Alternation Set to Start Season in Essex

With a sterling pedigree Pin Oak Stable’s Alternation was poised to be a leading Arkansas Derby (G1)   contender last year, but poise eluded him at a crucial time when he had a mental meltdown just before the Rebel Stakes (G2). He eventually put that behind him with big performances around the country, and now he’s back at Oaklawn to show how much he’s grown up in Saturday’s $100,000 Essex Handicap.

Trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, the 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor has been working continuously in Hot Springs this winter including a final half-mile tune-up breeze Wednesday morning in 49 2/5.

“I wanted him to get out and do a little something,” said Von Hemel. “At this point you’re either fit enough or you’re not, so this was about making sure his mind was in the right place. I wanted him to get a little  energy off so he wouldn’t be so keyed up Saturday.”

Ever since last year’s Rebel, Von Hemel has concentrated on making sure Alternation’s mind was in the right place. The colt schooled both days last weekend and has another paddock visit scheduled for Thursday and a trip to the infield to school Friday. It was in the crowded infield last year where Alternation reacted poorly while saddling for the Rebel and his bad behavior led him to act up in the starting gate, shaking up jockey Luis Quinonez and forcing the stewards to scratch him.

Alternation was better behaved in the Arkansas Derby, but his trip was compromised when he started slowly,  but closed to finish fifth. The colt put it all together with a victory in the Peter Pan Stakes (G2) at    Belmont in May, when Von Hemel decided to point toward a summer campaign rather than rush to make the Belmont Stakes (G1). He had mixed success in his next two starts before closing out the campaign with a close second-place finish in the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in October.

“The Rebel was for sure the low point,” said Von Hemel. “Since then he’s improved a lot. He’s a lot better, although I think the Rebel will always be in the back of my mind, and the best way to eliminate it is with a lot of schooling.”

The fair weather this season has helped Von Hemel prepare for this kickoff.

“He’s a horse who likes to train and fortunately with the weather we’ve been able to keep going straight through the whole time,” he said. “He’s a big horse and I think he still has quite a bit of upside. Hopefully we can get it going right Saturday and see where it takes him.”