Blues Girl Too retires at the top

Recently named world champion Blues Girl Too has been retired, ending her bid to become the all-time leading money earner among Quarter Horses.

Blues Girl Too retires with earnings of $2,032,328, making her the highest-earning female in the sport's history. World champion Refrigerator is the all-time leading money earner at $2,126,309.

"She's done everything we've asked of her and she has nothing else to prove," said trainer Joe Bassett. "She's the best and she's going out on top. Getting the [earnings] record isn't going to make her foals any more valuable. And getting her beat wouldn't be fair to her. She's earned it."

Blues Girl Too raced into the record books when she won the Grade 1, $1 million Champion of Champions in 21.13 seconds for the 440 yards in her final career start. That broke the track and stakes record of 21.17 seconds set by two-time world champion Dash for Cash in 1976.

A daughter of Corona Cartel and broodmare of the year Run the Dash, Blues Girl Too won 8 of 13 starts. She was the champion 2-year-old filly and champion 2-year-old in 2006 and returned to be named champion 3-year-old filly, champion 3-year-old, and world champion in 2007.

Willis fire claims stakes horses

Among the horses killed in a barn fire last Saturday night at trainer Eddie Willis's farm in Canay, Okla., was 2007 Heritage Place Futurity winner Southern Takes All.

Among the other 42 horses who burned to death or died of smoke inhalation were 2007 Oklahoma Horsemen's Association Derby winner Jet Black Rebel and Passion Raging On, a competitor in the $305,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship at Zia Park.

The fire at the 12,000-square-foot barn was reported at 10:26 p.m., and three local fire departments responded.

"We lost 43 horses and four escaped," said John Haynie, an agent for the Oklahoma state fire marshal's office. "The fire is still under investigation."

Reba Cleata tops Harrah's Distaff

Reba Cleata has the class in the $25,000 Harrah's Distaff on Saturday at Louisiana Downs on the strength of her upset win in the Grade 1, $395,476 Texas Classic Derby two starts ago.

In the 440-yard Texas Classic Derby on Dec. 1, Reba Cleata held off Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby winner Remember Me Rose to win by a neck. She raced to the win in 21.37 seconds for her sole graded stakes victory.

Reba Cleata then took on older horses in the Grade 1, $400,000 The Championship at Sunland Park and was no match for winner Ketel Won, who earned two 2007 championship titles, and runner-up Remember Me Rose.

Miss Kips Streakin is also dropping in class for the Distaff after finishing third in the Grade 2 Sunland Winter Derby. She was the 17-10 favorite in the Winter Derby, but finished more than a length behind outsider Heavenly Trip.

Miss Kips Streakin raced against Reba Cleata in the Texas Classic Derby, but had a troubled trip and finished fourth.