JOHANNESBURG TOPWEIGHT ON EXPERIMENTAL FREE HANDICAP

Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg is the highweight at 126 pounds in the colt division of the 2001 Experimental Free Handicap released today. The filly division is headed by Tempera, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, at 123 pounds.

The Experimental Free Handicap, published annually by The Jockey Club since 1933, is compiled for a hypothetical race at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. This year's weighting committee of distinguished racing secretaries comprised Howard Battle of Keeneland; Michael Lakow of the New York Racing Association; and Thomas S. Robbins of Del Mar.

The committee weighted a total of 76 males and 64 fillies. Eligible for weighting were all two-year-olds of 2001 which finished among the first four in graded or other unrestricted races with an added value of $50,000 or higher, run in the continental United States.

In his only start outside of Europe, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier's Johannesburg scored a 1¼ length victory in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile to cap an undefeated season with seven wins and earnings of $1,002,893. Bred in Kentucky by W. G. Lyster III and Jayeff "B" Stables, Johannesburg was a five-time stakes winner in Europe, with victories in the Middle Park Stakes, Prix Morny Casinos Barriere, Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes, Anglesey Stakes and Norfolk Stakes.

The 126 pounds assigned the highweight is a standard weight for top Experimental colts and is equivalent to the assignment on last year's highweight Macho Uno. Johannesburg was weighted two pounds more than Amerman Racing LLC's Siphonic (Siphon - Cherokee Crossing, by Cherokee Colony), a winner of three-of-four starts, including Hollywood Futurity and Lane's End Breeders' Futurity Stakes, and $703,978.

Select Stable Inc.'s Repent (Louis Quatorze - Baby Grace (ARG), by Cipayo (ARG)) was assigned 123 pounds following a three-for-five campaign which included victories in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes. Repent earned $415,660.

Fourth highweight was The Thoroughbred Corporation's Officer (Bertrando - St. Helen's Shadow, by Septieme Ciel) at 121 pounds, two pounds more than Toffan, McCaffery, Farish and Goodman's Came Home (Gone West - Nice Assay, by Clever Trick) and Mercedes Stables, LLC's Publication (Petionville - Cat News, by Storm Cat).

In the filly division the 123 pound assignment on Godolphin Stable's Tempera (A.P. Indy - Colour Chart, by Mr. Prospector) is a standard weight for top Experimental fillies and is equivalent to the assignment on last year's highweight Caressing.

Bred by Darley Stud Management, LLC, Tempera won three-of-five starts and $670,240 in 2001. In addition to her upset victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Tempera also won the Sorrento Stakes and placed third in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes.

At 121 pounds is The Thoroughbred Corporation's Habibti (Tabasco Cat - Miss Sobriety, by Temperence Hill), a winner of three-of-four starts, including the Hollywood Starlet Stakes and Del Mar Debutante Stakes, and $393,000.

Sharing third highweight at 120 pounds are Godolphin Stable's Imperial Gesture (Langfuhr - Honor an Offer, by Hoist the Flag) and Edmund Gann's You (You and I - Our Dani, by Homebuilder).

Imperial Gesture won one-of-four starts but placed second in both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Oak Leaf Stakes for earnings of $275,540. You won three-of-six races, including the Frizette Stakes and Adirondack Stakes, for earnings of $540,440.

Among sires of Experimental horses, Hennessy leads on the colts' list with three. On the fillies' sire list Two Punch leads with three. Combining the two lists, Carson City and Two Punch are the leading sires with four representatives each. Of the 140 juveniles weighted, 79 were bred in Kentucky, including both topweights, while 28 were bred in Florida and five in both California and Maryland.