by Jen Roytz
As the horses break from the starting gate in Saturday's GIII Forward Gal S., there will be a small, but mighty contingent in Lexington rooting not for any of the names in the program, but for a filly they know simply as Alice, whose birth nearly three years ago marked a new beginning for Richie Donworth and his family.
It was in 2014 that Donworth, after spending the better part of two decades working in management positions for the likes of Coolmore Stud, Overbrook Farm, Wimbledon Farm and Three Chimneys Farm, went out on his own, purchasing the first mare, Clear Destiny (by Deputy Minister) under his newly-formed Scarteen Stud banner for $27,000. The following year, it was a family affair, as his wife, Anne, and daughters, Lucy and Maggie, came with him to the barn on a cool April evening to welcome her foal into the world.
“As soon as she was born, my daughter, Maggie, asked if she could give the filly a name. She named her 'Alice,' and for the next year-and-a-half while at Scarteen Stud, she was known as Alice,” said Donworth. “My girls never miss watching her run. Alice was racing the day Lucy had her fourth birthday party and she insisted on watching the race. To see a room full of 4-year-olds screaming at the TV 'Come on, Alice! Go Alice!' was absolutely hilarious.”
While Alice, known formally as Morning Destiny (Morning Line), finished second that day, it wasn't long after that she broke her maiden impressively by 5 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park West. Owned by J Stables, LLC and trained by Antonio Sano, the $25,000 Fasig-Tipton October graduate most recently she finished second to Cicatrix (Violence) in the $75,000 Glitter Woman S. Jan. 6.
“Everyone at Scarteen, from the staff to the clients, knows the story about Alice,” said Donworth. “My girls follow her career and cheer for her every time she's racing, and I told them if she ever races in Kentucky, we'll go out and cheer for her in person.”
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