Alpyland, Sister Troienne try to extend streaks in separate turf stakes
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Alpyland and Sister Troienne will look to add to significant winning streaks Saturday when they run in $175,000 turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.
Alpyland, trained by Mark Casse, has reeled off three consecutive victories – the last two since he was gelded – and now stretches out to 1 1/16 miles in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes for males.
Sister Troienne, trained by Brian Lynch, seeks her fifth straight victory in the Sweetest Chant for fillies.
Casse felt Alpyland was a bit on the heavy side as a 2-year-old, so even after he won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race at Keeneland last Oct. 12, Casse brought him down to his farm in Ocala and gelded him before moving forward.
“We felt like he was running well, maybe not giving us everything he had,” Casse said. “We felt like he wasn’t focusing, so we gelded him.”
Alpyland has run twice at Gulfstream this meet, taking a first-level allowance by a neck and then the Dania Beach Stakes, both going one mile. Casse said the way Alpyland finished in the Dania Beach indicates he can get the additional distance of the Kitten’s Joy.
“I would have said previously that might be a question, but the way he ran the other day, I don’t think so,” Casse said. “I thought he was pretty impressive the last time.”
Turf Star, trained by Graham Motion, finished second to multiple stakes winner Final Score in the Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland last fall before finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Motion said he gave Turf Star a month off before starting him back in training to be ready for this spot.
“He’s done well, he’s a nice horse, it’s a nice family,” said Motion, noting that Turf Star is a half-brother to Daisy Flyer, who won the Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga last summer and was third, beaten a head at 87-1, in the Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream.
Lynch sends out Thousandsticks, a son of Twirling Candy, who has won his last two starts, both at Gulfstream. Those wins have come since jockey Mario Gutierrez got him involved in the race.
“He’s got a high cruising speed and he can still quicken again,” Lynch said. “He’s a big, strong colt that gives you a good feeling. He’s still developing.”
Glorious Boy, who dead-heated for win in the off-the-turf Pulpit Stakes, Redland Rebels, who makes his first start since winning his maiden here on turf last Aug. 3, Knoty Knicks, Chalky White, and Khozalite, complete the field.
Sweetest Chant
If Lynch was looking for a reason to keep Sister Troienne in the barn, he couldn’t find one. Thus, Sister Troienne will go for her fifth consecutive victory in the Sweetest Chant Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
Sister Troienne’s streak began in a maiden race at Churchill Downs in September and includes victories in the off-the-turf Wait a While Stakes at Gulfstream on Nov. 27 and the Ginger Brew Stakes on turf here on Jan. 3.
“You always wonder, are you squeezing on them a bit much going from 2 to 3? But this one seems to be thriving,” Lynch said. “She goes into the race as good as we’ve ever had her. Looking forward to getting over a bit of ground. I like the way everything sets up, she should run good again.”
Sister Troienne’s lone turf start at 1 1/16 miles resulted in a 3 1/2-length allowance win in an 11-horse field at Keeneland. Dame Laura, second in that race, recently came back to win an allowance at Turfway Park.
Most recently, Sister Troienne won the Ginger Brew Stakes here as easily as a 1-5 shot should.
Lynch also sends out Storm’s Wake, who finished third to her stablemate in the Ginger Brew last out after running sixth in the Our Dear Peggy Stakes last October in her first start at Gulfstream.
“First time at Gulfstream throw it out, she got there the day before the race and I just put a pencil through it,” Lynch said. “Last time, she got shuffled back to last into the first turn, got checked again, and I thought she ran well. I’m excited to see her run again.”
Day to Day finished second to Sister Troienne in the Wait a While, a race scheduled for the turf but moved to Tapeta. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Day to Day got sick after that race which forced her to miss the Ginger Brew Stakes.
“She’s back doing good now,” Joseph said. “She needs to improve but she’s going to run as good as she can.”
Joseph also entered Spirit Doll but said she is likely to scratch.
The white-hot Carlos David sends out One Sweet Girl, who brings a three-race winning streak into this race. She figures to be running late under Mario Vasquez.
Motion sends out Brat Pack, a daughter of Gun Runner out of the multiple stakes winner Ultra Brat. Brat Pack won a maiden race on Christmas Eve in her second career start.
“She won pretty nicely, I’ve always liked that mare and she’s out of a good family too,” said Motion, noting that Ultra Brat got beat a nose in the Grade 1 Diana.
Surprise Ending, a debut winner for Brendan Walsh, Aggressive Lime, Spicy Princess, My Lady Jbella, and Bert’s Knoty Girl complete the field.
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