LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Keeneland September yearling sale, which cataloged a record 5,110 yearlings in 2005, was winding down Saturday as it approached its Sept. 26 conclusion. But it continued to show strong gains at the late sessions.

On Saturday, an $85,000 Notebook filly was the top lot at a session that saw a 24-percent increase in gross, a seven-percent rise in average, and a 25-percent increase in median. The session sold 249 yearlings for $3,703,600, yielding a $14,874 average and a $10,000 median.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, apparently stung by a lack of support for his Darley organization's sires by Coolmore, will sharply reduce buying auction stock by Coolmore stallions, according to a story Friday in the English newspaper Racing Post.

A change in Maktoum's buying policy had been widely rumored since the select yearling sale last month in Deauville, France. But Maktoum's bloodstock adviser, John Ferguson, denied at the Keeneland September yearling sale that Maktoum would avoid bidding on Coolmore-sired horses, calling Coolmore "friends and competitors."

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Folklore left little doubt about who was in charge of the Grade 1 Matron Stakes at Belmont last weekend. Cruising home by 14 lengths, Folklore, a daughter of freshman sire Tiznow, proved herself one of the leading candidates for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies next month and among the prime contenders for the Eclipse Award as leading 2-year-old filly.

Several yearlings from New York families commanded six-figure prices during the first several days of the Keeneland September yearling sale, the two-week marathon from Sept. 12 through Sept. 26.

One of the top prices among those yearlings was $190,000 for a half-brother to statebred Private Emblem, winner of the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby and an earner of nearly $800,000.

Consigned by Denali Stud, the son of Distant View was purchased by James C. Robertson.

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, in conjunction with the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co., will host the annual Ocala homecoming week starting Oct. 7. The owners' and breeders' group events are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The sales company takes over with its annual fall mixed sale from Oct. 10 through Oct. 14.

It is somewhat fitting that a California-bred, 1970's star Crystal Water, helped to assure that Rex Dahlberg would become a racing man through most of his adult life.

One of Dahlberg's favorite memories is the finish of the 1977 Santa Anita Handicap, when Crystal Water fought through the stretch to edge pacesetter Faliraki.

"When I watched Crystal Water come down the lane, I was hooked," Rex said.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Pico Central, a North American Grade 1 winner and a leading contender for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, has been retired from racing because of an upper foreleg injury, Robert Clay and Satish Sanan announced Thursday.

The 6-year-old Brazilian-bred, a son of Spend a Buck, will stand at the Sanan family's Padua Stables in Summerfield, Fla., as the property of a syndicate that will include Padua and Clay's Three Chimneys Farm. Padua purchased a 50 percent interest in Pico Central's breeding rights in May.

The Keeneland September yearling sale continued its record run on Wednesday, but prices were tailing off from the dizzying levels seen early during the two-week auction.

With selling still underway, a $270,000 Wild Wonder colt was the session leader. John Brocklebank purchased the son of Susie Do, by Talinum. Taylor Made, agent, sold the colt, who is a half-brother to the winner Susie's Prize.

Midway Road, a dual Grade 3 winner and runner-up in the 2003 Preakness, has been retired from racing and will stand at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., in 2006.

A 5-year-old son of Jade Hunter, Midway Road will stand for $7,500 in 2006.

Midway Road won the 2004 Fayette and Ben Ali stakes, setting a track record of 1:46.78 for nine furlongs in the Ben Ali.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Keeneland September yearling sale rolled through its eighth day of selling Tuesday, so far defying predictions that the market would slip sharply in the auction's second week.

By 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the eighth session had produced a top price of $185,000 for an Orientate colt out of stakes winner Soul Onarazorsedge. Dennis Yokum purchased the colt from Four Star Sales, agent. Yokum represented Mercedes Stables in the purchase.