LEXINGTON, Ky. - The common perception that Mr. Prospector and his descendants are fast and precocious is frequently correct, but the stallion's importance in the classics should not be underestimated.

Just this year, the Mr. Prospector line is represented by five of the top 10 Kentucky Derby prospects according to earnings and by six of the top 10 in Daily Racing Form's Derby Watch.

In particular, four of the top five listed on Derby Watch - Curlin, Street Sense, Circular Quay, and Any Given Saturday - are by a son or grandson of Mr. Prospector.

The Danzig side of the Northern Dancer line of stallions had not made much of an impact on Florida breeding - that is until now. Padua Stable's Exchange Rate, a 10-year-old son of Danzig out of Sterling Pound, by Seeking the Gold, has vaulted to the top 10 ranks of third-crop sires in North America with progeny earnings of better than $4 million. The gray or roan stallion has sired two Grade 1 stakes winners, Swap Fliparoo and Ermine, from his first crop, and four additional stakes winners.

Bill Graham has more than 35 years in the racing and breeding business in Canada and he knows that a good horse does not come around often.

That is why Graham still gets a kick out of watching his own horses compete and buying and selling mares and foals no matter what the level.

"It's a passion," Graham said. "You're always trying to beat the system. And I think people get a good horse when they buy from us."

Led by his impressive daughter Mighty Eros at Aqueduct, young sire Freud was in the news last weekend.

Mighty Eros was a dominant winner of the $100,000 New York Stallion Park Avenue for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs last Sunday.

A big filly with a smooth stride, she stopped the clock in 1:22.40 for the distance, remaining unbeaten in two career starts.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Having a Kentucky Derby contender is the best kind of advertising for a stallion. It brings publicity that could translate into bigger - and potentially better - future books of mares. This year, the beneficiaries of that attention range from large, established operations such as WinStar, which stands the sires of three Derby hopefuls, to the smaller Ballena Vista farm in California, home of Reporting for Duty's sire, Deputy Commander. All stand to reap real rewards if one of their stallion's runners should win the Derby trophy.

Think precocious juveniles, and a middle-distance-loving son of A.P. Indy who won stakes on the turf may not be the first stallion to come to mind. But Maryland Stallion Station's first-year sire Rock Slide has already quashed that stereotype, getting his first winner with his first starter on Thursday at Pimlico.

There had been a buzz surrounding John Salzman's homebred 2-year-old filly Happy Hailey as she progressed through her works leading up to her debut.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A powerful and precocious filly by Horse of the Year Mineshaft topped the Keeneland sale of select 2-year-olds in training on Tuesday with a bid of $1.75 million from B. Wayne Hughes.

The good-looking bay filly had equaled the record of 9.6 seconds for a furlong at a breeze show on April 9. Her obvious speed, combined with a fine pedigree and pleasing conformation, sent her value into the stratosphere.

The gold rush is under way for people breeding Thoroughbreds in Pennsylvania, as well as racing them.

"Distribution from the Pennsylvania Breeding Fund in 2007 is expected to be between $14 million and $15 million," said Mark McDermott, executive secretary of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association. "That's roughly double the amount that the fund paid out in 2006. But it's not even close to the figure that will be offered for Pennsylvania-breds when all of the slots sites are up and running."

In the future the fund is projected to offer $25omillion or more annually.

Owning and breeding a stakes-caliber filly can lead to admiration from other horsemen. Just ask Rick Waller. In the last few months, he and his wife, Sharon, have watched Swiss Diva develop from a maiden claimer to a stakes winner.

"I thought there must be something going on," Waller said. "People know my name around the track."

The Wallers are hoping that Swiss Diva can remain the center of attention when she starts in the $200,000 Melair Stakes at Hollywood Park on April 29.

Justin Casse, 27, is the youngest son of Norman E. Casse, who is the owner of Cardinal Hill Farm, many times a director of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, current director of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. and for a quarter-century its chairman. Justin Casse is also the brother of Mark Casse, winner of the 2006 Sovereign Award as Canada's leading trainer.

But although he was constantly exposed to the horse business, Justin Casse had other ideas when he enrolled in Florida State University nine years ago.