Alternation

First Foal for Alternation a Colt

• By Evan Hammonds
• Thursday, 11:55 AM
• Breeding, Kentucky

The first reported foal for the stallion Alternation was a colt foaled Jan. 20 at Jim and Pam Robinson's Brandywine Farm near Paris, Ky.

Keeneland Sale Still Outpacing 2013 Numbers

• By Glenye Cain Oakford
• November 13, 2014
• Sales, Kentucky

A $115,000 Unbridled's Song mare brought the top price Nov. 13 at Keeneland November's 10th session, which remained stable but saw declines that reflected buyers' continuing caution.

Donnie K. Von Hemel Logs 2,000th Victory

• By Jack Shinar
• August 10, 2014
• Racing, Midwest Region, Southwest Region

Trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel won the 2,000th race of his career on the evening of Aug. 9 with favored Storm Rush in the fifth race at Indiana Grand Race Course.

Alternation to Stand for $7,500 at Pin Oak

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• November 7, 2013
• Breeding, Kentucky

Josephine Abercrombie's Versailles, Ky.-based Pin Oak Stud announced that the 2014 stud fee for the recently retired multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Alternation will be $7,500 live foal, stands and nurses.

Millionaire Alternation to Stand at Pin Oak

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• October 1, 2013
• Breeding, Kentucky

Multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Alternation has been retired and will stand at owner Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, Ky., in 2014. A stud fee has yet to be announced.

Prayer for Relief Adds Governor's Cup Win

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• August 18, 2013
• Racing, Southwest Region

Favored Prayer for Relief turned the tables on his local nemesis Alternation and held off a determined run from Worldly by a head in the $175,000 Governor's Cup Stakes on the night of Aug. 17.

Alternation Remains in Training for Fall

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• May 22, 2013
• Racing, Kentucky

Pin Oak Stables' multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Alternation remains in light training at Churchill Downs with Donnie Von Hemel, according to a May 22 press release.

Fort Larned Set to Go for Oaklawn Handicap

• By Jack Shinar
• April 10, 2013
• Racing, Southwest Region

An unfortunate stumble at the start of the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) last month cost Fort Larned his seasonal debut, but the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner is back in the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II).

Cyber Secret Wins Razorback By Thin Margin

• By Evan Hammonds
• March 9, 2013
• Racing, Southwest Region

Charles J. Cella's Cyber Secret, a son of Broken Vow, edges pacesetter Golden Ron by a head in the March 9 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.

Alternation Begins New Campaign in Razorback

• By Jack Shinar
• March 6, 2013
• Racing, Southwest Region

Alternation drew the far outside post in a field of 10 for his attempt at a repeat victory in the $150,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) March 9 at Oaklawn Park.

Bigger, Better Oaklawn Meet Opens Jan. 11

• By Claire Novak
• January 11, 2013
• Racing, Southwest Region

Oaklawn Park's 2013 meet opens Jan. 11 with a scheduled record purse structure, new veterinary examination policies and new claiming rules, an injury database to aid commission vets, and an influx of new racing talent.

Pool Play's Gold Cup Tops Casse's Conquests

• By Claire Novak
• October 6, 2012
• Racing, Midwest Region

Pool Play won for the first time since suffering a tendon tear last year, and picked a good race to do it. The 7-year-old son of Silver Deputy took the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) at Hawthorne Oct. 6.

Alternation Returns in Hawthorne Gold Cup

• By Steve Haskin
• October 3, 2012
• Racing

Pin Oak Stable's homebred Alternation, winner of five of six starts this year, will make his first start in almost two months when he carries top weight in the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup.

Alternation Prevails in Governor's Cup Duel

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• August 13, 2012
• Racing, Southwest Region

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

Alternation Seeks Redemption at Remington

• By Claire Novak
• August 8, 2012
• Racing, Southwest Region

Alternation seeks redemption against a short field of four others in the $200,000 Governor's Cup Stakes at Remington Park Aug. 11, but Zayat Stables' speedy Prayer for Relief presents a challenge.

Classic Looks Wide Open at Halfway Point

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• August 7, 2012
• Breeders' Cup

If the first three Breeders' Cup Challenge races were any indication, the road to the 29th Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 3 at Santa Anita (NBC 8-9 p.m. ET) is going to be one fun ride.

Wise Dan, Alternation Top Stephen Foster

• By Claire Novak
• June 13, 2012
• Racing, Kentucky

The 31st running of the 1 1/8-mile event sets up as a faceoff between two of the country's top older horses--Pin Oak Stable's Alternation and Morton Fink's Wise Dan.

Alternation Edges Nehro in Pimlico Special

• By Evan Hammonds
• May 18, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

Pin Oak Stable's Alternation grabbed the lead inside the eighth pole and held off the late charge of Nehro to win the May 18 Pimlico Special (gr. III) by a nose. The son of Distorted Humor covered 1 3/16 miles in 1:57.60.

Pimlico Special Draws Solid Field in Return

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• May 14, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

The Pimlico Special (gr. III), returning to the Pimlico racing calendar after a three-year hiatus, has drawn a sold field of 10 handicap horses, headed by Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) winner Alternation.

Slideshow: Racing Festival of the South

• April 17, 2012
• Triple Crown

Images from Oaklawn Park's 2012 Racing Festival of the South. View Slideshow

Arkansas Lover Alternation Takes Oaklawn 'Cap

• By Jack Shinar
• April 14, 2012
• Racing, Southwest Region

Alternation shocked a strong field in the $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 14 at Oaklawn Park, leading all the way for his third consecutive stakes win of the meet.

Grade I Winners Return in Oaklawn Handicap

• By Jack Shinar
• April 11, 2012
• Racing, Southwest Region

Recent grade I winners Hymn Book and Ron the Greek head a strong field of eight for the $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 14.

Havre de Grace Tops 'Racing Festival' Noms

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• April 4, 2012
• Racing, Midwest Region

Reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace tops the list of horses nominated to the stakes extravaganza that, along with the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), comprise the "Racing Festival of the South" at Oaklawn Park April 11-14.

Alternation Steals Razorback With Sharp Ride

• By Jack Shinar
• March 10, 2012
• Racing, Southwest Region

Alternation was allowed to take the lead heading into the first turn and never relinquished it, defeating 11-10 favorite Tapizar in the $125,000 Razorback Stakes (gr. III) March 10 at Oaklawn Park.

Oaklawn Star Win Willy Returns for Razorback

• By Jack Shinar
• March 8, 2012
• Racing, Southwest Region

Win Willy is set for his first start since winning last year's Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II), returning to the Hot Springs, Ark., track for the $125,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) March 10.

Alternation Impressive in Essex Handicap

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• February 4, 2012
• Racing, Southwest Region

Pin Oak Stable's Alternation earned the Oaklawn stakes victory that eluded him last year when he authoritatively captured the $100,000 Essex Handicap Feb. 4.

Alternation Back at Oaklawn in Essex Handicap

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• February 3, 2012
• Racing, Midwest Region

Pin Oak Stud's regally bred son of Distorted Humor, now 4, returns to Oaklawn ready to redeem himself in the $100,000 Essex Handicap where he was installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite and is the 118-pound high weight.

Gritty Redeemed Lassoes Oklahoma Derby

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• October 16, 2011
• Racing, Southwest Region

Redeemed notched his first victory in an added-money event, getting up in the final strides to take the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park Oct. 16.

Prayer for Relief Sets Sights on OK Derby

• By Jason Shandler
• October 13, 2011
• Racing, Midwest Region

Perfect in four starts this year, Zayat Stables' Prayer for Relief will try to pick off another lucrative stakes purse Oct. 16 when he leads a field of 12 in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

THS: Super Derby 2011

• September 10, 2011

Jason, Tom and Evan from TwinSpires.com handicap the Super Derby from Louisiana Downs and the Kentucky Cup Turf S. at Kentucky Downs. watch video

Shippers Headline Well-Rounded Super Derby

• By Jason Shandler
• September 7, 2011
• Racing, Southwest Region

Led by grade II winners Alternation and Prayer for Relief, a well-rounded field of nine was drawn for $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) Sept. 10 at Louisiana Downs.

Stay Thirsty Dominates Jim Dandy

• By Jason Shandler
• July 30, 2011
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region

Stay Thirsty finally grabbed his breakthrough win July 30 at Saratoga when he turned in a dominating performance in the $500,000 Jim Dandy (gr. II).

Alternation, Dominus Headline Jim Dandy

• By Jason Shandler
• July 27, 2011
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region

Alternation leads a field of seven in the Jim Dandy (gr. II) and will face the rapidly improving Dominus as well as Belmont Stakes (gr. I) second and third-place finishers Stay Thirsty and Brilliant Speed.

Alternation to Skip Belmont Stakes

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• May 29, 2011
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

Pin Oak Stable's homebred Alternation, winner of the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont May 14, is no longer under consideration for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), trainer Donnie Von Hemel announced May 29.

Alternation Finds His Way in Peter Pan

• By Jason Shandler
• May 14, 2011
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

After a frustrating couple of months, Pin Oak Stable's homebred Alternation redeemed himself with a hard-fought win in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) May 14 at Belmont Park.

THS: Peter Pan Stakes 2011

• May 12, 2011
• Racing, Triple Crown

Jason, Tom and Evan from Twinspires.com reflect on the Kentucky Derby and handicap the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. Watch Video

2011 Peter Pan - Predict the Order of Finish

• May 11, 2011

Who will win the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II), and who will finish last? Will Joe Vann produce a Bold Deed, and say Adios Charlie? Or is it time for a Tap Attack from Beer Meister? Predict the Order

Joe Vann, Adios Charlie Top Peter Pan

• By Jason Shandler
• May 11, 2011
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

Illinois Derby (gr. III) winner Joe Vann and Jerome (gr. II) winner Adios Charlie lead a field of 11 for the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II), which returns to Belmont Park May 14 after a one-year hiatus.

The Factor, 7-5, Facing 12 in Arkansas Derby

• By Jack Shinar
• April 13, 2011
• Triple Crown, Southwest Region

The Factor has been installed as the solid 7-5 favorite in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) as 13 3-year-olds were entered for the $1 million race April 16.

Arkansas Derby - Predict the Order of Finish

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• April 13, 2011

Will The Factor reign again? It is rebound time for Brethren? Will Elite Alex break through? Predict the Order

Alternation Still Possible for Arkansas Derby

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• April 2, 2011
• Triple Crown, Southwest Region

Pin Oak Stable's Alternation pleased his connections April 2 with an under-control workout at Oaklawn Park as the 3-year-old colt attempts to prove his meltdown in the gate of the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) is behind him.

Rebel: Going for the Gusto

• By Jason Shandler
• March 17, 2011

J P's Gusto tries to take down The Factor in crowded Rebel Stakes. Read Blog

The Factor Headlines Crowded Rebel Stakes

• By Jason Shandler
• March 17, 2011
• Triple Crown, Southwest Region

The Factor ships in from California to take on a dozen rivals in a wide-open edition of the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park.

Overflow Field Expected for Rebel

• By Jason Shandler
• March 15, 2011
• Triple Crown, Southeast Region

A large field, led by California shipper The Factor and Southwest (gr. III) winner Archarcharch, is expected for the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 19 at Oaklawn Park.

Von Hemel Smiling After Caleb's Posse Drill

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• March 12, 2011
• Triple Crown, Southwest Region

Caleb's Posse, winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes in January, breezed five furlongs March 12 at Oaklawn Park for regular jockey Eddie Razo Jr. in his final tune-up ahead the upcoming $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II).

Ky. Derby Trail: Derby Material

• By Steve Haskin
• March 9, 2011

This is not about who is going to win the Kentucky Derby, as much as who so far has the look of a Derby winner--who is on track to peak on Derby Day, who looks eager to do more than they already have. Read Blog

Rebel Contenders Show Up on Oaklawn Work Tab

• March 6, 2011
• Triple Crown, Southwest Region

With just under two weeks until the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II), several leading contenders based at Oaklawn Park posted workouts March 6.

Rebel Likely Next for Top Southwest Finishers

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• February 23, 2011
• Triple Crown, Southwest Region

Two days after a rough running of the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park on Presidents' Day, connections for the top four finishers are making tentative plans to join the next dance in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II).

J P's Gusto, Other Southwest Contenders Work

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• February 14, 2011
• Triple Crown, Midwest Region

The track at Oaklawn Park was busy Feb. 14, with some of the top contenders for the Feb. 21, $250,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) turning in their final workouts.

Ky. Derby Trail: Leave Training to Trainers

• By Steve Haskin
• February 8, 2011

Over the past decade or so, racing has seen a new breed of owner enter the sport, many with a corporate philosophy. Read Blog