Distorted Humor, leading freshman sire for 2002.
Elusive City was officially disqualified Jan. 15 from two British successes--a maiden race at Lingfield on July 17 and the Gerrard Investment Management Richmond Stakes (Eng-II) at Goodwood on July 30. The ruling has a major impact in North America on the list for leading freshman sire by earnings.At year end, Elusive Quality, sire of Elusive City was the leading freshman sire, finishing $14,898 ahead of Distorted Humor. Subtracting the earnings from the two races, $5,536 from the maiden race and $68,469 from the Richmond Stakes, Elusive Quality's 2002 progeny earnings now stand at $1,242,843, dropping him to third place on the list. Elusive Quality, a son of Gone West, stands at Gainsborough Farm near Versailles, Ky.Distorted Humor, who stands at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., is now officially the leading freshman sire by 2002 earnings with $1,301,950. Runner-up status now goes to Awesome Again, who stands at Adena Springs Farm, also near Versailles, Ky. with $1,258,620 in earnings.The Jockey Club's disciplinary committee disqualified the Elusive Quality colt after a metabolite of the banned substance omeprazole was found in post-race tests. The committee was satisfied the source of the substance was from stomach ulcer treatment GastroGard paste, given daily under veterinary supervision at trainer Gerard Butler's stables up to five days before races.Butler, who gave evidence in a statement as did his vet, was fined £1,200 for those two positive tests and for that of Inchberry who was disqualified after success in a Hamilton maiden on Aug. 20.The committee cleared Butler on another charge. He was accused of breaking Jockey Club Instruction C8 regarding records of treatment, but the Club was satisfied separate computer records regarding the use of GastroGard were maintained in sufficient detail. Revenue, trained by Michael Bell for the Royal Ascot Racing Club, is promoted to be the winner of the Richmond Stakes.
