CLASS DROP WITH LAYOFF

Fires when the horse has been off 30 or more days, today's claiming price is more than 12% below the most recent past claiming price, and at least one valid past claiming price exists. The combination of a rest period and a class drop is significantly more meaningful than either factor alone. The layoff suggests the trainer freshened the horse intentionally; the class drop targets softer competition. This dual-signal pattern is associated with above-average win rates in claiming races and is widely recognized by experienced handicappers as one of the most reliable trainer angles.