A Capote colt who is a brother to grade II stakes winner and grade I producer She's Tops was purchased by J. L. Gladwell for $700,000 to top Wednesday's session of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale.
After two days of Keeneland's September sale in which 27 horses brought $1-million bids or more, Wednesday's session of the annual yearling sale in Lexington slowed down as the "select" portion gave way to the first of 10 remaining days of the auction.
Koji Maeda's grade II-winning Sunday Break has been retired and will take up stud duty in 2004 at Graham Beck's Gainesway Farm near Lexington.
A share in Distorted Humor that brought $500,000 was the highlight of the Stallion Access Champagne Sale of selected seasons and shares that was held Friday evening in Fasig-Tipton's Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation raised more than $500,000 at its annual gala, held Monday. Aug. 4, at the Saratoga Golf & Polo Club. The bulk of the money, a record amount for the event, was raised through separate live auctions, one for season options to breed to select stallions, the other for "unique experiences."
Odds-on favorite Kool Humor took command early and held on to defeat Shawklit Man by 1 ¼ lengths in Saturday's $100,000 Alysheba Breeders' Cup Stakes at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Bill Casner, co-owner of WinStar Farm, and WinStar president Doug Cauthen were on the backside of Belmont Park Friday morning to watch Funny Cide go through his final bit of exercise for Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I). WinStar Farm, near Versailles, Ky., bred Triple Crown hopeful Funny Cide.
Since Funny Cide is a gelding, the obvious winner on the breeding side of things is his sire, Distorted Humor. At least one person has already cashed in. WinStar Farm, where Distorted Humor stands, bought a share from Joseph Federico for $450,000.
WinStar Farm's Awesome Humor, a multiple stakes winner who suffered the first loss of her career in a recent allowance race at Churchill Downs, rebounded from that setback with a sizzling half-mile work on Sunday.
Herbert and Carol A. Schwartz's Go Rockin' Robin, like Funny Cide a New York bred by Distorted Humor, flew over a sloppy Belmont Park track to win Saturday's $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds.
When Kenny Troutt and Bill Casner purchased Prestonwood Farm between Lexington and Versailles, Ky., and renamed it WinStar in January 2000, among the horses they acquired in the deal was Belle's Good Cide, who was then carrying a foal who would go on to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Although WinStar Farm would love to have a Kentucky Derby winner under its colors, the victory in Derby 129 by the WinStar-bred Funny Cide was certainly the next best thing. It could get even better if he adds a Preakness (gr. I) win tomorrow.
Unbeaten Awesome Humor, a finalist for the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old filly of 2002, will make her anticipated return to competition in Wednesday's featured eighth race at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Funny Cide, with assistant trainer Robin Smullen up, headed to the Belmont main track for a routine 12-furlong jog this morning.
A Distorted Humor colt sold for $40,000 (approximately $26,976 in U.S. funds) Monday to top the first session of William Inglis & Son's autumn yearling sale at the Oaklands Complex in Melbourne, Australia.
Trainer Rafael Becerra sent out his two Triple Crown hopefuls, Crackup and Sum Trick, for works over a fast Santa Anita main track Friday morning.
A share in 2003's leading first crop sire, Distorted Humor, brought $225,000 to top the Stallion Access February sale of seasons and shares on Monday at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's Newtown Paddocks near Lexington.
Ten 3-year-olds were entered to run in Santa Anita's $150,000 Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) on Saturday, the first major steppingstone to the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 5.
Elusive City was disqualified Wednesday 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.
The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages sale began Monday, with the gross down 40.4% and the average dropping 30.6%. The only increases were in the median price, which was up by $5,000 from last year's comparable session, and the number of horses not sold.
Forty Niner left behind more than just memories of his dominating racing days before heading to Japan to continue his stallion career. The champion son of Mr. Prospector left behind a slew of sons who are making a mark on North America's sire lists. Four of the top 20 first-crop stallions by progeny earnings in 2002, including the runner-up, Distorted Humor, are sons of Forty Niner.
Thoroughbred Charities of America completed the first phase of its annual Stallion Season and Sporting Art Auction on Dec. 7, with results pointing toward a new record.
By Ray Paulick -- The battle between Elusive Quality and Distorted Humor to be leading freshman sire in North America could be decided in a hearing room of the Jockey Club of England next month.
Distorted Humor, who ranks second on the first-crop sire list by progeny earnings, had his fee boosted to $20,000 from $12,500
Besides the eight Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Day races, the race for leading freshman sire of 2002 could be determined Oct. 26 at Arlington Park.
Sackatoga Stable's Funny Cide, who won his two previous starts by a combined 24 ¾ lengths, got more than he bargained for from Spite the Devil, but the 1-5 favorite held off his rival by a neck to win Saturday's $100,000 Sleepy Hollow for 2-year-old New York breds at a mile.
Sackatoga Stable's Funny Cide, who won his two previous starts by a combined 24 ¾ lengths, got more than he bargained for from Spite the Devil, but the 1-5 favorite held off his rival by a neck to win Saturday's $100,000 Sleepy Hollow for 2-year-old New York breds at a mile.
Sackatoga Stable's Funny Cide, who has won both his starts by a combined 23 ¾ lengths, heads a field of six state-bred juveniles in the $100,000 Sleepy Hollow Saturday at Belmont Park.
Humorous Lady, Boston Bull find the slop to their liking in Astarita, Cowdin.
Sakatoga Stable's Funny Cide walloped nine other rivals to win the $83,975 Bertram F. Bongard for 2-year-old New York-breds Sunday at seven furlongs at Belmont.
Separating top juveniles is always tough early in the year because so many are unbeaten or have won a majority of their starts. Still, when it comes to the early favorites for this year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), all lists must start with Awesome Humor.
That question may be answered on Friday afternoon, when she is tested against 11 others in the $200,000 Spinaway (gr. I) – the marquee race for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Saratoga Race Course.
Trainer James Bond said Saturday he is still waiting to give Wood Memorial (gr.I) winner Buddha his first breeze of the summer.
Trainer James Bond said Saturday he is still waiting to give Wood Memorial (gr.I) winner Buddha his first breeze of the summer.
WinStar Farm's Awesome Humor displayed her serious side Monday when she led from start to finish in the Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga Racecourse.
Distorted Humor's first winner, Awesome Humor, is now his initial stakes winner.
First crop sire Distorted Humor was represented by his first winner as a sire when his first starter, Awesome Humor, went wire-to-wire to earn a neck-length win in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race at Keeneland Thursday.
Weanlings sired by Cape Town and Distorted Humor were each sold for $110,000 to top Tuesday's session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The Cape Town colt, produced from the Sunny's Halo mare Sunday Morning, was purchased by Walnut Green Bloodstock from the consignment of Lakland LLC, agent.
