EXPERIENCED
MAIDENS
Handicappers
should prefer maidens that finished 2nd or 3rd
last out, especially 2nd, provided the horses
have not finished 2nd or 3rd repeatedly without
winning.
FIRST-TIME
STARTERS
First
starters should have an acceptable trainer (11%
wins), acceptable sire (11% wins)), and acceptable
workouts (regular, sharp, with two or more at
five furlongs or longer)
All
three factors should be positive. If only two
factors are positive, the odds should be 4-1
or greater.
If
the first starters are two-year-olds, strong
betting action is a highly positive sign.
SECOND
TIME STARTERS
Many
maidens improve dramatically in their 2nd
race. If the 1st race had been ordinary or
even dull, but the trainer-sire-workouts look
positive or the 1st race resulted in a troubled
trip, beware. Especially if no first starters
or 2nd starters are in the field, second starters
can be an excellent play. The odds are frequently
attractive.
MAIDEN-CLAIMING
RACES
Maiden
claiming horses are maidens who are entered
for sale at today's claiming price.
Because
maiden-claiming horses are entered to be claimed
before their true value is understood. They
tend to be the cheapest, slowest, and least
reliable horses in the barns.
The
most reliable play is any maiden claiming race
is the horse dropping from a straight maiden
race. Give extra credit to horses that have
run on the lead or within three lengths of the
lead against straight maidens at the 1st and
2nd calls
If
straight maidens are absent, maiden claiming
races can be difficult to analyze. Final time
is not reliable and neither are speed figures
based upon final times.
Early
speed, early pace, and pace figures can be useful.
If a horse figures to have a clear lead at the
2nd call, the others may be two slow to catch
up.
