LAS VEGAS - As January approaches, attention turns to the freshman stallions of 2002, sires whose first foals will be racing at 2. The marquee sires are Awesome Again, Coronado's Quest, Deputy Commander, Favorite Trick, Gentleman, Grand Slam, Lil's Lad, Skip Away, Swain, Tale of the Cat, and Will's Way. While some sires should get off to a fast start, others will be better as their runners mature late and be better at longer distances or on turf.

COLUMBIA, Md. - "Three-and-out."

In recent days I've seen this expression used in print by more than one handicapper. And I've heard it repeated by a few players around my habitat at Laurel Park. Where did it come from? What does it mean?

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ashford Stud, the North American division of Coolmore's global stallion operation, has raised Hennessy's 2002 stud fee from $25,000 to $45,000.

Ashford announced earlier that it would reduce the fees on some of its other stallions, including dropping 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus from $150,000 to $135,000. But the success of Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg, from Hennessy's second crop, prompted the Coolmore team nearly to double the stallion's price.

Florida breeding accentuates the 2-year-old market. Consequently, sires who are basically turf stallions have, until recently, found better support elsewhere. This is changing because more and more stallion managers are willing to stand sires who made their mark on the turf, but have some main-track genes in their pedigree as well.

Sean Kelly of Wycombehouse Stud sees the stallion with both dirt and turf elements as a wave of the future, which is why he has no qualms about standing Worldly Manner, by Riverman, and others like him.

Maybe it had to do with the weather. Unseasonably balmy temperatures ushered in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Mixed sale held Dec. 2 and 3 at Timonium. And sales figures displayed a warming trend that was just as out of the ordinary.

"I wish I knew," said Mason Grasty, executive vice-president of Fasig-Tipton Midlantic, when asked about the phenomenon.

One of the heavy hitters at last week's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale in Maryland was Kurt Butenhoff, who recently entered the business as a commercial breeder in New York.

Butenhoff spent a total of $153,000 for five mares who will become residents of Denlea Park, the 300-acre farm he purchased last year in Hillsdale, N.Y., approximately one hour south of Saratoga Springs in Columbia County.

Butenhoff chose the name Denlea Park because 70 years ago the property featured a stadium by the same name for a semi-professional baseball team.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Topped by Barouche Stud's $2,236,500 purchase of broodmare Zibilene, the Tattersalls December mixed sale ended Thursday in England with unexpected gains across the board.

The December sales - comprising mare, foal, and yearling divisions - featured a record 102 lots that sold for six figures or more, including top-priced Zibilene.

Zibilene, a half-sister to dual champion and 1994 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Barathea, sold Wednesday. Gerald Leigh's Eydon Hall Stud sold the 4-year-old, who is in foal to Darley Stud stallion Machiavellian.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Breeders think about the long term, about foals who will be born 11 months later, about young horses who won't race for at least two years after that, and about the ripening and improvement of their stock as they grow through their third, fourth, and fifth years. Such considerations prompt breeders to consider their decisions at great length and sometimes to ponder and worry about the choices involved.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Claiborne Farm stallion Conquistador Cielo, 1982 Horse of the Year and sire of more than 60 stakes winners, underwent colic surgery Wednesday morning and is recovering at Lexington's Hagyard Davidson McGee clinic.

Golan, winner of this year's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, will not be retired to Coolmore Stud in Ireland as originally planned, but will race again next year under the training of Michael Stoute.