Tip of the Week: An Easier Class

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Class is one of the more important factors in handicapping and there are few areas where it comes into play as powerfully as it does in maiden races.
At a major racetrack the divide between a maiden special weight race and a maiden claimer can be as wide as a river. The MSW ranks are generally populated by horses brimming with potential and carrying the high hopes of their connections. Maiden claimers are a haven for those runners who have disappointed in MSW races or are viewed to have a limited upside.
Because of that disparity, horses that enjoy at least modest success at the MSW level and then tumble into a maiden claimer for the first time can often have a huge class edge over their new collection of rivals.
In the first race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 23 that handicapping angle came into play in a powerful manner.
Match Up, a 3-year-old colt, was entered in a $45,000-$50,000 maiden claimer after nine unsuccessful tries at breaking his maiden against MSW competition. Though 0-for-9, he had enjoyed some success, finishing third in three of those races, two of them at Churchill Downs.
In theory, Match Up figured to have an easier time in a claimer as reflected in his 3-1 morning-line price. Bettors, though, were suspicious and allowed Match Up to go off as the 6-1 fourth choice in a field of eight.
Those who believed Match Up had a class edge wound up with a smile on their face as Match Up took charge in the stretch and pulled away to a three-length victory.
The payoff was $14.80 to win and as a bonus for those who had faith in the class angle, there was a $55.40 exacta awaiting them as the runner-up, Full Heart, was also dropping out of the MSW ranks for the first time after finishing as high as fourth in three career starts.
Guess you could say class was in session for that race.
THE LESSON: Horses who have been competitive in the MSW ranks deserve close attention when they race in a maiden claimer for the first time.
MATCH UP'S PAST PERFORMANCES