Alternation. Bedanken. Gold Medal Dancer. The horses are just a few of the Pin Oak Stud homebreds that won stakes across the Mid-South region and beyond for Josephine Abercrombie, the Texas native who has died at the age of 95. The horses mentioned were all trained by Donnie Von Hemel, who last week fondly remembered Abercrombie. The team won the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in 2012 with the millionaire Alternation, accounted for 10 stakes with multiple Grade 3 winner Bedanken, and won the Grade 2 Azeri in 2015 at Oaklawn with Gold Medal Dancer. “In life there are special people we cross paths with that change our lives,” Von Hemel said. “Parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, siblings, spouses, children, and friends, all have a chance to impact our lives. I have been fortunate enough to have role models and heroes from all these groups. Then there is a select category of people that don’t fit into any description. Josephine Abercrombie is one of those people. “She was a person who was willing to take a chance and give an opportunity to a young trainer early in his career. For this, I am forever in her debt. She was dynamic, demanding, and a dear friend. She made me a better person and a better horseman.” :: DRF Bets players get free Daily Racing Form Past Performances and up to 5% weekly cashback. Click to learn more. Other top homebreds Von Hemel trained for Abercrombie included See How She Runs, winner of both the Grade 1 Selene at Woodbine and Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn in 2002; Brownie Points, a Grade 3 winner of $951,230; and Euphony, who captured the Grade 3 Arlington Matron in 2009. “Horses are a huge part of my life,” Von Hemel said. “It was inspiring to work with equine athletes of the quality she cultivated. Pin Oak Stud left no stone unturned. All the best was provided by her and her staff. Each horse had an opportunity to be the best it could be. Josephine Abercrombie represented the best of the Thoroughbred industry.” Von Hemel is currently based at Oaklawn and also races at Remington Park and in Kentucky. Sweet Catomine foal debuts Invariably, who is out of the champion Sweet Catomine, is set to make his career debut in Sunday’s ninth race at Oaklawn Park. The maiden special weight is for 3-year-olds and up over six furlongs. Invariably is a 4-year-old son of Union Rags. Invariably has been working sharply for his debut for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. He went a half-mile in 46.60 seconds on Nov. 29 and five furlongs from the gate in 1:00 on Dec. 22. Both moves were at Oaklawn. * Louisiana Downs opens a 46-date meet for Quarter Horses on Monday. It runs through April 7. The meet will be the first under new owner Rubico Acquisition Corp., and Frank Kersh has been named the track's new general manager, according to a press release from Louisiana Downs.