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Understanding the Overall Performance Index & Performance Data

OPI: The Ultimate Performance Metric

In the fast-paced world of 2026 horse racing, handicappers are often overwhelmed by conflicting data points. One horse has the best pedigree, another has the fastest recent workout, and a third is moving to a higher class.

The Overall Performance Index (OPI) is our proprietary solution to this problem. It is a singular, weighted metric designed to identify the “definitive class” of the field by normalizing multiple data streams into one easy-to-read number.

How the Overall Performance Index is Built

The OPI isn’t just a speed figure; it is a holistic evaluation of a horse’s current potential. Our algorithm synthesizes three critical pillars of data:

  1. Recent Speed Figures: We analyze the horse’s last three outings, weighing the most recent performance most heavily to ensure we are capturing current form.
  2. Overall Performance Index (OPI): We integrate the sire’s statistical success at today’s distance and surface, providing a “ceiling” for what the horse is genetically capable of achieving.
  3. Competitive Grade: We factor in the level of competition the horse has faced. A 90 speed figure earned in a Grade 1 stakes is weighed more significantly than a 90 earned in a local claiming race.

How to Use the Rating in Your Analysis

When reviewing our FPPS (Full Past Performance Summaries), look for these three primary signals:

  • The Power Gap: If the top-rated horse has a OPI 5+ points higher than the rest of the field, they are a strong “Key” for your exotic bets (Exactas and Trifectas).
  • The Upward Trend: A horse whose OPI has increased in three consecutive starts is a “Developing” contender often overlooked by the general public.
  • The Class Drop Rebound: When a horse moves down in Competitive Grade, their Overall Performance Index often spikes, signaling they are now “the big fish in a small pond.”
The FPPS Engine: How we calculate the Overall Performance Index (OPI).

This infographic illustrates the calculation of the Overall Performance Index (OPI).

The process begins with three data inputs:

  1. OPI Pedigree Index, measuring genetic potential and distance aptitude.
  2. Competitive Grade, measuring strength of opponents and class.
  3. Recent Speed Figure, measuring raw velocity and current form.

These three pillars are synthesized by the FPPS AI algorithm to produce the final Overall Performance Index (OPI) score.

Why It Matters for 2026 Handicapping

The modern game moves faster than ever. By using the OPI, you bypass the “noise” of traditional racing programs. Whether you are playing the Kentucky Derby 2026 trail or local mid-week cards, this rating provides a consistent baseline to find value and identify favorites that are “vulnerable” based on the data.

Ready to see today’s ratings? Visit our Trainer FPPS Directory
or Sire OPI Reports.

Help the player. Help the game.

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