Page 44 - September 2020

SPEEDLINES
Refrigerator wins the 1990 All American Futurity.
Refrigerator wins the 1990 All American Futurity (400yds)
Refrigerator was the third gelding to win the All American Futurity, with Eastex being the second winner in 1984. Refrigerator is like Higheasterjet in that he came from a modest beginning, proving again that a horse coming from that modest beginning can reach the ultimate by winning the All American Futurity.
Sonny Vaughn, a farrier who had shod horses such as All American Futurity winners Decketta, Laico Bird, Possumjet and Bug’s Alive In 75,
was the breeder of Refrigerator. It was his work around these horses that allowed him to learn about pedigrees and the breeding of racehorses. He bred Rare Jet to Native Parr by Heisanative to get Refrigerator. He paid the $500 stud fee
by trading shoeing fees for that amount. He named the colt in honor of William Perry, the Chicago Bears’ defensive lineman known as “The Refrigerator.” Vaughn consigned Refrigerator to the Heritage Place Yearling Sale, but repurchased him for $3,800. When he got back to the stall, Delton Dean bought the colt for the $3,800.
Refrigerator started his race career in
January of 1990. He won his trial and then finished second in the Poor Boy Futurity at Ross Meadows. He went to Remington Park to run in and win an allowance, and then won his trial for
the Remington Park Futurity by 2-lengths but would bleed and get scratched from the finals. It was about this time that Butch Wise,
serving as bloodstock agent, recommended Refrigerator as an All American Futurity prospect to Jim Helzer, a construction contractor and long-time member of the racing community
who wanted to win the All American Futurity. He bought Refrigerator for $150,000. The
closest Helzer had come to the All American Dream was with Dash For Destiny, who was
the eleventh fastest qualifier in the 1984 All American Futurity. She ran in the All American Consolation, finishing seventh. Refrigerator then won his trial for the Heritage Place Futurity and finished second in the finals, and with that he was off to Ruidoso Downs and a date with destiny.
Helzer supplemented Refrigerator to the All American trials for $50,000. C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath became his trainer and Kip Didericksen his jockey. Refrigerator won his elimination trial and then became the fastest qualifier in the trials with a time of :19.75. Quick Fun also qualified in a time of :19.75. The third qualifier was Special Legend with a time of :19.77. See Me Gone had a qualifying time to :19.81, with Special Record qualifying in :19.82. The rest of the qualifiers
were By A Deck (:19.88), Opportunity Streaks (:19.90), Alifax (:19.91), Shiny Six (:19.96), and Strait To The Bank, winner of the Rainbow Futurity, as the final qualifer in :20.00.
Strait To The Bank, based on his Rainbow Futurity win, went off as the race time favorite. When the gates opened, it was Opportunity Streaks getting the first call. But it was Strait To The Bank, Quick Fun and Refrigerator that broke together from post positions one, two and three. Then Strait To The Bank hit the inside rail about 120 yards out and lost his rider, with Quick Fun and Refrigerator running on together. At about 300 yards out, Refrigerator took control and won the race by 1 3/4-lengths. His time of :19.39 set
a New Stakes Record for the 400-yard race. He earned $1,000,000 of the $2,000,000 purse.
This was Quick Fun’s first defeat as she crossed the finish line 2 1/2-lengths in front of See Me Gone in third and Alifax fourth. They were followed across the line by Special Legend, By A Deck, Shiny Six, Special Record, and Opportunity Streaks. Strait To The Bank came back with minor injuries, and his jockey Jacky Martin uninjured.
The All American Futurity was the last start for Refrigerator in 1990. He had a record
42 SPEEDHORSE September 2020