วันเสาร์ที่ 19 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Alternation prevails at Pimlico Special

BALTIMORE -- Establishing himself as the leading older horse in the nation, Alternation swept past front-running Endorsement inside the final furlong, then held off the flying finish of Nehro to win Friday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special by a nose.

Ridden by Luis Quinonez and trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Alternation ran his record to 4-for-4 this year following three stakes victories at Oaklawn Park. Endorsement, the only horse in the field of nine racing without the anti-bleeding medication Lasix, held on for third.

A 5-year-old son of Distorted Humor, Alternation ran the 1 3/16-mile race in 57.60 seconds to pay $10.20. Nehro, who last year finished second in the Louisiana Derby, Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby, completed a $91.20 exacta.

Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith better hope Friday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico wasn’t a preview of today’s Preakness.

Riding Baffert’s Mamma Kimbo, the even-money favorite in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies going 1¹/ miles, Smith shook loose on the lead and set the pace to mid-stretch, when Mamma Kimbo tired and faded to finish fourth as In Lingerie, after stumbling at the start, rallied to win by 1 ¼ lengths under John Velazquez.

Disposablepleasure, like In Lingerie trained by Todd Pletcher, was along for second.

“That was a big effort to run 1-2 like that,” Pletcher said. “I’m pleasantly happy.”

With her final time a tepid 1:52.07, In Lingerie paid $9.80 keying a $61.80 exacta.

ed.fountaine@nypost.com

Alternation, Donnie Von Hemel, Luis Quinonez, Louisiana Derby, Arkansas Derby, Todd Pletcher, Pimlico Special, Kentucky Derby, Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, final furlong, Oaklawn Park, Endorsement

Nypost.com

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