Alternation kicks off his new campaign with a victory in the Essex Handicap
The 4-year-old colt, Alternation, started his 2011 campaign at Oaklawn Park, with a couple of victories in an allowance race and an allowance/optional claimer, and then sent as the leading contender in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, where he failed to make an impact as he finished fifth on the day.
Alternation kicked off his 2012 campaign at the same venue, but this time in a race that eluded him last year.
However, he kept his powder dry for the $100,000 Essex Handicap, shown by his authoritative display against six other 4-year-old and above males on 4 February, 2012, at about 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
Donnie Von Hemel trained son of Distorted Humor, out of mare Alternate by Seattle Slew, Alternation showed his true potential by winning the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes last year at Belmont Park at about 1 1/8 mile on dirt.
In the Essex Handicap, Alternation was sent as the 6 to 5 favourtie, broke a bit washy and allowed the pace to go early, but jockey Louis Quinonez didn’t panic as he steadied Alternation, and took him four wide.
Alternation was kept honest to his task by his rider, and the colt advanced after five furlongs. He overhauled his opponents in the stretch and shook clear to outrun the eventual runner up, Color Me Blue, who in the end was never a threat to the winner.
The third place finisher, Twice the Appeal was held off in the beginning as he stalked the leaders with an intent to outrun them, but he couldn’t offer much resistance to the top two in the final drive, as they lasted for the show.
The Pin Oak Stable owned Kentucky bred, Alternation in the end drove clear of his opponents to down the 1 1/16 mile distance in 1 minute and 44 4/5 seconds, over the Oaklawn Park’s fast track.
“This was the kind of performance that makes you start dreaming a bit,” said winning trainer, Donnie Von Hemel.
“It’s a great start to the year for him, and I’d think we’d love to participate in the Oaklawn Handicap with him.”
Alternation was coming off a second place finish in the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, prior to the win in the Essex Handicap.
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