Hall of Fame - Blue Merle

Original article written by Nathan Klein posted 4 years 1 week ago

We all know about Night Lion, the Appaloosa filly who is currently on one of the greatest winning streaks in the history of the SIM with hopes to win her 15th straight race this Wednesday. But before there was Night Lion's amazing winning streak there was a Paint horse who predated Night Lion by nearly 30 SIM years and had the same destructive reputation as the undefeated Appaloosa. His name was Blue Merle and on the track, he was red hot.

Like Night Lion he was a router which meant he ran at 870 yards. His abilities at this distance were immediately shown in his first start. By the first quarter of a mile, he had opened a 4 and 1/2 length lead. Although the lead would shorten down to 3 and 3/4th lengths it was still a super impressive debut for a first-time starter. The race was so impressive that he was put in listed stakes company in just his second start. Only 2 horses would dare challenge him that day. It was one of the easiest and most impressive victories in all of SIM racing as he turned the race into a virtual walkover winning it by a whopping 7 lengths. 7 lengths is impressive on its own but to open up such a lead in just half a mile is something not even seen by Night Lion. He would then finish the year with a third and final victory in the Paint Juvenile Route again winning the race by 2 and 1/2 lengths. He won the 3 races by a total of 13 and 1/2 lengths.

He started the year effortlessly winning his first 2 starts by a combined 7 and 1/4 lengths. But in his 6th start, he would finally have a horse worthy of a challenge. With most of his competition being non-stakes winners his run in the blackout stakes would change that. He would face off against Painted Lady a horse who had won 9 straight races including the Grade 2 Paint Championship for fillies and mares. 8 horses entered but the race was truly about the 2 facing off against each other. The race was on and just like before Blue Merle had a clear lead being in front by 2 and 1/4 lengths. But for the first time in his career, he wasn't home free as Painted Lady kicked it up a notch and flew from 6th to second place making up ground stride for stride. But despite getting closer to Blue Merle then anyone else Painted Lady could only get second by 3/4 of a length.

Blue Merle was still unbeaten, and it would be the only time in his career he won a race by under 1 length. Following this win, he would make his Grade 1 debut in the Heading To The Championship Derby. Despite being a Grade 1 race none of the 4 horses who faced Blue Merle were graded stakes winners. Blue Merle would win easier than he ever had before winning by a humongous 8 lengths. But his next Grade 1 win had a more qualified field. The main highlight was When She Was Bad who was the defending champion of the Paint Championship against the boys. However not even she could get close to Blue Merle as she came in second 3 and 1/4 lengths behind Blue Merle. Unsurprisingly Blue Merle would take the year 27 Paint Champion Three Year Old Male, and Paint Horse of the Year honors and went back into the starting gates for one more year.

His 4-year-old-season was just like the others an absolute cruise. As one of the first high-quality Paint Routers, he didn't have much to challenge him. Winning 3 listed stakes races and an allowance race in preparation for his title defense in Paint Championship. He would be facing off against a slightly more difficult company than normal. With Grade 3 Paint Juvenile Route winner Blazing Blue Jet and Grade 2 Paint Juvenile Championship winner What's a Paint. Despite multiple graded stakes-winning horses running Blue Merle was an easy winner leading early and holding on the win by 2 and 1/2 lengths. He would retire after that a perfect 13-13 never once losing a race. His 13 race winning streak is still the highest in the history of paint racing only being equaled by Sneak Snow and City Boy.

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