Alternation faces a deep field in the return of the Pimlico Special Stakes
The $300,000 Pimlico Special is back in the Pimlico meet after being discounted back in 2008, and in its return the race has earned a Grade 3 status to run over a distance of 1 3/16 miles, but the horses who are participating in the race clearly outdoes
the grade 3 status it has earned in its return.
Held at Pimlico Race Course on 18 May, 2012, the race has reeled in a deep field of 10 older horses, which comprises of Alternation, the winner of the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap this year.
Pin Oak Stable owned 4-year-old colt, Alternation is trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, and the colt in his 2 starts this season has stayed undefeated.
Bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud, Alternation kicked off his 2012 season with a win in the Essex Handicap at about 1 1/16 miles over the Oaklawn Park’s dirt course on 4 February, 2012, defeating Color Me Blue in second and Twice The Appeal in third, with
the winning time of 1 minute and 44.95 seconds.
The Distorted Humor colt then downed the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, stretching out n distance to 1 1/8 miles on 14 April, 2012, and defeating the likes of Ron The Greek and Yawanna Twist, who finished second and third respectively, while Alternation covered
the distance in 1 minute and 49.94 seconds.
Out of Seattle Slew mare Alternate, Alternation arrived at the Pimlico Race Course a week early, and has been training daily.
“There was plenty of time to get him a nice trip and do a little schooling here,” said trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel. “This looked like a good next step for him. We liked the distance and the type of race it is. It’s a race with a lot of tradition and history
and it will set him up nicely for the Stephen Foster,” a Grade 1 race on June 16 at Churchill Downs.
Alternation will be up against, Hymn Book, who won the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, along with the 1.2 million horse, Mission Impazible, while the 2011 Kentucky Derby runner up Nehro, has been also thrown in the mix.
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