Alternation Prevails in Governor's Cup Duel

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Photo: Dustin Orona Photography

Alternation wins the Governors Cup.

Pin Oak Stable's Alternation became a millionaire with a victory in the $200,000 Governor's Cup at Remington Park in Oklahoma Aug. 11, but he had to work for it.

Alternation and Zayat Stables' Prayer for Relief, both 4-year-olds, dueled for much of the 1 1/8 miles. Prayer for Relief briefly had a half-length lead at the three-quarter call, but Alternation fought back to narrow lead on the far turn.

Alternation, ridden by Luis Quinonez, was in front by a head in mid-stretch, and at the wire, the margin of victory was a nose over Prayer for Relief and Mark Guidry.

Fractions for the Governor's Cup, run on a fast track, were :24.13, :48.17, 1:12.87, and 1:37.20. The final time was 1:49.27.

Alternation, by Distorted Humor  , won his fifth stakes of the year from six attempts for trainer Donnie Von Hemel.

"I thought it was a tremendous effort tonight," Von Hemel said. "We gave six pounds to (Prayer for Relief). It was a big effort by both horses. To go the last eighth of a mile in 12 seconds flat, that's racehorse right there."

Homebred Alternation, who paid $3.20 and $2.10 as the favorite in the five-horse field, earned $120,000 for the Governor's Cup victory and now has $1,032,727 in earnings. Prayer for Relief was worth $2.20. There was no show wagering. Get in Da House finished 6 1/4 lengths back in third, followed by Dreaminofthewin and Stachys.

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