Has raced within six weeks, beating half the field and finishing within six lengths of the winner; sharp, regular workouts between races, including one within fourteen days of today.

Has earned acceptable speed ratings at same or related distance, or has run in-the-money at distances both shorter and longer than today's

1. A lightly raced, improving three-year-old that has run
close once or twice in few tries and with sharp
clocking. (sprints eighty-five or better, routes
seventy-eight or better under similar allowance
conditions.)
2. Any impressive three-year-old maiden winner last out,
preferably the nicely bred leading-stable kind that
have broken maiden ranks first or second time out in
fast time.
3. Any nicely bred three-year-old whose recent
performances and clockings under similar conditions
indicate dramatic or continued development

4. A lightly raced, late-developing four-year-old from a
top stable whose latest races show significantly
improved form and speed.
5. Powerful winners of high-priced claiming races last out

1. Horses four-years-old and older whose past performances
show six or more ordinary or unimpressive races under
similar allowance conditions.
2. Three-year-olds that have lost more than six
consecutive races under similar conditions.
3. Recent maiden winners having fast workouts but
noncompetitive allowance races in which they failed to
beat half the field.
4. Recent maiden winners shipping from a minor track to a
major track on the circuit.
5. Horses that have been entered in claiming races without
sharp success.
6. A last-out winner of maiden races completed in ordinary
time or better.
7. Horses suffering a jockey change from leader to
journeyman.
8. Horses that race with a come-from-behind running style
but record only ordinary speed ratings.
9. Horses that have raced green or rank under allowance
conditions.
10. Horses favored in previous allowance races before
losing badly or losing in ordinary time.

1. Already has demonstrated signs of superior class,
notably combinations of high speed and determination.
2. A leading sire.
3. A notable jockey switch preferably from journeyman to
the leading ride at the meeting.
4. In sprints, has a front-running or pace-pressing
running style.

1. Horses that can be rated kindly and should be favored
by or at least comfortable with the probable early
pace.
2. Horses that finished the final quarter mile of their
latest sprints in less than twenty-five seconds,
without tiring.
3. Leading jockey-leading trainer combinations.
4. Horses drawing favorable post positions.

1. Recent maiden winners having well-established turf
breeding, notably if the maiden win occurred on turf.
2. Horses with previous turf experience, of even efforts
or better.