Alternation noses out Nehro in Pimlico Special

Alternation added the Pimlico Special to earlier wins in the Oaklawn, Razorback and Essex Handicaps (Melissa Wirth/Horsephotos.com) In a head-bobbing finish to the Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special on Friday, Pin Oak Stable’s homebred Alternation just lasted to take the 1 3/16-mile test for his fourth straight stakes score on the year. Guided by Luis Quinonez, the four-year-old son of Distorted Humor overcame a three-wide journey to overtake long-time leader Endorsement inside the final sixteenth and won the nose bob over a determined Nehro. Final time over a fast but slow-playing track was 1:57 3/5. Away alertly, Alternation settled in a three-wide position around the clubhouse turn as Endorsement took the early advantage. Setting honest splits of :23 3/5, :46 4/5 and 1:10 3/5, Endorsement built up a three-length lead after six furlongs as Alternation remained in close striking range. Still looking fairly strong turning for home after shaking off Yawanna Twist around the far turn, Endorsement braced for the stretch challenges of Alternation and 5-2 favorite Mission Impazible. Grinding his way to the lead while racing between rivals, Alternation edged away from Endorsement in the closing yards and then barely clung to victory over Nehro, who had his nose ahead a stride past the wire. It was length back to Endorsement in third, with Mission Impazible a neck farther back in fourth. Alternation paid $10.20, $5 and $3.80 as the 4-1 second choice.

Completing the order of finish behind Mission Impazible were Hymn Book, Yawanna Twist, Toby’s Corner, Cherokee
Artist and Eighttofasttocatch.

Alternation possesses a record of 13-8-1-1 with career earnings of $900,004.
Winner in three of his first four starts, Alternation’s classic aspirations were
derailed a year ago when he ran fifth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby after a
troubled trip. He rebounded to take the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont Park, but
was fourth in both the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 2 Super Derby in his next two
outings. Fitted with blinkers for his sophomore finale, in the Oklahoma Derby,
Alternation turned in an improved effort to finish second by a head to Redeemed.

Alternation kicked off his four-year-old season with a 3 1/2-length triumph
in the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park on February 4. Up to this point a mid-pack
stalking type, Alternation showed a new dimension in the Grade 3 Razorback
Handicap two back, taking the lead in another race lacking speed. The Distorted
Humor colt set a moderate pace and went on to score by 1 1/2 lengths over
Tapizar. He showed the same front-running tactics in the Grade 2 Oaklawn
Handicap in his previous start and finished up 2 1/2 lengths to the good of Ron
the Greek.

Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Alternation was bred in Kentucky and produced by the multiple stakes-winning
Alternate, a Seattle Slew half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Peaks and
Valleys. This is the extended family of Grade 3 winners Eleusis, Equality and
Cryptograph. Another descended from this female family is the multiple champion
filly Open Mind.