Virginia breeder R. Larry Johnson has had such success with the descendants of Ran's Chick, the first Thoroughbred he ever owned, that he doesn't let many out of his grasp. But on occasion he will sell, and one that got away was Niclie, winner of Delaware Park's Light Hearted Handicap last Sunday.

Paul O'Brien jokes that he and his brother Frank are "overnight successes" in the Ontario breeding industry after more than 15 years in the business. On July 17, their homebred filly Mona Rose won the Grade 3 Dance Smartly Handicap.

"We've bred a lot of claiming winners, but this is just our second stakes winner," said O'Brien, who owns the 50-acre Dalcassian Farm in Caledon East, Ontario.

The O'Briens joined the Thoroughbred industry through Michael Bennett, a friend of theirs from their native Ireland and the breeder of a top-class runner and sire, Briartic.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The death of on Monday has cost the California Thoroughbred breeding industry one of its most promising young stallions.

Free House died as the result of a head injury suffered when he reared up and flipped over while being bathed at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, Calif. Free House stood at Vessels throughout his five-year stud career.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Lost and Found Horse Rescue, a 20-acre farm in Jacobus, Pa., is a modest salvage operation for horses. It is the last place you'd probably expect to find a Danzig colt.

But when the non-profit group's operator, Kelly Young, bought a handsome bay Thorough-bred for $250 at a recent New Holland, Pa., slaughter auction, she got a lot more than she bargained for. The horse turned out to be 3-year-old colt Media Empire, a Danzig half-brother to 2003 French Oaks winner Nebraska Tornado and a full brother to Group 2 winner Burning Sun.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - At the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale of selected yearlings this past week, quality sold at a premium. Most especially Elusive Quality.

The sire of Smarty Jones is the hottest young stallion in the country, and his yearlings received careful scrutiny from yearling inspectors and their buyers. The best and brightest of the group was Hip No. 370, a bay colt out of the Copelan mare Cercida consigned by the Dromoland Farm of Gerry Dilger.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's bellwether July yearling sale continued its strong showing Tuesday in its second and final session, thanks to an international array of buyers. A potent mix of regular players, new money, and profit-laden pinhookers pushed the auction to gains in all categories and raised optimism for the rest of the yearling auction season.

The top-priced lot was a $950,000 Elusive Quality colt that Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum bought from Gerry Dilger's Dromoland Farm.

, the popular California-bred whose victories included the Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Handicap, and Del Mar's Pacific Classic, died in an accident on Monday at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, Calif., where he had been standing at stud since his retirement. He was 10.

Free House died when, while being bathed, he reared over, fell backwards, and struck his head, according to Rich Decker, the farm manager at Vessels. Decker said Free House would be buried on the farm.

The Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners will for the first time offer $50,000 in incentives for buyers of Ohio-bred yearlings. The incentives will be in effect for horses bought at the group's Midwest regional sale at River Downs on Oct. 2.

There will be two 2-year-old races run in 2005 as sale bonus races, one for colts and one for fillies. The races, expected to be run late in the season at 1 1/16 miles as determined by the Ohio State Racing Commission, will each have $25,000 added to their purses for horses purchased at the Oct. 2 sale.

LAS VEGAS - Pedigree handicappers just drool over maiden races for 2-year-olds. While pedigrees are the most potent weapon in handicapping maiden turf races, they also are important in finding value in maiden dirt races. A prime example occurred last Sunday at Belmont Park, where Balletto won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies in an explosive effort at 16-1.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's July yearling sale made the most of its position as the only summer sale in Lexington on Monday. The first of two sessions enjoyed strong selling early, buoyed in part by new players in the yearling market.

Bob Baffert, agent, signed for the $475,000 session-topper, a Point Given colt out of the Lord at War mare Pretty Eyes, but Baffert declined to identify his client. Gainesway, agent, sold the horse in partnership with an undisclosed number of partners.

"It exceeded our expectations," said Gainesway spokesman Michael Hernon.