggest victory in Fort Erie's Prince of Wales, topped his Canadian Free Handicap category at 120 pounds.

Grey Tobe Free, a three-time stakes winner at Vancouver's Hastings Park, and Small Promises, the Woodbine-based Sovereign Award winner, were weighted equally at 118 pounds atop the older females.

Bonus Pack, whose lone Canadian appearance was an impressive victory in Woodbine's Grade 3 Dominion Day, is the topweighted older male at 122.

The hypothetical distance for the 3-year-old filly, 3-year-old male, and older male and female rankings is 1 1/8 miles.

Weights for the sprint categories, which also take grass races into consideration, are based on six furlongs.

Nuclear Debate, winner of Woodbine's Grade 2 Nearctic over six furlongs on grass and third in the Atto Mile, is the topweighted male sprinter at 124 pounds.

Wake at Noon, Canada's horse of the year, champion sprinter, and champion older male for 2002, was second on the sprinter list at 123 pounds.

Multiple stakes-winning Woodbine-based mare Mysterious Affair tops the female sprint list at 120 pounds while Sweetest Thing, winner of Woodbine's Grade 3 Dance Smartly in her only Canadian appearance, was the top-rated turf female at 121 pounds.

While the designated distance for turf rankings is 1 1/4 miles, Evans said that the range is actually broader.

"It's more of a happy medium," said Evans. "I have to admit, I'm looking at each horse at their best distance - the milers at a mile, the long horses at 1 1/2 miles."

Assisting Evans in the compilation of the Canadian Free Handicap were Debbie Peebles, director of racing at Hastings Park; racing secretaries Ray Miller of Assiniboia Downs, Fred Hilts of Northlands Park, and Barry McGrath of Stampede Park; and assistant racing secretary Lorne Mitchell of Hastings Park.

2002 weights

2-year-old fillies

HorseWeight

Brusque121

Handpainted121

Appleby Gardens119

*One and Twenty119

Miss Crissy118

Raylene118

*Fortuitous116

Kabeeb116

Brattothecore115

Buffalo Jump115

Mountain Dawn115

Aquita114

Chorus Dancer114

*Sand Springs114

Santerra114

*Sweet Storm Creek114

*Swift of Flight114

Searchin South113

Smart Angel113

Boldest of All112

Dancewithavixen112

Deputy Cures Blues112

Dolly Dynamite112

Curiosity110

La Petite Justice110

Rhiannon's Wish110

*Wawota110

Dowhatuthinksright109

Elusive Thought109

My Miss Emily109

Dressed for Action108

Five Swings108

I'm Quicksilver108

Sensible108

Whataweekend108

Grand Slam Gal107

Kabul107

Sparklin Kat107

Fancy Drinks106

Proactive106

Short Shadow106

*rating achieved on turf

2-year-old males

HorseWeight

*Lismore Knight124

Wando124

Added Edge123

Gigawatt122

Arco's Gold120

Mobil120

Quiet Dare119

*Shoal Water119

Illusive Force118

Taiaslew118

El Ruller117

Grand (Ire)117

Rights Reserved116

Snake Pit116

*Gavro115

Weepinbell115

Chad's Hope114

Don't Pali Me114

Tackling Stress113

Hammersmith112

Whispered Warning112

Bullseye Bill111

Frankiefourfingers111

Makin Headlines111

Shipman111

Timeform111

*Walls of Jericho111

Canasta110

El Gran Maestro110

Jiffyjimmygee110

Peef110

Skeet110

Biddy's Lad109

Murjan109

Sonofawac109

Suntana109

Lucky Larue108

Snappy Tim108

Sircharlesschnabel106

Magic Jack105

Majestic Wisdom105

New Media105

*rating achieved on turf

3-year-old fillies

HorseWeight

See How She Runs122

Lady Shari121

Ginger Gold120

Elana D'amour117

Grace for You117

Silver Nithi117

Mulrainy116

Sweet Monarch116

Brass in Pocket115

Jealous Forum115

Winning Chance115

Sly Lady114

Alpha Heat113

Codes Decree113

Jamaari Girl112

Beausox110

Classic Action109

Lady Vye109

Miss Noire109

Bright Knight108

Regal Heir108

Heyahohowdy107

R C Gangster107

Shelby Madison107

Haunting You105

3-year-old males

HorseWeight

Le Cinquieme Essai120

Shacane119

T J's Lucky Moon119

Anglian Prince118

Silver Donn118

Tails of the Crypt118

Forever Grand117

Bravely116

Shaw's Creek116

Blowin in the Wind115

Classic Mike115

Cruising Kat115

Ford Every Stream115

Lord Shogun115

Early Wisdom114

Salt Grinder114

Barbeau Ruckus112

Commander Craig112

Mark One112

Ekati109

Go Go Tommy Joe107

Twice Bid107

El Habanero106

Sir Deuces106

Older females

HorseWeight

Grey Tobe Free118

Small Promises118

Extend116

Devastating115

Full Scream Ahead115

Catch the Ring114

Northern Neechitoo114

A Ray of Magic112

Inish Glora112

Queen of My Nights111

C D Cool110

Catahoula Rose110

Ma Kitty110

Slewability107

Night Edition106

Older males

HorseWeight

Bonus Pack122

Dream Launcher119

Kid Katabatic119

Lord Nelson119

Lil Personalitee118

Parose118

A Fleets Dancer117

Lucky Molar117

Vernon Invader116

Win City116

Work Visa116

Attest115

Futural115

Rancour115

Sixthirtyjoe115

Kalfaari114

Divine Luck113

Cool N Collective112

Jazzy Yacht112

Diglett111

Sir Pucker111

Bubblegum Kid110

Eternal Secrecy110

Queensgate110

Runaway Love110

Irish Pleasure109

Mt. Ouray109

Beau Ring107

Miki Bleu Eyes107

Turbo Charger107

Tyko Tycoon107

Ice Water106

Geraint105

Sprint, female

HorseWeight

Mysterious Affair120

El Prado Essence119

Madame Roar118

*Quick Blue118

Devastating117

Ginger Gold (3)117

Hattiesburg116

Mulrainy (3)116

For Rubies (3)115

Platel (3)115

Sheila's Prospect115

Feathers114

Miss City Halo (3)114

Spanish Decree (3)114

Gonetofarr (3)113

*Marisa Go113

Brass in Pocket (3)112

*Heyahowhowdy (3)112

Miss Sweep112

Moonlight Affair112

Mountain Orchid (3)112

*Healing Knowledge111

Dreams Go Bye110

*Cavalier Billie (3)110

Elana D'amour (3)110

Little Lolitta110

Quiet110

Fancy Prancer (3)109

Inish Glora109

Ruby Park109

Viva Ruckus109

Grace For You (3)108

Tacky Affair (3)108

Lilsisterlightning107

*Fleet of Foot (3)106

Grooms Derby106

Oh Livia D (3)105

Princess Premier105

*rating achieved on turf; (3) 3-year-old

Sprint, male

HorseWeight

*Nuclear Debate124

Wake at Noon123

*Texas Glitter120

Cheap Talk (3)119

*Joe's Son Joey118

Rare Friends (3)118

Exciting Story117

Krz Ruckus117

Lord Nelson117

Sambuca on Ice117

Danzilation116

Saratoga Prince116

Sixthirtyjoe116

*Zone Judge116

Kid Katabatic115

Mulligan the Great (3)115

Steady Ruckus115

Tyko Tycoon115

Kalfaari114

King Jeremy114

Olympian114

Runaway Love114

*Waltzin Storm114

Wild Whiskey (3)114

Mighty Quinn (3)113

Shaw's Creek (3)113

Timely Ruckus113

Fussy's Kid112

Balancethebudget111

Dawn Watcher111

Devil Valentine111

Mr. Epperson111

Anglian Prince (3)110

Dark Fuse (3)110

Geraint110

*Gone Fishin110

Hunter Todd110

Dillinger (3)109

Legal Heir109

Akbar (3)108

Mister Coop (3)108

Sophia's Prince (3)106

Embattle (3)105

*rating achieved on turf; (3) 3-year-old

Turf, female

HorseWeight

Sweetest Thing121

Chopinina120

Fraulein(GB) (3)120

Alasha(Ire) (3)119

Diadella118

Volga(Ire)118

Calista(GB)117

Choc Ice(Ire)115

Hot Talent (3)114

Mountain Angel114

Heyahowhowdy (3)113

Lush Soldier (3)113

Silver Nithi (3)113

Siringas(Ire)113

Strait From Texas (3)113

First Quarter (3)112

Nadia(GB)112

Byzantine111

Ginger Gold (3)111

Rosthern111

Atlantic Fury (3)110

Saffron Dancer(Ire)110

Inish Glora108

Libretto108

Love Kiss107

Noble Strike107

Ariel's Melody (3)105

Soundtrack105

Spanish Decree (3)105

(3) 3-year-old

Turf, male

HorseWeight

Good Journey126

Ballingarry (3)125

Falcon Flight124

Nuclear Debate122

Strut the Stage122

Moon Solitaire (Ire)121

Touch of the Blues (Fr)121

Del Mar Show120

Noverre120

Quiet Resolve120

Yavana's Place (Ire)120

Cetewayo119

Man From Wicklow119

Zindabad (Fr)119

Perfect Soul (Ire)118

Paolini (Ger)118

Full of Wonder116

Strike Smartly115

Portcullis (3)114

Krieger113

Stage Classic112

El Soprano (3)112

Muntej (GB)112

No Comprende112

Sky Chariot111

Classic Case (3)110

Dumaani Star110

Mighty Quinn (3)110

Red Sea (GB)110

Funny Soldier (3)109

Queensgate109

Silver Spear108

Academic107

Follow the Piper107

Bicentennial106

Gone Fishin106

Mountain Beacon (3)106

Sumati (GB)106

Attest105

Devil Valentine105

(3) 3-year-old