Page 42 - September 2020

SPEEDLINES
Higheasterjet wins the 1980 All American Futurity.
Higheasterjet wins the 1980 All American Futurity (440yds)
When Higheasterjet entered the finals of
the All American Futurity, nobody was giving him or any of the other entrants much of a chance since they were running against Mighty Deck Three, who was the undefeated winner of the Rainbow Futurity and looked unbeatable. But as you will see, this lack of respect was just something Higheasterjet faced in his race career.
Higheasterjet was officially bred by Jerry Highsmith and Doug McMullen. He is by Pine’s Easter Jet and out of Alamitos Doll Two by Alamitos Bar. Alamitos Doll Two was a race mare that had been trained by Johnie Goodman, and it was Goodman who talked Highsmith into breeding her to Pine’s Easter Jet.
When Goodman picked Higheasterjet up to start his training, he found a colt hard to handle and this necessitated the decision to geld him. Higheasterjet’s race career got off to a modest beginning. He was third in his first race and then broke his maiden in his trial for the Texas Futurity. He ran fifth in the finals. These three races took place in March, and he returned to the races at Ruidoso Downs in June with Billy Hunt riding. He finished first in his trial for the Rainbow Futurity, but was disqualified for interference and placed fourth. He came back to win an allowance
race before the All American Futurity trials. Highsmith was faced with a $10,700
supplement fee to run in the All American trials. He took on a number of partners, consisting of L. E. Willis, Alan Taylor and Mr. and Mrs. Myron Palermo, to get the money to supplement his runner. The 1980 All American Futurity was so popular that horses had to
run in two races to get to the finals. They ran
in the elimination trials that got them to the actual time trials. Higheasterjet ran second in his elimination trial to get into the time trials, where he won as the fourth fastest qualifier. Mighty Deck Three was the fastest qualifier in :22.37. The second fastest qualifier was Chick Called Mito in :22.40 with Rockay, a son of Rocket Wrangler, qualifying as the third fastest qualifier in :22.43. The other qualifiers were Six Fols in :22.5, Joe Bailey Oak in :22.53, El Rey Burner in :22.54, Mystic Eye in :22.57, Fleet Sky Rocket in :22.57, and Love Poem :22.58.
When it came time for the finals, the wagering public sent Mighty Deck Three off as a 2-5 favorite with Higheasterjet leaving the gate at 13 to 1 in the wagering. Mighty Deck Three had earned the public’s respect, as he was undefeated in nine starts and had won the Northeast Kansas
QHA Futurity, Flinthills Futurity, and Rainbow Futurity. He had been purchased in June 1980, by Dan and Jolene Urschel, the owners of the 1979 All American Futurity winner Pie In The Sky. They would be back in 1981, winning the All American Futurity with Special Effort.
When the gates opened Mighty Deck Three got the first call and then Higheasterjet with Billy Hunt came down the lane from the 1-post to take the lead. As they crossed the finish line, it was called a photo finish with Higheasterjet having the edge. He won it by
a nose over Mighty Deck Three and Mystic Eye third, another nose back. This win has been the closest finish in the All American, with Higheasterjet’s time of :22.15 for the 440 yards and Mighty Deck Three’s time :22.15 as well. Chick Called Mito was fourth with Six Fols getting fifth. The rest of the field crossed as follows: El Rey Burner, Rockay, Fleet Sky Rocket, Joe Bailey Oak and Love Poem. Higheasterjet earned $440,000 for the win in a time of :22.15 for the 440 yards. He ended 1980 with a record of eight starts, four wins, one second and one third earning $446,255, but Mighty Deck Three was named the Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding.
40 SPEEDHORSE September 2020