Interesting point about the maiden races. My strategy is to play against bettors like you. If I see a Carson City horse trained by Stanley Hough going off at 5-1, and an Outflanker horse trained by some unknown going off at 6-1, I am definitely taking the 6-1. I pay close attention to the sire/trainer stats, but always apply those stats to the odds board, and make a calculation in my mind determining the amount of money from bettors like you who bet with the stats and the additional inside money. If all of the money seems to be the bettors only looking at the stats, with no additional inside money, I am cautious. If something looks bad, but others want it, I always ask myself "what am I missing?" Often the maiden without the stats, but with the money, winds up being the best bet.