| There is money to be made handicapping and betting | | | | times, if the trainer is sharp and there is a good rider |
| on maiden races. The fact that maiden races continue | | | | up, I will bet a late bloomer on its first race back after |
| to produce a large number of winning favorites | | | | a lay-off, providing it has a consistent workout history. |
| indicates that maiden horse races are not as difficult to | | | | By a consistent workout history, I mean that I like to |
| handicap as some other races. | | | | see that the horse has worked every week and the |
| One of the biggest reasons for this is that breeding | | | | workouts have gotten faster. I also like it when they |
| can be used to such a great extent. Certain sires and | | | | work in company of other horses or have a good |
| dam sires are known for producing precocious off | | | | blowout work hidden in there two or three workouts |
| spring. There are other sires who produce what I call | | | | back. Look for that pattern and you will find some big |
| late bloomers. They are the ones who seem to need | | | | payoffs because these 4 year olds have been |
| more time to mature and usually don't win until they | | | | disappointing the bettors for several years. |
| are 3 or even 4 years old. | | | | The fact that the trainer and owner didn't give up on |
| One of the scenarios I look for is a race for older | | | | the runner is a good indication that there is talent there |
| maidens that has a horse coming back to the races at | | | | and they expect to see it produce when the horse is |
| 4 years old that is from a late bloomer sire. I usually like | | | | 4 or sometimes even 5 years old, though that is an |
| to see the horse have one or two races, but many | | | | extreme case. |