Distorted Humor pads stakes winner total

Ha Ha Tonka gave her sire Distorted Humor his 11th stakes winner of the year, tops among all North American stallions, with with her win in the $60,000 Prairie Rose S. on Memorial Day at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Iowa. Distorted Humor also ranks third on the general sire list in terms of earnings, with nearly $3 million to date.

Four-year-old Ha Ha Tonka was making her stakes debut in the Prairie Rose. It was also just her fourth lifetime start, all at different tracks. She broke right on top in the six furlong dash, locking up in a heated speed duel with Smoky Belle. The pair was inseparable through a half mile in a blazing :43.59. Ha Ha Tonka refused to give in down the stretch, edging clear to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:09.85.

Ha Ha Tonka raised her record to 3-0-1 in the four outings. She began her career last October when third at Keeneland, then came back to break her maiden by 8 1/4-lengths at Oaklawn Park in April, following that up with an allowance win at Churchill Downs on May 3. The dark bay filly has now earned $98,300 for her owner/breeders Robert and Lawana Low.

Kentucky bred Ha Ha Tonka is out of Gata Bella, who has a yearling foal by Big Brown. The Lows campaigned Gata Bella and her dam Capote Belle, who racked up graded stakes wins in the Test (G1), Prioress (G2) and Humana Distaff (G3) during a stellar career in which she earned $603,315.