Though I don't look at trainer stats, I do look at how a horse has trained up to a race off a layoff. As to your point that they are usually shorts odds, that is not my experience. People tend not to bet on horses coming off of a layoff, particularly when there are other horses in the race that have run well recently. It depends on the race and it depends on how the racing form shows that prior number. I have gotten a good price on many of these types of horses.

My comment on timeform is not silly. Ragozin's European numbers are extremely accurate and have made for some very good scores in the Breeder's Cup, particularly in the pick 6s. But they only make such numbers for days like the BC, probably because it is too much work and not enough demand. Though you cannot get anything as accurate as such numbers from the Timeforem rating alone, you can get a good approximation, as they seem to be better than Beyer numbers. The approximation can tell you if a horse is competitive, too slow, or much faster than the U.S. competition. And because people like you don't know how to make such an approximation, and don't seem to really care to learn, those who do know how can bet competitive horses at good prices and throw out the short price one's that are too slow.