Alternation being freshened in Kentucky, will race next year at age 5

Alternation, who won five races this year including the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and Grade 3 Pimlico Special, is being freshened at the Pin Oak Stable facilities of his owner, Josephine Abercrombie, in Kentucky and will return to racing next year at 5, the farm announced Tuesday. He is to return to the care of his trainer, Donnie Von Hemel, who winters at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Alternation swept Oaklawn’s series for older horses last meet, taking the $100,000 Essex, the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap, and the Oaklawn Handicap. He proceeded to win the Pimlico Special, and later in the season went over the $1 million mark in career earnings when he captured the $200,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park. He last raced on Oct. 6, finishing sixth in the Grade 2, $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup. Overall, Alternation has won 9 of 16 starts and $1,047,727.

“I feel this is an important time in racing to keep some of the familiar stars on the track,” said Abercrombie. “For that reason, and because I thoroughly enjoy the thrill of competition, I have decided to keep him in training and target some of the top races next year.”

Alternation is a son of Distorted Humor. In 2012 he went 5 for 7 and earned $702,723.