LOS ALAMITOS : Refrigerator to Make ’95 Debut

Despite rumors that two-time world champion Refrigerator would be retiring, the 7-year-old gelding is back, and ready to race for the first time this year in the Go Man Go Handicap on Saturday night.

Refrigerator has accomplished more than any other quarter horse in history, having won a record three Champion of Champions and being named world champion twice. The veteran campaigner has won some of the sport’s most prestigious races, among them the All American Futurity, Kansas Derby, Vessels Maturity, Los Alamitos Championship and the World’s Championship Classic. But he has never won the Go Man Go Handicap.

In 1992, Refrigerator suffered the first loss of his championship year in that Grade I race, Shawnes Diamond beating him by a neck. In last year’s race, for the first time in his long career, he finished off the board, running fourth.

Refrigerator’s owner, Jim Helzer, isn’t superstitious about Refrigerator’s past bad luck in the Go Man Go Handicap but he is realistic about his horse’s chances, especially considering that this will be Refrigerator’s season debut and that he will be carrying the high weight of 125 pounds, the same as Avison and Down With Debt, last season’s world champion.

“I don’t like to be weighted that heavy with his first out this year, especially with Down With Debt and Avison having a couple of races over the track,” Helzer said.

He is fairly optimistic about his champion’s chances, however, after watching Refrigerator work 350 yards in 17.80 seconds on Aug. 7. Down With Debt worked the same day, clocking in at 17.90 seconds.

“I think the horse looks the best he’s ever looked at any point in his career,” Helzer said. “We believe he’s coming up to the race in excellent shape. But that’s a tough group of horses, and I don’t take that competition lightly.”

Avison won the Vessels Maturity earlier this year and Down With Debt has won two of three starts, including the Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship.

Among the other horses Refrigerator could race are Seals, Brotherly, Sound Dash, Pritzi Dash, Flashback Dash, My Debut, Beinbetter and Father Gene.

Los Alamitos Notes

Jockey Guillermo Gutierrez, just back from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for three months, is on the injured list again after having his appendix removed last Wednesday. Gutierrez is expected to be out for three weeks. . . . Jockey Jim Lewis is also expected to be out for about three weeks after breaking his ankle during a morning workout last week. Lewis underwent surgery on his ankle last Friday.

Roman Figueroa became only the 19th rider to have won 600 races at Los Alamitos when he rode My Debut to victory in the 11th race last Friday night. . . . Arabian racing’s all-time leading money earner, Magna Terra Smoky, is expected to start in Friday night’s California Breeders Alliance Handicap.