Has raced within thirty days, shows sharp regular workouts since; has not raced green or rank in its latest race.

Has won or finished within two lengths at the exact or related distances.

1. A lightly raced three-year-old that has been a powerful
winner of two allowance races and has run evenly or
better when entered in an open stakes.
2. A consistent foreign-raced horse that has won a graded
or listed stakes having a relatively high purse value.
3. Multiple allowance race winners, aged three or four,
that recently have performed impressively and
consistently in few tries under conditions similar to
or better than today's.

4. Highly consistent high-priced claiming horses,
preferably aged four or five, that formerly won two
allowance races and recently have won or finished close
while competing for purses comparable to or better than
today's.

1. Horses that have lost more than four similar races.
2. Horses that last out won under nonwinners twice
conditions in ordinary time or manner.
3. Three-year-olds badly beaten in stakes restricted to
three-year-olds.
4. Horses badly beaten in a conditioned stakes.
5. Horses unfamiliar with the footing or unseasoned at the
distance.
6. Unexceptional claiming horses, and claiming winners
below the highest selling prices on the local schedule.
7. Shippers from a minor circuit that have not won a major
stakes there.
8. Horses that won their most impressive race last out,
winning barely while engaging in an all-out drive or
earning their highest speed rating while tiring in the
stretch.
10. Three-year-olds that once started in a maiden claiming
race.
11. Four-year-olds that have started for a claim since the
second allowance win, regardless of its performance in
that race.

1. Obvious signs of higher class under previous allowance
conditions, i.e., successive powerful wins indicating
ample reserves of power and speed, or high speed or
acceleration and determination under pressure in the
late stages of races.
2. An in-the-money finish in an open stakes.
3. Has high early speed, rates kindly, figures to be the
only pace-setter in the field.

In races open to three-year-olds and older, prefer:
1. The nicely bred, lightly raced improving three-year-old
from a good barn that has accomplished everything asked
of it in fine style, especially a notable performance
in a stakes race.
2. A similar four-year-old that qualifies well on all
counts--distance, footing, form, pace, jockey.

1. Horses that have won or run big over grass in the past.
2. Horses that have won or finished close in an open
stakes on dirt, and are bred to race well on turf.