Donworth trying to turn tables on Air Vice Marshal in allowance

ARCADIA, Calif. – Donworth, third while heavily favored last time out, has a score to settle Friday at Santa Anita.

That is easier said than done against Air Vice Marshal and Dabster.

Six older horses entered the sixth-race feature, a second-level allowance that is a rematch between Donworth and Air Vice Marshal, and a chance for Dabster to stretch back to two turns. Grazen Sky, Image of Joplin, and Play Hard to Get also entered.

Based on their initial encounter last month when Air Vice Marshal finished more than five lengths in front of Donworth, a handicapper might conclude Air Vice Marshal is a better horse with an obvious advantage in the Friday rematch.

Or maybe Donworth had an alibi. Conditions certainly were not in his favor. He was wheeling back just 16 days after one of the best efforts of his career, a 99-Beyer romp in a first-level allowance. He also did not have a good trip.

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Donworth got keen inside and behind runners. After a half-mile, jockey Evin Roman stopped fighting and turned the gelding loose. Things did not get much better. Donworth found himself sandwiched between pace rivals, battled into the lane, and tired.

The third-place finish by Donworth resulted a 12-point Beyer decline. If he repeats his 87 Beyer, Donworth might not hit the board Friday. But if he runs back to his previous start, as some bettors believe he will, then Donworth can win Friday.

Donworth is trained by meet leader Peter Miller, who claimed him for $40,000 from Doug O’Neill in early November. It is possible O’Neill traded up, because soon after Donworth was claimed away, Air Vice Marshal made his first start for O’Neill.

Air Vice Marshal won a turf allowance in late November, then switched to dirt for the race against Donworth. Air Vice Marshal broke on top, set or pressed fast fractions, and finished second by three-quarters of a length. The horse that beat them both, Hot Sean, was scheduled to start as one of the favorites in a higher-level allowance race Thursday.

Air Vice Marshal ran a winning race while finishing second. If he runs a similar 96 Beyer, he can win the Friday feature under Mike Smith.

Dabster stretches out after finishing seventh in the Grade 1, seven-furlong Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26. The 2-for-4 colt is trained by Bob Baffert and will be ridden again by Flavien Prat.