imported>Xunnita-toro at 00:43, 16 April 2025

2025-04-16T00:43:59Z

New page

{{Short description|American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=December 2011}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Distorted Humor
| image = Distorted Humor.jpg
| caption = Distorted Humor
| sire = [[Forty Niner (horse)|Forty Niner]]
| grandsire = [[Mr. Prospector]]
| dam = Danzig's Beauty
| damsire = [[Danzig (horse)|Danzig]]
| sex = [[Stallion (horse)|Stallion]]
| foaled = 1993
| country = [[United States]]
| colour = [[Chestnut (coat)|Chestnut]]
| breeder = [[Nuckols Farm, Inc.]]
| owner = [[Russell L. Reineman|Russell L. Reineman Stable]] & [[Prestonwood Farm]]
| trainer = [[Phil Gleaves]] [[W. Elliott Walden]]
| record = 23: 8–5–3
| earnings = $769,964
| race = [[Amsterdam Stakes]] (1996) [[Salvator Mile Handicap]] (1997) [[Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes]] (1998) [[Churchill Downs Stakes]] (1998) [[Ack Ack Handicap (Churchill Downs)|Ack Ack Handicap]] (1998)
| awards= [[Leading sire in North America|Leading American sire]] (2011) [[Leading broodmare sire in North America]] (2017)
| honours =
| updated =
}}
'''Distorted Humor''' (foaled March 19, 1993 in [[Kentucky]]) is an American [[Thoroughbred]] [[horse racing|racehorse]] and a successful [[sire]].

==Bloodline==

Distorted Humor's sire is [[Forty Niner (horse)|Forty Niner]], 1987's [[Eclipse Award]] winning [[Eclipse Award for Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse|Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse]] by the champion sire, [[Mr. Prospector]]. Distorted Humor's dam was Danzig's Beauty by [[Danzig (horse)|Danzig]]. Distorted Humor was her second foal. (Danzig's Beauty died June 17, 2006, at the age of 19 due to [[Horse colic|colic]]. She'd given birth in April 2006, to her last foal, a [[filly]] by [[Empire Maker]]. Of her eight starters, six were winners.)

==Racing career==

Distorted Humor himself had a career running middle-distance stakes races. He broke his maiden at [[Florida]]'s [[Gulfstream Park]] and was initially trained by Phil Gleaves as a sprinter/miler. [[W. Elliott Walden|Elliott Walden]] took over training duties in the spring of 1996 after Prestonwood Farm purchased a half-interest in Distorted Humor. Distorted Humor's career race record was 8 wins, 5 places and 3 shows in 23 starts, with earnings of $769,964. As a three-year-old, he won the [[Amsterdam Stakes|Screen King Stakes]], was second in the [[Graded stakes race|Grade III]] Fayette Stakes and the Grade II [[Jerome Handicap]], and finished 3rd in the Grade III [[King's Bishop Stakes]]. At four, he took the Grade III [[Salvator Mile Handicap]], and was second in the Grade III [[Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes]] and the Grade III [[Philip H. Iselin Handicap]]. At five, he took the Grade II [[Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes]] (setting the record for the distance that still holds), the Grade II [[Churchill Downs Stakes]], and the Grade III [[Ack Ack Handicap (Churchill Downs)|Ack Ack Handicap]] before he was retired.

At maturity, he reached {{hands|15.3}}.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Anne Peters |title=Pedigree Analysis: Is Bigger Always Better? |url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/90474/pedigree-analysis-is-bigger-always-better |access-date=6 October 2023 |work=Blood Horse |date=March 13, 2015}}</ref>

==Success as a sire==
Beginning in 1999, Distorted Humor stood twice in [[Victoria, Australia]], (at Grand Lodge Stud in [[Avenel, Victoria|Avenel]]) for $12,000. He sired two Australian crops. In those crops, 93 foals were runners, 74 were winners, 12 placed, and two others have come in the money. His get include Rinky Dink: winner of the South Australian Oaks and the Tasmanian Oaks, Distorted Halo: winner of the Moonee Valley and Mercedes-Benz [[Hong Kong Derby Trial]], and Tirade: winner of the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and third in VRC Ascot Vale Stakes. Among his Australian winners are both flat runners and jumpers. One jumper, four-year-old Some Are Bent, took the Moonee Valley Hurdle in July 2006, his third jumps win in his past four outings.

Back in the United States, Distorted Humor's 2000 fee remained low and his mares average, yet he became America's leading freshman sire of 2002. In 2003, his son [[Funny Cide]] became a dual classic winner, and Awesome Humor was a Grade I winner.

In 2005, Distorted Humor's oldest foals were five-year-olds. Over the course of 140 races, 88 of his get (13 of which were two-year-olds) earned $8.6 million. He finished the year as the second top sire in America, beaten only by the now deceased [[Saint Ballado]]. By late 2006, he had 255 winners, including 18 graded stakes winners, from 340 starters and sired 46 stakes winners. From five crops, his progeny have earned $30,265,433. In 2006, as a 14-year-old sire, he had 20 different horses win a combined 31 stakes races, 10 of which were graded.

At age 15 (2008), Distorted Humor produced at least 20 stakes winners for the second year in a row. For the third straight year, he ranked among the top six stallions by progeny earnings. For 2007, he ranked third behind [[Smart Strike]] (sire of [[Curlin]] and [[English Channel (horse)|English Channel]]) and [[A.P. Indy]]. 2011 was his best year yet as he earned the title of [[Leading sire in North America]], thanks in part to Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 stallion honors: Distorted Humor, leading sire|url=http://www.drf.com/news/2011-stallion-honors-distorted-humor-leading-sire|website=Daily Racing Form|accessdate=5 June 2016}}</ref>

"Distorted Humor's progeny inherit the will to win, the desire; a lot like [[Storm Cat]]," said WinStar Farm President and CEO Doug Cauthen. "They're always battling. They battle and win or try to win, and that desire tends to get them in the winner's circle."

In October 2021, WinStar Farm announced that Distorted Humor was being retired from stud duty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WinStar Stallions Distorted Humor, Congrats Pensioned |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/254167/winstar-stallions-distorted-humor-congrats-pensioned |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.bloodhorse.com}}</ref>

As of March 11, 2025, Distorted Humor has sired 173 stakes winners, according to data by The Jockey Club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distorted Humor (horse) |url=https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/distorted-humor.html |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=American Classic Pedigrees |language=en}}</ref>

==Progeny record==

Standing stud at [[WinStar Farm]] in [[Versailles, Kentucky]] until 2021, Distorted Humor produced progeny that include:

===Grade I winners===
* [[Funny Cide]], 2003 [[Kentucky Derby]], 2003 [[Preakness Stakes|Preakness]], 2004 [[Jockey Club Gold Cup]]
* [[Drosselmeyer]], 2010 [[Belmont Stakes]], 2011 [[Breeders' Cup Classic]]
* [[Flower Alley]], 2005 [[Travers Stakes]], 2005 [[Lane's End Stakes]], 2005 [[Jim Dandy Stakes]], Sire of [[I'll Have Another]]
* [[Hystericalady]], 2006 [[Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks]], 2007 [[Humana Distaff Handicap]], 2007 & 2008 [[Molly Pitcher Stakes|Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap]], 2008 [[Azeri Stakes]], [[Fleur de Lis Handicap]] 2008, [[Delaware Handicap]] 2008
* [[Commentator (horse)|Commentator]], 2005/2008 [[Whitney Handicap]], 2008 [[Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Sprint Championship Handicap]], 2008 [[Massachusetts Handicap]]
* Awesome Humor, 2002 [[Spinaway Stakes]]
* [[Any Given Saturday]], 2007 [[Dwyer Stakes]], 2007 [[Haskell Invitational Handicap]], 2007 [[Brooklyn Handicap]]
* Rinky Dink, 2004 [[Australasian Oaks]]
*[[Jimmy Creed]], 2012 [[Malibu Stakes]]
* Boisterous, 2013 [[Man O' War Stakes]]
* [[Cursory Glance]], 2014 [[Moyglare Stud Stakes]]
* Bit of Whimsy, 2007 [[Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes]], 2007 [[Mrs. Revere Stakes]]
* Restless Rider, 2018 Darley Alcibiades
* Santin, 2022 [[Turf Classic Stakes]], [[Arlington Million]]

===Grade II & III winners===
* Go Rockin' Robin, 2003 [[Peter Pan Stakes]]
* Cowtown Cat, 2007 [[Illinois Derby]], 2007 [[Gotham Stakes]]
* Da Stoops, 2005 [[California Breeders' Champion Stakes]], 2006 [[California Cup Sprint]], 2006 [[Sunshine Millions Dash]]
* Original Spin, 2005 [[Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie Stakes]] Grade III
* Sensibly Chic, 2005 [[Vagrancy Handicap]]
* [[Sharp Humor]], 2006 [[Swale Stakes]]
* Forty Niners Son, 2007 [[San Luis Rey Handicap]]
* It's No Joke, 2006 Bet on Sunshine Handicap at [[Churchill Downs]], 2006 Grade II [[Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap]], 2006 Grade III [[Ack Ack Handicap (Churchill Downs)|Ack Ack Handicap]]
* Change Up, 2006 [[Pocahontas Stakes]]
* Z Humor, finished first in a [[Tie (draw)|dead heat]] with Turf War in the 2007 running of the [[Delta Jackpot Stakes]]
* Regal Ransom, 2009 [[UAE Derby]], [[Super Derby]]
* Justenuffhumor, 2009 [[Bernard Baruch Handicap]]
* Endorsement, 2010 [[Sunland Derby]]
* Alternation, 2011 [[Peter Pan Stakes]]
* Machen, 2011 [[Derby Trial Stakes]]
* Brethren, 2011 [[Sam F. Davis Stakes]]
* Alternation, 2012 [[Oaklawn Handicap]], 2012 [[Pimlico Special]]
* Ironicus, 2015 [[Bernard Baruch Handicap]] (Grade II), setting new track record at [[Saratoga Race Course|Saratoga]]
* Anarchist, 2023 [[Jacques Cartier Stakes]], 2023 [[Pat O'Brien Stakes]]

Distorted Humor is also the sire of [[Maclean's Music]] whose maiden special weight debut at [[Santa Anita Park]] produced the current highest debut [[Beyer]] figure in history, and has gone on to be one of Distorted Humor's most important sons at stud.

==Fees==

Distorted Humor's fee for 2008 was $300,000—the same fee commanded by [[A.P. Indy]] and [[Storm Cat]]. Due to the uncertain financial climate beginning in 2008, his fee was reduced to $225,000 for 2009 and $100,000 for 2011. In 2017 his fee was listed by WinStar and Bloodhorse.com as $80,000.
In 2021 his retirement from stud duty was announced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.winstarfarm.com/winstar-stallions-distorted-humor-and-congrats-retired-from-stud-duty/|title=WinStar stallions Distorted Humor and Congrats retired from stud duty|first=Winstar|last=Farm|date=19 October 2021|website=WinStar Farm|accessdate=6 October 2023}}</ref>

==Pedigree==
{{Pedigree
|name = Distorted Humor, chestnut horse, March 19, 1993<ref name="Equineline">{{cite web |title=Pedigree of Distorted Humor |url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm/Distorted%20Humor?page_state=DISPLAY_REPORT&reference_number=1396750&registry=T&horse_name=Distorted+Humor&foaling_year=1993&dam_name=Danzig%27s+Beauty&include_sire_line=Y&nicking_stats_indicator=Y&sire_reference_number=0&dam_reference_number=0&color=&sex=&hypo_foaling_year=&breeder=&include_truenick=Y |website=Equineline |accessdate=11 August 2020}}</ref>
|f = [[Forty Niner (horse)|Forty Niner]] 1985
|m = Danzig's Beauty 1987
|ff = [[Mr. Prospector]] 1970
|fm = File 1976
|mf = [[Danzig (horse)|Danzig]] 1977
|mm = [[Sweetest Chant]] 1978
|fff = [[Raise a Native]]
|ffm = [[Gold Digger (horse)|Gold Digger]]
|fmf = [[Tom Rolfe]]
|fmm = Continue
|mff = [[Northern Dancer]]
|mfm = [[Pas de Nom]]
|mmf = Mr. Leader
|mmm = Gay Sonnet
|ffff = [[Native Dancer]]
|fffm = Raise You
|ffmf = [[Nashua (horse)|Nashua]]
|ffmm = Sequence
|fmff = [[Ribot (horse)|Ribot]]
|fmfm = Pocahontas
|fmmf = [[Double Jay (horse)|Double Jay]]
|fmmm = Courtesy
|mfff = [[Nearctic (horse)|Nearctic]]
|mffm = [[Natalma]]
|mfmf = [[Admiral's Voyage]]
|mfmm = Petitioner
|mmff = [[Hail to Reason]]
|mmfm = Jolie Deja
|mmmf = Sailor
|mmmm = Gay Rig (family: 9-f)<ref>{{cite web |title=Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Toxophilite Mare - Family 9-f |url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family9f.htm |website=www.bloodlines.net |accessdate=11 August 2020}}</ref>
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbHorseInfo.cfm?refno=1396750&registry=T Distorted Humor's racing stats]
*[http://www.stallionregister.com/sr_sire_page.asp?refno=1396750&origin=singlesearch Distorted Humor Profile on the Stallion Register]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061004222940/http://breeding.bloodhorse.com/sirelists/national06/leading_sire.asp Blood Horse leading sire list]
*[http://www.winstarfarm.com/ WinStar Farm]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061125184513/http://ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=5902 NTRA bio of WinStar Farm]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061125184513/http://ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=5902 National Thoroughbred Racing Association's bio of WinStar]

[[Category:1993 racehorse births]]
[[Category:Racehorses bred in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Racehorses trained in the United States]]
[[Category:United States Champion Thoroughbred Sires]]
[[Category:Thoroughbred family 9-f]]
[[Category:American Champion Thoroughbred broodmare sires]]

Distorted Humor - Revision history

imported>Xunnita-toro at 00:43, 16 April 2025