ARCADIA, Calif. - Reversing a decade-long decline, at least six California-breds are expected to start in the Breeders' Cup races at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

As of Friday, the California-bred hopefuls were Bordonaro and Thor's Echo in the Sprint, Brother Derek and Lava Man in the Classic, Dancing Edie in the Filly and Mare Turf, and Mistical Plan in the Juvenile Fillies.

Two race for their breeders. Bordonaro was bred by owners Fred Carrillo and Daniel Cassella. Dancing Edie was bred by Fast Lane Farms, which is part of the partnership that owns the filly.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Just five years ago, the Hennessy colt Johannesburg stretched his string of victories to seven with a 1 1/4-length score in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Belmont. The Juvenile was the pinnacle of a dazzling season for the powerful bay Johannesburg, who had won Group 1 events in England, France, and Ireland as part of an unbeaten 2-year-old season.

Success in New York made Johannesburg the U.S. champion juvenile colt at the Eclipse Awards, and he was also the highweight and divisional leader in England, France, and Ireland for 2001.

The names Capuano and Leatherbury have been associated with many Maryland Million Day winners since the event's inception in 1986. But Due's surprising victory in the $250,000 Maryland Million Classic, the feature on the 12-race Maryland Million day card held at Laurel Park on Oct. 14, provided a bit of a twist.

Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year, will stand his second season at stud for $150,000, a price cut of $50,000 from his first year stud fee of $200,000, according to a release from Adena Springs in Kentucky.

El Gran Senor, the English and Irish champion in 1983 and 1984, was euthanized Wednesday at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., at the age of 25 because of the infirmities of old age, Ashford's general manager, Dermot Ryan, said Thursday.

El Gran Senor, a son of Northern Dancer, had been at Ashford since 1985, his second year at stud. While standing at the farm, he experienced fertility problems, but ultimately sired 55 stakes winner from 333 starters. He was pensioned after the 2000 breeding season because of his fertility problems.

Unbridled's Song, the sire of nine stakes winners in 2006, will stand for $200,000 in 2007, up from $150,000 this year, according to the Lexington, Ky., farm where he stands, Taylor Made.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Last year, a record seven California-breds won Grade 1 races around the nation. So far this year, five California-breds have won Grade 1 or Group 1 races around the world, but they have accounted for eight Grade 1 races among them.

While time is running out to equal last year's number of individual winners at the highest level, the 2006 group have achieved a different level of success - they are often being chased home by fellow statebreds.

Chris Dragone, recently named executive director for New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., is settling in at the organization's office in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Two weeks into his new position, one of Dragone's priorities is establishing personal contact with NYTB membership.

"These are exciting times for the New York breeding program, and I think the potential is just tremendous," he said. "And communication with, and within, the membership and all the outside parties is number one."

Great Hunter's victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 7 pointed out the positive direction of his sire's stud career and brought a smile of just satisfaction to his breeder's face.

In defeating Circular Quay, Great Hunter also made a case as a contender in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and, therefore, as the leading juvenile colt in the country.

In the autumn of 1985, Domenic Martelli, then an active New Jersey real estate developer, traveled to the Ocala market scouting for business opportunities. His forte was building upscale homes in New Jersey for Wall Streeters, but he was no novice to the Thoroughbred industry - he had a string of horses in New Jersey under the supervision of trainer Bill Sacco.

"We were winning our share of races," said Martelli. "Good races, too."