1. Horses dropping into claiming races following an even effort that beat at least half the field under nonwinners allowances.
2. Previous winners at today's top claiming price or higher, provided recent form remains acceptable.
3. Any horse that has been lowered successively in claiming price and last time out demonstrated much improved form and competitiveness. Particularly if today's entered price is lower than its latest entered price.
4. Horses rising in class by as much as 50 percent in claiming price following a powerful win which indicated the winner possessed reserves of speed and power.

1. Horses dropping in class following a dull or listless effort, particularly horses that have dropped down previously.
2. Horses rising in class by 50 percent or more following an unexceptional win or an easy win accomplished in ordinary time.
3. Any horse that won impressively last out but has not raced or worked out for twenty-one days since.
4. Horses without early speed.
5. Lackluster form and dull recent races, especially if only win occurred under maiden claiming conditions.
6. Any horse entered in a claiming race following the maiden win, unless its speed and pace ratings are superior to anything in the field.

1. First start in a claiming race, last race had an excuse, and latest allowance races were even efforts or better.
2. Much-improved form last out, dropping in claiming price today.
3. Returning to a previous winning claiming level following a much-improved performance last out. 4. Figures to control or to survive the early pace.
5. Recently claimed by a leading claiming trainer, has shown improved form since.
6. Switch to a leading rider.
7. Has never been entered in a maiden claiming race.

1. Older horses.
2. Those few three-year-olds that have recorded clearly superior class and pace ratings.

1. Previous winners on turf.
2. Horses bred for turf that have demonstrated a liking for the distance.
3. Maidens bred for turf