Casse makes the right call as Alpyland relishes the Tampa turf in Columbia
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OLDSMAR, Fla. – Though Alpyland had won two of three starts at Gulfstream Park this winter, trainer Mark Casse felt the Tampa Bay Downs turf course would be more to his liking.
Casse, as he has been most of this winter, was right.
Casse held Alpyland out of last weekend’s Colonel Liam Stakes at Gulfstream for Saturday’s $100,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf and the gelding delivered a two-length victory in the one-mile race.
Casse had said in the days leading up to the Columbia that he didn’t like Alpyland’s last race – a third-place finish in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes – and felt “there’s more room” at Tampa.
Ridden for the first time by Javier Castellano, Alpyland, the slight 9-5 favorite, stalked the pace of Knick’s Honor then followed Proton when that horse went for the lead entering the far turn. Alpyland took over from Proton turning for home and was never seriously threatened in the lane.
Proton, under John Velazquez, held second by a nose over late-running Knoty Knicks. Congressional, the second choice at 9/5, was fourth followed by A Million Dreams, Vino Solo, Knick’s Honor, and Mr Mo’s Magic. Beautiful War scratched.
Casse has won 12 stakes in the first 66 days of 2026, three of those wins coming at Tampa.
Alpyland, a gelding by Vekoma owned by D J Stables, is now 4 for 8 in his career but 3 for 3 at one mile. Two starts back he won the Dania Beach at Gulfstream before finishing third, beaten one length in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes on Jan. 31.
Castellano said the Columbia went exactly how he thought it would go and was happy his horse settled for him early on.
“The distance is perfect for the horse, he’s got plenty of speed but at the same time he settled beautiful,” Castellano said. “I like the way he kicked today and finished really strong.”
Alpyland covered the mile over good turf in 1:39.61 and returned $5.40.
Alpyland could be a candidate for the Grade 3, $600,000 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on April 3.
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