Bettors don’t necessarily need figures, ratings or astrological
mumbo-jumbo to show a profit wagering on the races in Southern
California. A win bet on Edwin Maldonado will do.
The 30-year-old native of Puerto Rico, an overnight sensation
since becoming a regular on the circuit less than two years ago, shows a
flat-bet profit of $2.48 at all tracks combined in 2012 according to
miscellaneous statistics provided by Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free.
Maldonado’s best meet in that regard was at the recent Betfair
Hollywood Park session, where he dethroned perennial riding leader
Rafael Bejarano, 25-24, and showed a return on investment of $3.51 on
each $2 win bet. His 25 wins came from 229 mounts.
Maldonado’s only minus ROI came at the 2012 Santa Anita autumn
meet, where he just missed breaking even, finishing at $1.95, winning 11
races from 119 mounts.
Otherwise, it’s been all gravy for backers of Maldonado, who is
named to ride in eight of nine races today at Santa Anita, thanks in
part to his agent, Vic Lipton.
Maldonado’s other profitable meets: 2012 Fairplex Park, where he
unseated long-time kingpin Martin Pedroza, $2.51; 2012 Del Mar, $2.63;
Hollywood spring/summer, $2.77; and Santa Anita winter/spring, $2.32.
Maldonado enhanced his ROI Friday by winning four races at Santa
Anita, both ends of the early double worth $14.20 and the sixth race on
The Whole Deal ($24) for owner Paul Ladin and trainer Steve Knapp and
the eighth aboard first-time starter Warren’s Gussie ($18) for owner Ben
Warren and trainer Jorge Gutierrez.