Sondra and Howard Bender, Maryland's leading breeders in 2001, '02, and '03, had an off season in 2005, with their stable of 20 homebreds landing "only" three stakes wins. But 2006 could be another banner year for the Benders, who so far this year have started eight horses and logged four wins, including a remarkable stakes-winning performance by the 4-year-old filly Promenade Girl.

The 5-year-old New York-bred mare Behaving Badly, known for brilliant speed in a brief career, elevated her game a notch with a powerful victory in the Grade 1 Santa Monica Handicap at Santa Anita last weekend.

The fact Behaving Badly was racing seven furlongs for the first time made no difference, as she rocketed away from a field that included Grade 1 winners Alphabet Kisses, Leave Me Alone, and Sharp Lisa in 1:21.93.

Like statebred 3-year-old turf filly J'ray, who is unbeaten in four starts on grass, Behaving Badly is now a major force in her division.

The retirement of Valentine Dancer and the possible retirement of Dream of Summer this winter will leave a void in the rankings of California-bred females.

Dream of Summer, who may make one more start and then be bred, has proven capable of winning stakes in open company as well as the statebred ranks. Her 2005 victories included the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap, Grade 3 Gardenia Handicap, and California Cup Matron.

New Zealand Bloodstock's premier yearling sale ended Wednesday with declines after posting a near-record top price. But company officials remained satisfied with the returns, pointing out that last year's auction featured the last yearlings by world-class sire Danehill.

The 2006 premier auction ended with 390 lots sold for about $34,145,462, for an average price of about $87,553 and a median of about $55,120. Considered in local currency, those figures were down 7 percent, 8 percent, and 11 percent, respectively.

Runway Model, a dual Grade 2 winner owned by Dr. Naveed Chowhan, has retired from racing and will be bred this season to Storm Cat.

A 4-year-old Petionville filly, Runway Model last raced in the Grade 3 Dogwood Breeders' Cup last June 11, finishing seventh. Bred by Everest Stables, Runway Model won a pair of Grade 2 events in 2004, the Alcibiades and the Golden Rod Stakes.

Brave Raj, North America's juvenile filly champion in 1986, died Jan. 28 in Lexington, Ky.

The 22-year-old mare had lost her Gulch foal on Jan. 21 but initially seemed to be recovering from that difficult birth. But she became unable to stand, probably because of a broken blood vessel, said Barry Ezrine, farm manager at Patchen Wilkes Farm, where Brave Raj lived.

The booming upper market for select yearlings continued in the Southern Hemisphere Tuesday when a Stravinsky colt brought a seven-figure price at New Zealand Bloodstock's premier yearling sale in Karaka, New Zealand.

The colt sold for $2.2 million in New Zealand funds, or about $1,508,319 U.S., making him the second-most-expensive colt ever sold at the auction. The record is $3.6 million (New Zealand) for the Zabeel son Don Eduardo at the sale's 2000 edition.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Stonestreet Stables owner Jess Jackson took time out of a crowded schedule to meet with Kentucky state legislators on Thursday. His message: pass HB 446, a bill introduced on Jan. 24 by Rep. Denver Butler (D-Louisville).

Supporters like Jackson hope the bill will offer additional protection for horse owners who believe they have been cheated in the purchase or sale of a horse.

Groovy, 1987 champion sprinter, was euthanized Thursday at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky. The stallion had been pensioned for the last several years because of what WinStar's president, Doug Cauthen, termed "neurological issues" that worsened recently. Groovy was 23.

Groovy campaigned from 1985 to 1987, winning 12 stakes races. Pointed for the Triple Crown in 1986, he managed only a 16th-place finish in the Derby and a sixth-place finish in the Preakness. Sent sprinting, he found his calling.

Interest in the state's program brought Chief Seattle, a handsome son of the great Seattle Slew, to New York for the 2006 breeding season.

Owned by Darley, Chief Seattle stands at Empire Stud, in Hudson, N.Y., for a fee of $7,500 live foal. He formerly stood at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.

Chief Seattle is managed by James LaMonica, who was taken by the appearance of the stallion's early foals, several of whom would bring more than $200,000 at juvenile sales in 2004.

A colt and filly from that crop were purchased for $450,000 and $400,000, respectively.