Maker making it work
By Steve Klein 1/28/05

A first-time starter in the sixth race at Fair Grounds on Jan. 23 caught my attention. Over
 the Border, trained by Rebecca Maker, debuted in a maiden special for 3-year-old fillies.
I interviewed Becky Maker for a story in late September. Her statistics then were strong in
a wide range of areas, including the drop from maiden special to maiden claiming, and most
of the layoff categories. In fact, they were so good that the ordinary ones stood out as
being exceptions. One notable area that she showed just 9 percent wins in, and a $1.33 return
on investment, was with first-time starters. I asked her if that was a reflection of the
patient way she brings a horse up to a race. Maker said that in past years, the 2-year-olds
she received from many of her clients needed time and were unlikely to win at first asking.
She was confident that her win percentage in that category would improve in 2005 because of
a change in the type of youngsters she had acquired.

"Some of the 2-year-olds I've bought more recently are the more precocious types who can win
early," she said. "My first time out percentage will probably increase through the next year."

Those who recalled her prediction were happy to see Over the Border score by 2 1/4 lengths
at $36. Her ROI with debuting runners is now a very healthy $3.43, with three winners
(16 percent) from a sample of 19. Keep an eye on her other first-time starters during the
coming months.

A day later, Maker won another maiden special race, this time with a second-time starter,
Rumor Has It, who paid $6.60 as the favorite. Maker had won with 23 percent of her starters
in that category when I spoke with her last year, with a $2.85 ROI, so it is no surprise to
see her numbers rising in that area also.