War Pass's 127 pounds ties Street Sense

War Pass already has equaled Street Sense as a winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and War Pass's connections are hoping he can follow in Street Sense's footsteps and win the Kentucky Derby, too. On Thursday, War Pass and Street Sense were linked further, when War Pass received top weight of 127 pounds on the 2007 , mirroring the weight assigned to Street Sense one year earlier.

The Experimental Free Handicap, produced by the Jockey Club annually since 1935, is a weight-based assessment of the previous year's 2-year-olds based on a theoretical race at 1 1 /16 miles, the distance at which War Pass won the BC Juvenile. The weights were compiled this year by three racing secretaries: P.J. Campo of the New York Racing Association, Ben Huffman of Churchill Downs, and Tom Robbins of Del Mar.

The three men also made a similar list for fillies, and put Indian Blessing, the BC Juvenile Fillies winner, on top with 123 pounds.

Both War Pass and Indian Blessing were unbeaten in 2007, completed their years with victories in the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park, and earned divisional honors as Eclipse Award winners this week.

There were 105 males and 99 fillies weighted this year. To be eligible, a 2-year-old had to finish in the top four in graded or other unrestricted races in the United States with a value of at least $75,000.

The 127 pounds assigned War Pass is one pound more than the usual starting point for males on the Experimental, indicating the panel's belief that War Pass, like Street Sense, was a cut above the norm. Street Sense was the 11th Experimental topweight to subsequently win the Derby.

War Pass won all four of his starts last year, including the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. He is currently at Palm Meadows training center in Florida, preparing for his 3-year-old debut, which trainer Nick Zito expects to be next month. Zito on Thursday said War Pass would have a workout Saturday at Palm Meadows.

War Pass was assigned seven pounds more than Dixie Chatter, Into Mischief, and Pyro, who were ranked second on the Experimental. That spread equals the record established in 1952, when Native Dancer was assigned 130 pounds, seven more than Laffango and Tahitian King.

Dixie Chatter won the Norfolk at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting. Into Mischief captured the CashCall Futurity last month at Hollywood Park. Pyro was second to War Pass in the Champagne and the BC Juvenile.

Court Vision (119 pounds), Georgie Boy (119), Wicked Style (119), Kodiak Kowboy (118), Majestic Warrior (118), Salute the Sarge (118), and Tale of Ekati (118) were the others within 10 pounds of the top weight.

The 123 pounds assigned Indian Blessing is standard for the top-ranked filly. It equals the assignment of Dreaming of Anna, who topped the filly list the previous year after also winning the BC Juvenile Fillies.

Indian Blessing won all three of her 2007 starts, including the Frizette at Belmont Park.

Country Star, the winner of the Alcidiades at Keeneland and the Hollywood Starlet, was just two pounds under Indian Blessing, at 121.

Proud Spell, the BC Juvenile Fillies runner-up, was next at 119 pounds, followed by Cry and Catch Me (117) and Pure Clan (117).