Continuing on your observation, I've looked at yesterday's four metro meetings with fields of 14-plus and those horses that won at least one of their last three starts. Every horse must have had at least three starts otherwise it is a no-race. This is for box quinellas:

Eagle Farm
R1 nos. 4 and 12. Outlay $1 - Return $0
R6 nos. 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 ,16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Outlay of $78. Return of $117
R7 nos.1, 6, 8, 12, 13, 18, 20. Outlay of $21. return of $153.
R8 nos. 4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17, 20. Outlay of $28. Return $0
Flemington .
R6 nos. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15. Outlay of $36. Return of $16
R7 nos. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11. Outlay of $10. Return $0
Morphetville
R6 nos. 8 and 9. Outlay of $1. Return of $57.

By my calcs, the total outlay was $175 and the return was $343.