Alternation, who saw a four-stakes win streak snap in the Grade 1 Stephen
Foster Handicap June 16, returns to action for owner-breeder Pin Oak Stable and
trainer Donnie Von Hemel in Saturday’s $200,000
Governor’s Cup
at Remington Park. The son of Distorted Humor figures to be a prohibitive
favorite against four rivals going 1 1/8 miles.
Kick-starting his campaign with three straight wins at Oaklawn — in the
Essex Handicap, Grade 3 Razorback Handicap and Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, the
latter over divisional heavyweight Ron the Greek — Alternation next traveled to
Baltimore for the Grade 3 Pimlico Special. A brave winner of that 1 3/16-mile
test by a nose, he was a cold 7-1 on the tote board when reappearing in the
Stephen Foster. The less than enthusiastic response from bettors was ultimately
proved right as Alternation finished a non-threatening fifth behind old rival
Ron the Greek.
Hero of the Grade 2 Peter Pan last season, Alternation has shown much more
consistency since adding blinkers last fall. He wore them for the first time in
his most recent visit to Remington for last October’s Oklahoma Derby, which he
lost by a head to Redeemed. Regular rider Luis Quinonez will be back in the
saddle for the Governor’s Cup.
The most serious threat to Alternation, on paper at least, is Prayer for
Relief. The Zayat Stables charge captured the Grade 2 Super Derby, Grade 2 West
Virginia Derby and Grade 3 Iowa Derby last season, but has subsequently dropped
eight starts since the Super Derby last September. Most recently sixth in the
Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, he previously placed in four Grade 2 events in
Southern California this term.
Prayer for Relief and Alternation met twice in 2011. Alternation finished
fourth, four lengths behind his rival, in the Super Derby, but finished one
position ahead of Prayer for Relief, by three parts of a length, in the Oklahoma
Derby.
The field is completed by the Louisiana-bred Get in Da House, who placed in a
pair of Grade 3s at Lone Star in the spring; multiple stakes winner Stachys, who
invades from Canterbury; and multiple Grade 3-placed Dreaminofthewin.
A competitive field of eight will line up for the $100,000
David M.
Vance Sprint going six furlongs, with Apprehender, Solar Charge, Joe
Hollywood, Alsvid and Okie Ride all likely to garner wagering support.
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