LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sunday Silence, the champion son of Halo who died in Japan on Aug. 19 after complications from a bacterial infection of his foreleg, was a dark horse. At different stages of his career, he was the horse that few people wanted. Yet he succeeded at every task and left each owner richer than the last.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Mickey and Karen Taylor, owners of the late 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, will disperse all of their bloodstock holdings in 2002 and 2003.

The Taylors made the announcement Thursday afternoon through Eaton Sales, the Lexington-based consignment agency that will manage most of the dispersal. The dispersal will take place in three phases beginning at Keeneland's November breeding stock sale this year, where about 20 horses will come under the auctioneer's hammer.

Steadily ascending the ranks of the nation's leading turf sires, Polish Numbers is following the path of illustrious Maryland stallions before him. A handsome bay son of Danzig, 15-year-old Polish Numbers stands at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, once the home to Caveat, who ranked among the top turf sires in the nation for much of the early 1990's.

The very stall in which Polish Numbers now resides was home to the immortal Northern Dancer, who spent the majority of his illustrious career at Windfields Farm, now known as Northview.

The results of the four-day Ocala Breeders' Sales yearling sales did not produce any surprises. Offering an overview of the numbers, OBS general manager and sales director Tom Ventura said: "Overall, I think we held our own considering the conditions. The upper end of the premier markets has shown weakness, but the regional sales have pretty much held their own when you compare last year's numbers. The uncertainty of the general economy doesn't help, either."

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Storm of Angels, a little-known stallion standing for $2,500 at a farm near Saratoga Springs, could gain some recognition when Storm Cadet runs in the $200,000 Hopeful on Saturday.

Storm of Angels stands at Mill Creek Farm, which is owned by Tim Little and his wife, Anne Morgan, in Stillwater, N.Y. Storm Cadet was born at the 500-acre Mill Creek Farm, located five miles from Saratoga Race Course.

DEL MAR, Calif. - It is not often that a $1 million race is a prep to a $250,000 race. But Sunday's six-figure Pacific Classic could be a prelude to a start in the California Cup Classic in November for Sky Jack and Grey Memo.

Both Sky Jack and Grey Memo are among the nation's top 50 money earners this year, but neither is nominated to the Breeders' Cup. The situation makes the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington Park on Oct. 26 an unrealistic goal considering the staggering supplemental payments.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Skimming, who won the Pacific Classic in 2000 and 2001, has been retired and will enter stud next spring at Stephen Sahadi's Cardiff Stud Farm near Atascadero, Calif., according to bloodstock agent Gayle Van Leer, who helped broker the deal.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Albert Clay, breeder of Grade 1 winners Albert the Great and Pompeii, died at his home in Mt. Sterling, Ky., on Aug. 20. He was 85.

Clay bred 20 stakes winners, either alone or in partnership. Among the most notable runners to emerge from his program were Albert the Great, winner of the 2000 Jockey Club Gold Cup; Pompeii, winner of last year's Personal Ensign Handicap; and 1976 Strub Stakes winner George Navonod. He also was a co-breeder of 1990 Kentucky Oaks winner Seaside Attraction and multiple Grade 1 winner Gorgeous.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - As of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, a $90,000 Northern Afleet colt bought by Hoby Kight was the session-leader at Day 2 of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's August yearling sale in Ocala, Fla. Tuesday's session was the first of three open days, following Monday's select session and reduction of Franks Farms stock.

Gold Crest Farm, agent, consigned the session-leader, a half-brother to stakes-placed McAlpin Road and Blushing Ballerina.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A $1,953,200 Indian Ridge filly set a new auction record for the Deauville select yearling sales in Deauville, France, on Saturday.

Through Monday, the third day of Deauville's five-session auction, the overall market was down from last year, reflecting a general downward trend in the boutique yearling marketplace.