very early, and the prognosis was good for Afleet Alex to return to his previous level of performance. Once fully healed, the colt returned to working for the Breeder's Cup Classic, putting in two bullet works. However, Tim Ritchey decided to take the conservative path with the colt and shelved him for the year. Later in the year, avascular necrosis (the dying of tissue in the bone, creating a brittle patch) was discovered and diagnosed. The necrosis was probably due to an undetected deep bruise sustained when Afleet Alex nearly fell in the Preakness. It is believed the necrosis caused his summer condylar fracture. Tim Ritchey and Cash is King Stable announced the horse's retirement from racing on December 1, 2005. Awards and assessment Afleet Alex was runner-up for the 2004 Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding award and won the Florida Two-Year-Old Champion Male that year. In the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, Afleet Alex was the World's Top Ranked Three-Year-Old Intermediate Distance Horse. He was ninth place overall, with a rating of 124 for his Preakness, sharing that spot with Deep Impact (2005 Japanese Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and Horse of the Year), Bago (2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and 2004 Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Male), Leroidesanimaux (2005 U.S. Champion Turf Male), and Starcraft on that ranking sheet, not far behind the top ranked horse and three-year-old. He was the 2005 Florida Champion Three-Year-Old Male and Horse of the Year. In January 2006, he also won the Eclipse Award for 2005 Champion Three-Year-Old Male and finished second to Saint Liam in the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year balloting. His victory in the 2005 Preakness Stakes was voted the National Thoroughbred Racing Association "Moment of the Year." Cash Is King Stable received a special Eclipse Award for its contributions to Alex's Lemonade Stand. Stud career Afleet Alex entered stud in 2006 at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky for an initial fee of $40,000. He has sired seven grade 1 winners, including: Texas Red (Breeders' Cup Juvenile) Materiality (Florida Derby) Sharla Rae (Del Mar Oaks) Afleet Express (Travers Stakes) Iotapa (Vanity Handicap) Afleet Again (Breeders' Cup Marathon) Dublin (Hopeful Stakes) Afleet Alex has sired other graded stakes winners such as: Called To Serve (Discovery Handicap) Dancing Afleet (Delaware Oaks) Harissa (Barbara Fritchie Handicap) La Gran Bailadora (Kentucky Cup Distaff) Internationally, Afleet Alex has sired Puerto Rico Champion Imported