Alternation, Prayer for Relief in Remington rubber match

Alternation, who saw a four-stakes win streak snap in the Grade 1 Stephen

Foster Handicap June 16, returns to action for owner-breeder Pin Oak Stable and

trainer Donnie Von Hemel in Saturday's $200,000

Governor's Cup

at Remington Park. The son of Distorted Humor figures to be a prohibitive

favorite against four rivals going 1 1/8 miles.

Kick-starting his campaign with three straight wins at Oaklawn -- in the

Essex Handicap, Grade 3 Razorback Handicap and Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, the

latter over divisional heavyweight Ron the Greek -- Alternation next traveled to

Baltimore for the Grade 3 Pimlico Special. A brave winner of that 1 3/16-mile

test by a nose, he was a cold 7-1 on the tote board when reappearing in the

Stephen Foster. The less than enthusiastic response from bettors was ultimately

proved right as Alternation finished a non-threatening fifth behind old rival

Ron the Greek.

Hero of the Grade 2 Peter Pan last season, Alternation has shown much more

consistency since adding blinkers last fall. He wore them for the first time in

his most recent visit to Remington for last October's Oklahoma Derby, which he

lost by a head to Redeemed. Regular rider Luis Quinonez will be back in the

saddle for the Governor's Cup.

The most serious threat to Alternation, on paper at least, is Prayer for

Relief. The Zayat Stables charge captured the Grade 2 Super Derby, Grade 2 West

Virginia Derby and Grade 3 Iowa Derby last season, but has subsequently dropped

eight starts since the Super Derby last September. Most recently sixth in the

Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, he previously placed in four Grade 2 events in

Southern California this term.

Prayer for Relief and Alternation met twice in 2011. Alternation finished

fourth, four lengths behind his rival, in the Super Derby, but finished one

position ahead of Prayer for Relief, by three parts of a length, in the Oklahoma

Derby.

The field is completed by the Louisiana-bred Get in Da House, who placed in a

pair of Grade 3s at Lone Star in the spring; multiple stakes winner Stachys, who

invades from Canterbury; and multiple Grade 3-placed Dreaminofthewin.

A competitive field of eight will line up for the $100,000

David M.

Vance Sprint going six furlongs, with Apprehender, Solar Charge, Joe

Hollywood, Alsvid and Okie Ride all likely to garner wagering support.

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