Page 45 - Speedhorse, October 2021

“The award means a great deal to me. Sam was a good friend, a great rider and an even better person. He was one of a kind.”
LIFE AS A JOCK
Jimmy Dean has ridden many great horses, including:
• Refrigerator – Foaled in 1988, by Rare Jet and out of the Heisanative daughter Native Parr. The multiple graded-stakes- winning gelding won 23 of 37 starts, with eight seconds and three thirds. He earned $2,126,309 in six years, with two World Championships and eight Championships. He was also the third leading all-time AQHA money earner.
His first year out, Refrigerator ran second in the Heritage Place Futurity-G1. He then won the All American Futurity-G1.
His second year out, he won the Kansas Derby-G1 at Ruidoso Downs and ran second in the Rainbow Derby-G1 and the All American Derby-G1. He finished his sophomore year with a win in the Champion Prep Stakes 2nd Division and a third in the Champion of Champions-G1.
As a 4-year-old, he won the Vessels Maturity-G1, the Los Alamitos Invitational Championship-G1 and the Champion of Champions-G1, placing second in the Go Man Go Handicap-G1.
At 5 he was undefeated, with wins in the World’s Championship Classic-G1, the Los Alamitos Invitational Championship-G1, the QHBC Championship Classic-G1 and the Champion of Champions-G1.
As a 6-year-old, he won the Champion of Champions-G1, ran second in the Remington Park Championship-G1
and the Los Alamitos Invitational Championship-G1, and third in the Vessels Maturity-G1.
His final year on the track, he ran third in the Los Alamitos Invitational Championship-G1.
“He was awesome,” says Jimmy, who rode Refrigerator in his first four races. “ He was as fast a horse as I’ve ever been on and I’m still looking for another one like him!”
Jimmy with Champion Trainer Eddie D. Willis.
• Flys R Droppin – foaled in 1995, by Strawfly Special and out of the L’Natural daughter Natural Vallentine. He earned $379,566 during his three years on the track, with four wins and three seconds from 14 starts. The multiple graded-stakes- placed gelding ran second in the Grade 1 Remington Park Futurity (to Quick Moon Sign by 1/2-length) and the Grade 1 All American Futurity (to Corona Cash by 1/2-length) as a freshman.
• Feature Hero – foaled in 2010, by Valiant Hero and out of the Feature Mr Jess daughter Illegal Feature. Ridden almost exclusively by Jimmy Brooks, the graded-stakes-winning gelding earned $1,418,960 in four seasons, finishing 2013 second in earnings. He won five of 24 starts with four seconds and four thirds. His wins — and probably Jimmy’s biggest win ever — included the All American Derby-G1. He also won his trials for the Rainbow Futurity, the All American Futurity, and the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby.
Rock You and Jimmy winning the 2015 Bob Moore Memorial. Coronado Cartel and Jimmy in the post parade of the 2013 All American Futurity-G1 trials.
SPEEDHORSE October 2021 43
Orona Photography