LOS ALAMITOS : This Appears to Be Avison’s Year

A year ago, Avison and Down With Debt ran a dead heat in the Vessels Maturity, but last Friday night the race at Los Alamitos belonged to Avison.

Ridden by regular jockey Joe Badilla Jr., Avison, a 5-year-old gelding, broke from post position seven in the 10-horse field, leaving the gates perfectly. He didn’t make any mistakes in the 400-yard race, powering his way to a neck victory over runner-up Seals. Down With Debt finished third.

The winning time of 19.70 seconds was the fastest 400-yard clocking of the meet, and earned Avison $48,006 of the $114,300 purse, increasing his career earnings to more than $215,000. He also became only the second horse with two first-place finishes in the Vessels since Jazzing Hi won in 1990 and 1991.

Bill Thompson, Avison’s owner, was particularly pleased that his horse this time beat Down With Debt, last year’s world champion.

“When you beat Down With Debt, you have run a race,” Thompson said. “This field, I can only imagine adding Refrigerator to make it any stronger. But you’d have to run 11 horses, because you couldn’t throw anyone out.”

Avison has been facing the toughest horses in the nation since last year, when he won the Chicado V Handicap and was second in the Grade I Go Man Go Handicap. He also earned a spot in the prestigious Champion of Champions after the dead heat with Down With Debut in the Vessels Maturity, but was unable to compete after appearing to be in distress during the AQHA Challenge Championship on Nov. 11, only a month before the Champion of Champions.

“If we just pass on this one, I think we have a shot at next year,” trainer Connie Hall recalled telling Thompson.

Said Thompson: “That was the thing to do, and it looks like all the hunches have turned out well.”

With the Vessels victory, Avison earned a berth in this year’s Champion of Champions.

Avison started the year with a victory in the Grade III Kaweah Bar Handicap. He then entered the Double Bid Handicap, but finished fifth after breaking in the air and drifting in throughout the race. Returning to his winning form in the Vessels Maturity trials, he easily won his division and set the top qualifying time for the Grade I final.

“He had one bad race,” Thompson said. “Other than that, he’s been so steady. It’s really making me relax about the whole thing. I believe he is at his peak.”

Avison might race next in the Go Man Go Handicap in August, where he could face Refrigerator and Down With Debt, who will be looking to improve on her disappointing performance in the Vessels Maturity.

“She stumbled away from there and kind of bumped the horse next to her, and then ricocheted back,” said trainer Charlie Bloomquist of Down With Debt’s trip in the Vessels Maturity.

“These kind of horses will beat you when you don’t make a mistake. And when you do, they’ll sure beat you.”

Los Alamitos Notes

Cathy Monji earned her first stakes victory as an owner when Dicey Secret won the $58,404 California Sires Cup Derby Saturday night, defeating fastest qualifier Cool Papa Bell. . . . Jockey Steve Treasure earned his 100th stakes victory at Los Alamitos when he guided Beduinos Lark to victory in the $12,000 Santa Maria Handicap last Sunday. Treasure now joins Kenny Hart (132) and Bobby Adair (114) as the only jockeys to earn 100 stakes victories at Los Alamitos. . . . Patrons wagered $2,127,758 on Friday night at Los Alamitos, setting a record for nightly handle. . . . Jockey Dewey Smith is expected to be out of action for about two months after breaking his shoulder and ankle when Merris Easy Request fell after the 11th race Friday evening.