In the last several weeks there has been news of many horses retiring or changing venues to stand stud in the Empire State, so it seems fitting that the New York Stallion Stakes series is in the spotlight this Sunday at Aqueduct.

The Stallion Stakes is restricted to horses sired by registered New York stallions, who were nominated to the series the year of the horse's conception. The foal's owner is then required to keep the horse eligible to the series. A single payment of $600 per horse covers a full nomination to the series.

Can lightning strike twice? Carolyn and Ron Green certainly hope so.

Last year at this time, the Greens seized the opportunity to bring Meadow Monster to stand at their Green Willow Farms in Westminster, Md. An impressively built sprinter with a solid, if not trendy, pedigree, Meadow Monster won the Grade 2 General George Stakes and nearly $500,000, and his first foals had yet to start. He was being overlooked in Florida, having bred but 21 mares in 2000, and his move to Maryland was seen as a chance to boost his popularity. It worked.

LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Had he been in town for the sales, Shakespeare could have written about a tide in the affairs of mares, that if taken at its height, leads on to success in the sales ring. Three champions who sold at this week's Keeneland November breeding stock sale illustrate the tidal effects of success on a horse's valuation in the market.

Ulcers are quite common in horses, and one medication, GastroGard, has become popular with trainers and veterinarians since the pharmaceutical company Merial introduced it in the United States in March 1999.

For a half-century Bonnie Heath cast a giant shadow over Florida's Thoroughbred industry. Heath died this past week at the age of 85, leaving his wife Opal, to whom he was married for more than 65 years, two daughters, and a son.

Heath paid his horse-owning dues. He paid them early on with friend and business associate Jack Dudley. The two had made some money with the Dudley-Heath Drilling Co. of Carmi, Ill. Both partners shared an interest in horses and horse racing and formed the D and H Stable, a less-than-formidable enterprise of wanna-bes and has-beens.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Among the consignors on Thursday, day four of Keeneland's November breeding stock sale, were Ben and Lydiann Lengacher, an Amish couple from Graybill, Ind., who are making their first foray into Thoroughbred sales at this auction.

In partnership with Versailles, Ky., horseman Barry Boutcher, the Lengachers will offer 19 weanlings through Jody and Michelle Huckabay's Elm Tree Farm.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - As of 6 p.m., stakes-winner Supercilious, in foal to Dixie Union, brought $635,000 as the leading seller at Wednesday's third session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale in Lexington.

Sold by Brookdale, agent, Supercilious went to the Yoshida family's Shadai Farm in Japan. An 8-year-old mare, she is a Grade 2 winner and the dam of one other foal, a weanling filly by Deputy Minister.

Stakes-winner Gino's Spirits and young broodmare Star Queen each sold for $550,000.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Grade 1 winner El Corredor has retired from racing and will enter stud at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington. A 4-year-old Mr. Greeley colt, he will stand in 2002 for $20,000 live foal.

El Corredor, winner of the 2000 Cigar Mile Handicap, a Grade 1 at Aqueduct, retires with a career record of 10-7-1-0 and earnings of $727,920.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A classic bidding duel Tuesday between Coolmore Stud and Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum's Godolphin operation resulted in a $3.6 million price tag for champion juvenile filly Phone Chatter, now a 10-year-old broodmare in foal to first-year stallion Dixie Union.

Coolmore principal John Magnier, seated inside the Keeneland sale pavilion, won the skirmish and signed the ticket himself, putting seller Herman Sarkowsky and consigning agent Brookdale Farm at the top of the price list.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A season to leading sire Storm Cat, who will stand for $500,000 at Overbrook Farm in 2002, brought a final bid of $450,000 at Keeneland's November breeding stock sale Monday evening.

Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., purchased the season.