A Late Bloomer
A horse does not have to be a Triple Crown contender to achieve greatness in the sport. Only a small number of horses born each year will go on to complete at age three in the most prestigious series in racing. The rest will manage a varying degree of success. Distorted Humor complied an impressive record on the track, but the colt did not truly come into his best form until after his three-year-old season.
Distorted Humor was foaled in March of 1993. Since all thoroughbreds are assigned a universal birth date of January 1st for racing purposes, the colt was legitimately close to his actual age when he embarked upon a breakout season at age three. He won the Amsterdam Stakes after a trainer switch saw the colt move to the barn of Elliot Walden. He also captured the Screen King Stakes and posted respectable losing efforts in the Grade II Jerome Handicap and Grade III Fayette Stakes. A third in the King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga offered an hint of the things that were to come.
As the colt entered his fourth year, it was apparent that he was a late bloomer. Many popular horses have shown greater talent as they become older and Distorted Humor joined the ranks of these competitors by winning another graded stakes race at four. The Salvator Mile Handicap suited the particular running style of Distorted Humor and the horse won with ease. Throughout the remainder of his career, Distorted Humor competed as a one-mile distance specialist.
At age five the horse capped his respectable career with wins in the Ack Ack Handicap and the Churchill Downs Stakes. These wins brought his career earnings to $769,964. It was decided by the horse’s owner and trainer that the time had come to send Distorted Humor off to stud where he would enjoy his retirement. They had no idea that his earnings as a stallion would far surpass his winnings on the racetrack.
Distorted Humor at Stud
It was decided that Distorted Humor would begin his stud career in Australia. It was believed that his own pedigree would lead to the production of runners who preferred competing on the grass. All races in Australia are run on grass tracks. His fee during his first season was a mere $12,000.
The success was almost immediate. The offspring of Distorted Humor began to amass wins. Of the 93 foals produced by the stallion in his first two crops, 74 of them distinguished themselves as winners on the track. It was then decided that the horse should return to the United States where he would have more opportunities to cover mares with the potential to produce champions.
The American market was not immediately receptive. In 2000, the fee for Distorted Humor was very low and few owners were bringing him their best mares. None of them knew that one of the mares in foal to the stallion was going to produce a horse that would change Distorted Humor’s legacy as a sire.
The Arrival of Funny Cide
Joe and Anne McMahon decided to take a chance on Distorted Humor and allowed him to breed their mare, Belle’s Good Cide. The mare was a granddaughter of the legendary Seattle Slew, so the hopes were high. In 2000, the breeding produced a horse that would be given the name Funny Cide.
Funny Cide’s accomplishments on the racetrack are the stuff of legend. The horse came within one race of capturing the Triple Crown in 2003 and finished his career with earnings of more than $3 million. A champion in his own right, Funny Cide also changed the fortunes of his sire. Suddenly, owners were lining up with their best mares in the hopes that Distorted Humor could also deliver them a champion.
As the new offspring of Distorted Humor began to succeed, the horse’s stud fee rose to astronomical heights. It ranged as high as $300,000 in the aftermath of Funny Cide’s success. Among the other famous racehorses sired by Distorted Humor are Drosselmeyer and Flower Alley. His progeny includes stakes winners and Breeders’ Cup Champions.
Today, Distorted Humor continues to stand at stud and sire winning racehorses. If you would like to follow and bet on the offspring of Distorted Humor, check out our racebook reviews and choose one for wagering on the races. EZ Horse Betting reviews many racebooks so that you know which ones offer the best bonuses and betting opportunities. Check our Bovada racebook review, Twinspires review or even our Betamerica review. All great choice if you are in the US. 5Dimes review for folks anywhere!
