LEXINGTON, Ky. - If anyone ever doubted how much money is available for a good mare in today's Thoroughbred market, he surely got the message at Keeneland's November sale on Monday. Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum's final bid of $9 million for champion Ashado constituted a world record for a broodmare or broodmare prospect, easily toppling the previous $7.1 million record for Cash Run, set at this sale in 2003.

Fraise, winner of the 1992 Breeders' Cup Turf, who returned from stud duty in Japan in August to be pensioned in Kentucky, has died at age 17.

A son of Strawberry Road, Fraise died on Nov. 6 of a ruptured blood vessel in his abdomen. He had resided at the Old Friends equine retirement home in Midway, Ky., since Aug 16.

The president of Old Friends, Michael Blowen, said Fraise will be cremated and interred at Old Friends in the farm's horse cemetery, where Estrapade, the female turf champion in 1986, also is buried.

Dehere, 1993 champion juvenile and the sire of such runners as Take Charge Lady and Graeme Hall, will return to Kentucky for the 2006 breeding season after standing in Japan. Dehere will stand at Coolmore Stud's American division, Ashford Stud, in Versailles, Ky. His fee has not yet been announced.

LAS VEGAS - With a catchy name and a flamboyant owner in Merv Griffin, Stevie Wonderboy is a public relations dream for the racing industry.

The winner of the , Stevie Wonderboy is worthy of a championship after defeating the best runners of his generation and following his romp in the Del Mar Futurity. Stevie Wonderboy also has a pedigree that suggests he is just getting started and should be even better as a 3-year-old at classic distances.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - In a game that is notorious for breaking owners' hearts and bank accounts, Jack and Laurie Wolf have not just won, they have won big - starting with one of their first purchases, three-time Grade 1 winner Harlan's Holiday.

They cashed in their biggest chip at Keeneland November on Monday, selling champion filly Ashado to Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum for $9 million, a world-record price for a mare at auction. But the sale came with mixed feelings.

Meadowlake, the sire of 1990's 2-year-old filly champion, Meadow Star, and 51 other stakes winners, was euthanized Saturday morning at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., after suffering a severe case of colic, according to officials at Darby Dan. Meadowlake was 22.

Ryan Norton, bloodstock associate at Darby Dan, said that Meadowlake began showing intense signs of distress on Saturday at 5:30 a.m. Darby Dan officials made the decision to euthanize the stallion one hour later after discovering that he had ruptured his intestines.

Oratorio, winner of the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes and Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes this year, and retired after an 11th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic, will stand for a fee of 30,000 euros, approximately $35,400, at Coolmore Stud's Irish stallion station.

A champion at 2 in France after winning the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in 2004, Oratorio won five stakes over his two-year racing career. His biggest win was an upset over heavily favored Motivator in the Eclipse Stakes. He again beat Motivator in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Fasig-Tipton Kentucky got the November auction season off to a bang-up start Sunday night in Lexington when Riskaverse sold for $5 million to top a parade of seven millionaires.

Eaton Sales, agent, purchased Riskaverse from Peter Schiff, who bred and campaigned her in the name of Fox Ridge Farm. Eaton partner Reiley McDonald made the purchase on behalf of an anonymous partnership.

Mass Media, Unforgettable Max, and Blazonry will all join central Kentucky's stallion population in their first season at stud in 2006.

Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington will stand Mass Media, a Grade 1-winning son of Touch Gold. He will stand as the property of Gary and Mary West, who campaigned him, and will have a $7,500 fee. Mass Media, 4, leaves the racetrack with a 6-1-2 record from 16 starts, $396,420 in earnings, and three stakes victories.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - As buyers and sellers head into Kentucky's November mixed sales this season, the situation looks very much like last year. The question for Fasig-Tipton, which conducts its sale on Nov. 6, and for Keeneland (Nov. 7-18) is whether the market strength will hold up again in 2005. If it does, both companies could see some fireworks: Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland are offering some of the world's most valuable racing and commercial breeding stock this year. Among the chief attractions are 2004 champion 3-year-old filly Ashado, Hip No.