When the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale commences at 11 a.m. on May 23 and 24, the Monday and Tuesday after the Preakness, it will offer its strongest catalog in history - proving the old adage success builds on success.

The most recent May sales graduate to make national news is Afleet Alex, the game third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby and one of the favorites for the Preakness. Afleet Alex was picked out by trainer Tim Ritchey at last year's sale for a bargain $75,000, and has earned more than $1.5 million.

LAS VEGAS - The connections of the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby may be celebrating their good fortune, but the founding fathers of racing would not be thrilled with the result.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - It has been 25 years since Genuine Risk became the second of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, but the thrill is fresh for the mare's many admirers and for owners Bert and Diana Firestone.

New York-bred horse of the year Funny Cide is scheduled to make his 2005 debut in the Grade 1 Pimlico Special on May 20.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor was scratched from the restricted Kings Point Handicap at Aqueduct on May 1, with trainer Barclay Tagg citing the wet track and weight spread as reasons.

Funny Cide was assigned 127 pounds for the Kings Point, which was won by Chowder's First under 116 pounds.

Farnsworth Farms, winner in 1996 of an Eclipse Award as the nation's leading breeder, is going out of business.

The liquidation of Farnsworth Farms and its breeding and racing stock will come in three stages. The yearlings, 109 of them, will sell at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's August yearling sale. The broodmares, 175 total, will sell at the OBS fall sale in October, and the foals of 2005 will be entered for next January's OBS winter mixed sale.

Mike Sherman has been the CEO of Farnsworth Farms, owned by the Sherman Trust, for the past four decades.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Unusual Heat's rise to the top rank of California stallions is nearly complete.

Unusual Heat recently went past $1 million in progeny earnings for 2005, the fifth California-based stallion to reach that milestone this year. Through Thursday, In Excess led the list with $1,275,444, followed by Swiss Yodeler ($1,129,655), Atticus ($1,126,496), Bertrando ($1,124,663), and Unusual Heat ($1,050,293).

NEW YORK - Kingmambo, who sired the winners of three group races at Newmarket last Sunday, was bred in Kentucky and stands in Kentucky, but he never raced in the United States, a circumstance that may still cause his late trainer, Francois Boutin, to take the occasional spin in his grave.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The victory of Don't Get Mad in the Derby Trial put a second colt into the Kentucky Derby for owner B. Wayne Hughes, along with Illinois Derby winner Greeley's Galaxy. The accomplishment of making the Derby, especially with a pair of colts, is not lost on Hughes.

"The challenge of getting to the Derby is almost as great as the enormous thrill of winning . . . I think," Hughes said. "Buying horses, we've gone to the Derby three years in a row, and a lot of the credit there goes to Ron Ellis."

LAS VEGAS - It looked like the great Mr. Prospector would never sire a Kentucky Derby winner, but inonr of his final few crops, along came Fusaichi Pegasus to make his legacy complete. Winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby, Fusaichi Pegasus was a freshman sire last year, and it appears it may not take him that long to sire a Derby winner.

Fusaichi Pegasus got off to a fast start at stud, and has two colts exquisitely bred for 1 1/4 miles in this year's Derby - Bandini and Andromeda's Hero.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's spring 2-year-old sale had a bumpy four-day run, ending Thursday evening with slight declines across the board.

The first two sessions produced significant gains as well as the sale-topper, a $375,000 Aptitude-Wolfer colt that Robert and Lawana Low bought from the Eisaman Equine agency. But the final two sessions posted decreases from last year's figures.