LEXINGTON, Ky. - Continuing the recent trend of cutting stud fees, Adena Springs has announced it will trim many of its horses' 2009 fees from their initially advertised amounts. This round of cuts will include Awesome Again and Ghostzapper, who had been set to cover mares at $150,000 again in 2009. Instead, both Kentucky stallions will now command a $125,000 fee in light of steep slides in the bloodstock market and breeders' increasing focus on value for their stud fee payments. "Taking into consideration the recent sales results, as well as the overall condition of the economy, we feel that these fee reductions will offer a helping hand to our past and future customers," Adena Springs owner Frank Stronach said in announcing the reductions. Other Adena Springs Kentucky stallions with lower fees are Congaree, who drops from $15,000 to $10,000; Giacomo, from $10,000 to $7,500; Macho Uno, from $30,000 to $25,000; and Silent Name, from $7,500 to $5,000. The cuts aren't limited to Kentucky. Adena Springs South in Florida also will reduce the fees for five stallions from their previously announced levels for 2009. Those are Aristocrat, who falls from $3,500 to $2,000; Red Bullet, from $7,500 to $5,000; Sligo Bay, from $5,000 to $3,500; Indy King, from $2,000 to $1,500; and Wilko, from $10,000 to $7,500. McMahon steps down at Barretts Jerry McMahon, founding president and general manager of California's Barretts Equine Limited auction house, has resigned, effective Jan. 3. McMahon said Tuesday that he had no immediate plans. In a statement announcing his resignation, McMahon said: "I've had a great 20-year run at Barretts and with the Los Angeles County Fair Association. At this stage in my career, I feel it's now time for me to look at new opportunities. I have full confidence in the future of Barretts; our staff is second to none. Our two vice presidents, Bill Baker and Kim Lloyd, are among the top equine auction executives in the industry." Barretts conducts auctions at its Fairplex Park pavilion, which is operated by the Los Angeles County Fair Association in Pomona, Calif. In 2009, it will conduct four auctions, including the March select juvenile sale, one of the major 2-year-old auctions on the national calendar. McMahon said Tuesday that there has been no decision as to his replacement. "We are truly sorry to see Jerry go," said Jim Henwood, chief executive of the Los Angeles County Fair Association. "He has been the driver of Barretts' success over the years." Business down at Fasig-Tipton sale Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's December mixed sale, trimmed from two sessions to one this year, ended Monday night with declines across the board. The single session sold 186 horses for $1,169,400, down 43 percent from last year's two-day total of $2,056,500 for 287 horses. The 2008 average price fell 12 percent, from $7,166 to $6,287, and the median was 14 percent lower this year, falling from $3,500 to $3,000. The $65,000 broodmare Colonial Ball topped the sale. Denise Dommel purchased Colonial Ball, a 12-year-old Pleasant Colony mare, whom Green Willow Farms, agent, sold to dissolve a partnership. Colonial Ball, a stakes-placed runner, is the dam of two winners from three starters. They are Fashion Air, by High Yield, and Champagne Castle, by Johannesburg. Colonial Ball was cataloged to the Midlantic sale in foal to Henny Hughes. The session's highest-priced weanling, and second most expensive horse overall, was a $50,000 Eurosilver-Homoginize colt that Tonya Jurgens purchased on behalf of Ponder Hill. Sally Thomas, agent, sold the chestnut colt. Among the more active buyers was James McIngvale, who picked up five horses for a combined $79,500. The most expensive was a $25,500 Salt Lake colt. The 2-year-old Pennsylvania-bred is a son of the Hatchet Man stakes winner Stop the Song. Walnut Green, agent, was the consignor. McIngvale's purchases also included a $20,500 juvenile filly named Slews Return, a daughter of Came Home and Grade 2-placed Visible Slew, also sold by Walnut Green, agent. He also bought a $15,000 Jump Start weanling filly out of multiple graded winner Shawnee Country from agent Sally Thomas; a $12,000 weanling Action This Day colt, a half-brother to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Lady of the Future, from WynOaks Farm, agent; and a $6,500 Lion Hearted yearling filly out of stakes winner Hidden Greeting that Walnut Green, agent, sold.