[AeWingnut]

Horses go through form cycles. Most everyone under the sun with a three yr old (stake horse) is pointing that horse to the Kentucy Derby. The Pinnacle of all the races for 3 yr olds. After he has reached the mountain top he may plateau and remain good enough to beat the same kind of horses in the Preakness or Belmont but rarely both. After that he has no where to go but down.

Afleet Alex like many triple crown horses has no insentive to keep racing. Their stock in the breeding shed can only go down if they continue and prove they cannot beat older horses.

However there are always exceptions. Funny Cide is a gelding and continues to be a decent horse but not a grade I horse.

The host of this website Steve has a million stories to tell and I think you will be glad if you stick around and read his stuff.