Selling the topper at this past week's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale is one of many successes that John and Aileen Ferguson have experienced during their 25 years in the horse business.

Even with modest horse numbers over the years, the Fergusons continue to reach goals they set - with a six-figure sales horse being the most recent.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - After a tremendously successful weekend, with two stakes winners and another stakes-placed runner, Successful Appeal has moved back into the lead among this year's freshmen sires. The stallion's two richest scores over the weekend came at Delta Downs, when his daughter Punch Appeal won the $250,000 Delta Princess Stakes at a mile and his son Closing Argument was second in the $1 million Delta Jackpot at 1 1/16 miles. The next day, Successfully Sweet won the East View Stakes at Aqueduct, also at 1 1/16 miles.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Kentucky Equine Education Project raised at least $2.5 million at its fund-raising all-breed stallion season auction in Lexington last week, and KEEP executive director Claria Shadwick said the organization will put that money to good use in coming months.

Since its formation on May 5, the group has recruited more than 3,300 members, hired Shadwick, and appointed volunteer horse industry spokesmen in 77 of Kentucky's 120 counties. The immediate goal

The Keeneland September sale's record $8 million Storm Cat colt is preparing for his racing career at J.B. and Kevin McKathan's McKathan Brothers Training Center in Citra, Fla.

The colt was broken in Paris, Ky., at Arthur Hancock III's Stone Farm, which shipped him to the McKathans on Monday. Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Thursday that he will eventually receive the colt, who is out Welcome Surprise, a half-sister to A.P. Indy and Summer Squall.

Tamweel, who finished a close fourth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, has been purchased privately for $1 million and turned over to trainer Tom Amoss.

A 4-year-old Gulch filly, Tamweel has now been sold twice this year, but this was the big score. After Tamweel's second-level allowance victory on June 10 at Hollywood Park, Turf Express Inc. and Darrell and Evelyn Yates purchased her for $200,000 and sent her to the Arlington Park barn of trainer Wayne Catalano.

Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's December mixed sale ended Monday evening in Timonium, Md., with sharp gains across the board and eight weanlings that sold for $50,000 or more.

At the close of a strong second session Monday, the auction had grossed $3,862,300 for 363 horses. That total was up 43 percent from last year's gross for 360 head. This season's average price of $10,640 marked an increase of 42 percent from last year, and the $5,100 median was up 38 percent from last year's figure.

Don't Get Mad, unbeaten in two starts in Kentucky, has joined trainer Ron Ellis's barn at Hollywood Park. Owned by B. Wayne Hughes, Don't Get Mad was previously trained by Paul McGee.

By Stephen Got Even, Don't Get Mad is being pointed for the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes over a mile at Santa Anita on Jan. 15. The race was previously run in early March but has switched places on the Santa Anita stakes calendar with the $200,000 Santa Catalina Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 5.

Gross receipts soared, but the average price dipped at the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association's winter mixed sale in Auburn, Wash., on Sunday.

A total of 215 horses sold for $879,150 for an average of $4,089. The gross was up 20 percent while the average fell 15 percent from last year, when 152 horses went for $730,100.

LAS VEGAS - The major nine-furlong stakes leading up to the Kentucky Derby have always been the best barometer of victory in the Kentucky Derby. As any observer of the sport knows, 2-year-old form, especially over the past 20 years, has little to do with negotiating 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May. Nevertheless, it is always entertaining to look at the current juvenile crop and assess their chances for the classics.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Storm Bird, a champion juvenile and one of Northern Dancer's most influential sons as the sire of Storm Cat, has died at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky.

The stallion, whose death was first reported by The Blood-Horse, was euthanized Dec. 3 after colicking. He was 26.