I would by no means call myself an old timer but, having been a sheet disciple and student of sheet theory for 20 years, I am no newbie either. Is it me, or is the form cycle almost totally gone from the game? Short, long, grass, dirt, it feels like horses more than ever are running that top effort off the bench, usually accompanied by lower than morning line odds. I dont necessarily mean Saratoga, where freshening horses to gear up for the Spa is a time honored tradition. I mean all over, 365 days a year. Is it the new pattern of run big, fall apart, get laid up a few months and let the clenbute bulk them back up and get em ready, then pop that top again off the bench?

Third off layoff, recovery patterns, and other useful condition lines seem less and less profitable. Nowadays, if a horse doesnt run a top or close to it off the bench, I almost assume they are a slug, as opposed to the past when horses needed a race or two to get them in shape. To me, trying to guess who is ready to run off a layoff is a losing proposition, not to mention it is not very interesting. You are way behind the 8 ball without access to inside information if this is how the game is going to be played.

Is it miracle stuff? Change in methods? Less soundness in the breed? Or am I just nuts (very likely)?