One of the better race fillies of the pre-World War II era, Blue Girl might have had an even higher reputation had she not been injured partway through her 3-year-old season. Although none of her foals were as good racers as she herself had been, she was a successful broodmare who bred on through her stakes-winning daughter Delft.
Race record
12 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, $68,950
1901:
1902:
Honors
As an individual
An elegant, racy-looking chestnut mare with an excellent shoulder, Blue Girl was attractive and feminine. She recovered from a severe case of equine influenza during the winter of 1901-1902 to return to top form but suffered a career-ending injury during the running of the 1902 Flying Handicap.
As a producer
Blue Girl produced 13 named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled at Runnymede Stud, Blue Girl was bred by Colonel Ezekiel Clay and Colonel Catesby Woodford. She was sold to John E. Madden for a price reported as between US$3,000 and US$4,000 as a yearling. Madden then sold an interest in her to William Collins Whitney just before her initial stakes victory in the Juvenile Stakes for an undisclosed price that was reported to be “a tidy profit.” Prior to the Great Filly Stakes in Septemver 1901, Madden sold his remaining interest to Whitney, who campaigned Blue Girl for the remainder of her racing career under the training of John Rogers before retiring her to his La Belle Stud. When Whitney died in October 1904, she was purchased from the dispersal of his stock for US$10,000 by Frederick Johnson, who was acting as agent for Whitney's son Harry Payne Whitney. The younger Whitney sent Blue Girl to England in 1912, returning her to the United States in 1915. She died in 1919 at Brookdale Stud.
Pedigree notes
Blue Girl is inbred 3x3 to the great 19th-century American matron Maggie B. B. and 5x5x5 to three-time American champion sire Boston, a great campaigner in the days of four-mile heat racing. She is a full sister to 1901 Travers Stakes winner Blues and a half sister to Bonnie Star (by Star Shoot), dam of juvenile stakes winner Bonnie Witch (by Broomstick) and second dam of 1926 Spinaway Stakes winner Bonnie Pennant, 1924 Miller Stakes winner Klondyke, and 1922 Demoiselle Stakes winner Cresta.
Bonnie Blue II, the dam of Blue Girl, is a full sister to Sallie McClelland, generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1890. Sallie McClelland, in turn, is the dam of 1904 Kentucky Oaks winner Audience (by Sir Dixon), dam of 1913 American Horse of the Year Whisk Broom II (by Broomstick), second dam of 1924 Breeders' Futurity winner Candy Kid and 1924 Excelsior Handicap winner Rialto, and third dam of 1929 Lawrence Realization Stakes winner The Nut and 1935 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Today. Sallie McClelland is also the dam of Martha Gorman (by Sir Dixon), dam of stakes winners Mediator (by Meddler) and Gormond (by Negofol); of Frances McClelland (by Bermuda), second dam of 1918 Clark Handicap winner Beaverkill and third dam of 1926 American Horse of the Year Crusader; of Sallie of Navarre (by Henry of Navarre), dam of stakes winners Arravan (by Broomstick) and Salvidere (by Belvidere) and second dam of 1925 Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap winner Spot Cash; and of Saratoga Belle (by Henry of Navarre), dam of multiple stakes winner Fayette (by Ogden), second dam of 1928 Suburban Handicap winner Dolan, and third dam of 1933 Travers Stakes winner Inlander and 1939 Arkansas Derby winner Ariel Toy.
Bonnie Blue II and Sallie McClelland were produced from Red-and-Blue (by Alarm) and are also full sisters to Blue Danube, dam of 1912 Clipsetta Stakes winner Star of Danube (by Star Shoot). A full sister to 1884 Belmont Stakes winner Panique, Red-and-Blue is by the important speed sire Alarm out of Maggie B. B., the most important of Australian's daughters.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 5, 2024
Race record
12 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, $68,950
1901:
- Won Juvenile Stakes (USA, 5FD, Morris Park)
- Won Eclipse Stakes (USA, 5,5FD, Morris Park)
- Won Great Trial Stakes (USA, 5FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Great American Stakes (USA, 5FD, Gravesend)
- Won Great Filly Stakes (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay; by disqualification of Leonora Loring)
- 2nd Criterion Stakes (USA, 5FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Tremont Stakes (USA, 5.75FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Saratoga Special (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
1902:
- Won Gazelle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Gravesend)
- Won Ladies Handicap (USA, 8FD, Morris Park)
- 3rd Flying Handicap (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
Honors
- American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1901)
- American champion 3-year-old filly (1902)
As an individual
An elegant, racy-looking chestnut mare with an excellent shoulder, Blue Girl was attractive and feminine. She recovered from a severe case of equine influenza during the winter of 1901-1902 to return to top form but suffered a career-ending injury during the running of the 1902 Flying Handicap.
As a producer
Blue Girl produced 13 named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
- Blue Grass (1906, by Hamburg) is the second dam of 1930 Sanford Stakes winner Sun Meadow and third dam of 1937 Flamingo Stakes winner Court Scandal.
- Delft (1911, by Burgomaster) won the Rosedale Stakes as a juvenile. She is the second dam of 1926 American champion 2-year-old male Scapa Flow, the high-class stakes mare Good Gamble, and 1936 Acorn Stakes winner Blue Sheen. She is also the third dam of 1937 Lawrence Realization Stakes winner Unfailing and 1939 Santa Anita Derby winner Ciencia.
- Blume (1913, by Broomstick) is the dam of multiple stakes winner Wild Aster (by Ultimus).
- Blue Laddie (1916, by Cylgad) won the 1918 Pimlico Nursery Stakes.
- Sky Blue (1918, by All Gold) produced 1926 Walden Stakes winner Rip Rap (by Broomstick) and is the third dam of 1956 Mexican champion 3-year-old male Tocacielo.
Connections
Foaled at Runnymede Stud, Blue Girl was bred by Colonel Ezekiel Clay and Colonel Catesby Woodford. She was sold to John E. Madden for a price reported as between US$3,000 and US$4,000 as a yearling. Madden then sold an interest in her to William Collins Whitney just before her initial stakes victory in the Juvenile Stakes for an undisclosed price that was reported to be “a tidy profit.” Prior to the Great Filly Stakes in Septemver 1901, Madden sold his remaining interest to Whitney, who campaigned Blue Girl for the remainder of her racing career under the training of John Rogers before retiring her to his La Belle Stud. When Whitney died in October 1904, she was purchased from the dispersal of his stock for US$10,000 by Frederick Johnson, who was acting as agent for Whitney's son Harry Payne Whitney. The younger Whitney sent Blue Girl to England in 1912, returning her to the United States in 1915. She died in 1919 at Brookdale Stud.
Pedigree notes
Blue Girl is inbred 3x3 to the great 19th-century American matron Maggie B. B. and 5x5x5 to three-time American champion sire Boston, a great campaigner in the days of four-mile heat racing. She is a full sister to 1901 Travers Stakes winner Blues and a half sister to Bonnie Star (by Star Shoot), dam of juvenile stakes winner Bonnie Witch (by Broomstick) and second dam of 1926 Spinaway Stakes winner Bonnie Pennant, 1924 Miller Stakes winner Klondyke, and 1922 Demoiselle Stakes winner Cresta.
Bonnie Blue II, the dam of Blue Girl, is a full sister to Sallie McClelland, generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1890. Sallie McClelland, in turn, is the dam of 1904 Kentucky Oaks winner Audience (by Sir Dixon), dam of 1913 American Horse of the Year Whisk Broom II (by Broomstick), second dam of 1924 Breeders' Futurity winner Candy Kid and 1924 Excelsior Handicap winner Rialto, and third dam of 1929 Lawrence Realization Stakes winner The Nut and 1935 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Today. Sallie McClelland is also the dam of Martha Gorman (by Sir Dixon), dam of stakes winners Mediator (by Meddler) and Gormond (by Negofol); of Frances McClelland (by Bermuda), second dam of 1918 Clark Handicap winner Beaverkill and third dam of 1926 American Horse of the Year Crusader; of Sallie of Navarre (by Henry of Navarre), dam of stakes winners Arravan (by Broomstick) and Salvidere (by Belvidere) and second dam of 1925 Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap winner Spot Cash; and of Saratoga Belle (by Henry of Navarre), dam of multiple stakes winner Fayette (by Ogden), second dam of 1928 Suburban Handicap winner Dolan, and third dam of 1933 Travers Stakes winner Inlander and 1939 Arkansas Derby winner Ariel Toy.
Bonnie Blue II and Sallie McClelland were produced from Red-and-Blue (by Alarm) and are also full sisters to Blue Danube, dam of 1912 Clipsetta Stakes winner Star of Danube (by Star Shoot). A full sister to 1884 Belmont Stakes winner Panique, Red-and-Blue is by the important speed sire Alarm out of Maggie B. B., the most important of Australian's daughters.
Fun facts
- Blue Girl was said to have a valuation of US$30,000 after her retirement to La Belle Stud, then an astronomically high price for a broodmare or broodmare prospect.
Last updated: July 5, 2024