|
|
FEATURE STALLION JANUARY 17, 2007 2006 Stallion of the Year - Distorted Humor by Jordan Strickler While other sires had higher progeny earnings and more graded stakes winners, DISTORTED HUMOR (Forty Niner) was the only stallion among the top seven on the leading sires by earnings list that did not have a Grade 1 winner in 2006. What he did have though was consistency. Last year, the 14-year-old had 20 different horses win a combined 31 stakes races, 10 of which were graded. Stats like these are eye catching, and Distorted Humor's numbers should only get better, according to WinStar Farm President and CEO Doug Cauthen. Distorted Humor entered stud at the farm without much fanfare in 2000, and he didn't attract many high-quality mares at first. But that all changed with a first crop that included dual classic winner Funny Cide and Grade 1 victress Awesome Humor. As a result, he's been bred to better mares over the last few years. "I think we'll see sales averages increase and we have a lot to look forward to," Cauthen explained. That should make the future very exciting for Distorted Humor. Three of his most successful offspring in 2005, Flower Alley (Travers S. [G1] and Breeders' Cup Classic [G1] runner-up), Commentator (Whitney H. [G1]) and Original Spin (Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie S. [G3]), returned to the races in 2006, and horses bursting onto the scene or just making their mark included It's No Joke, winner Hawthorne Gold Cup H. (G2) and Ack Ack H. (G3); Sharp Humor, who captured the Swale S. (G2) and finished a narrow second to Barbaro in the Florida Derby (G1); Hystericalady, who garnered her first graded-stakes victory in the Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (G2); Change Up, a juvenile Grade 3 winner and runner-up in the Golden Rod S. (G2); and Got the Last Laugh, a Grade 3 victor and Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful in 2007. "(Distorted Humor's progeny) inherit the will to win; desire; a lot like Storm Cat," Cauthen said. "They're always battling. They battle and win or try to win, and (that desire) tends to get them in the winner's circle." To date, Distorted Humor's runners have earned a total $12.1 million from six crops and 267 starters, averaging $101,768 per starter. But granted, the figure is slightly inflated by millionaires Flower Alley and Funny Cide. The latter wowed fans in 2003 as the underdog gelding with victories in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1), and he was named champion three-year-old male. Funny Cide is still in training in South Florida with Barclay Tagg, and the seven-year-old has earned more than $3.4 million thus far, including wins in last year's Dominion Day S. (Can-G3) and Kings Point H. No slouch at the racetrack either, Distorted Humor garnered $769,964 over three seasons of racing. Trained by Elliott Walden, he earned wins in the 1998 Commonwealth Breeders' Cup S. (G2), Churchill Downs H. (G2) and Ack Ack H. (G3) as well as the 1997 Salvator Mile H. (G3). Both the Ack Ack and Salvator Mile victories were repeated by his heirs in 2006. Five of Distorted Humor's sons -- Flower Alley, Da Stoops, It's No Joke, Comedy Show and Sharp Humor -- will stand their first year for the 2007 breeding season. Sharp Humor will be standing alongside his father in the stallion complex at WinStar Farm. "Distorted Humor is a super stallion to be around," Cauthen commented. "He's very docile and is an easy goer." Of course, two of Distorted Humor's best sons so far won't make it to the breeding shed. "Both Funny Cide and Commentator are geldings and its unfortunate that we won't get the chance to see any foals from them," Cauthen lamented. Distorted Humor's success as a sire spilled into the sales ring, with 63 yearlings selling for an aggregate $17.7 million ($281,635 average) and 18 two-year-olds selling for $6.3 million ($351,944 average). "We are blessed with a real commodity," Cauthen said. "We're thankful and we feel we've been blessed to have him here." Distorted Humor has been bred to approximately 115 mares for the last two years, and the chestnut stallion should have some terrific runners to look forward to in the future.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
