Page 148 - Speedhorse August 2018

Ruidoso was a wide- open gambling town with gravel streets, roulette wheels, dice tables and saloons on every corner. John Wayne could have been mayor.
When one compares the 1,000-pound filly against a $500,000 ranch in a choice location with developed facilities and water wells, the decision could be difficult.
“In the first place, I didn’t want to trade the filly,” explained Crouch. “In the second place, I wouldn’t have been in a comfortable tax situation.”
Faced with such a dilemma, Crouch did what any oilman from Texas would do. He kept Sages Belle Star and bought Feliz Montana anyway.
Bigness is the byword in this land. Big bank accounts, big ranches, big cars, and big purses for Quarter Horse races are essential.
Perhaps it’s the sheer amount of money that makes the All American truly a unique event and probably can be best exemplified by the finely detailed All American trophy that went to the owner of a recent winner.
The trophy is beautiful and radiates superb craftsmanship, but at that time it stood only one-foot high.
The horseman stated flatly, “I suppose this trophy has quality. They say it costs $300 in New York. But quality doesn’t mean so much out here. What we really like is size.”
On race day, the pre-race nervousness
and jitters of the participants was apparent. Trainers Don Farris and Roger Fagan are best of friends whose families often dine together while the children play in the yard. It’s not uncommon for the two men to share insights and trade secrets on ways of improving prob- lem animals in their care.
Farris, one of the premier trainers on the lucrative Southwest circuit, had had eight previous starters in the All American. His best chance, however, was with the 3/2 favorite Streakin Six, a winner in four of his six lifetime races and $182,551.
Fagan held the bridle on Sages Belle Star, the quickest starter in the 10-horse field. She had never finished worse than second in eight appearances and had amassed a bankroll in excess of $133,000.
It wasn’t the first time these two speedsters had butted heads. They waged a personal war in Ruidoso’s $501,000 Rainbow Futurity. Sages Belle Star opened up a commanding 3-length lead early only to have Streakin Six fight back and gain a desperate nose decision in the final strides.
Farris turned stone faced when contem- plating his rival Sages Belle Star, especially since Streakin Six, who was handled by veteran money rider Jerry Nicodemus, drew post position three, just a notch inside the fleet filly.
“She’s so dangerous because of her tremen- dous speed,” confided Farris. “If you make one little boo boo, she can beat you because she’s a reliable professional.”
Fagan had hoped that his Sages Belle Star would begin her quarter mile journey next to Streakin Six before the draw.
“My filly has a tendency to loaf once in front and Gary Sumpter (Ruidoso’s leading jockey) really will have to ride her hard all the way to the wire,” Fagan explained. “With Streakin Six right next door, she’ll have to gun all the way. I’d like to see a nice, clean horse race and if I can’t win it, I hope Don does. I think he feels the same way.”
However, it wasn’t strictly a two-horse match up.
The order of finish for the 1979 All American Futurity was Pie In The Sky, Streakin Six, That’s Raney, Afternoon Surprise, Sages Belle Star, Denim N Diamonds, Easy Azuree, Pa Pa Wheelie and Manifestoh. Ask The Boss was scratched.
Pie In The Sky won the 1979 All American Futurity under jockey Danny Cardoza for owners Dan & Jolene Urschel and trainer Leo Wood. Pie In The Sky (Easy Jet-Miss Jelly Roll, Roulade TB) was bred by Joe McDermott III and was named the 1979 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt. He went on to sire over $8.5 million in earners, including Champion Heavenly.
146 SPEEDHORSE, August 2018
LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM OCTOBER 1979 ISSUE