Alpyland looks for fifth '26 stakes win in G2 Secretariat * The Racing Biz

Alpyland looks for fifth ’26 stakes win in G2 Secretariat

Has won two straight, one graded

Press Release
July 27, 2026

Fresh off consecutive stakes victories, DJ Stable’s Alpyland will put his momentum on the line as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes on Festival of Racing Day Saturday, Aug. 1 at Colonial Downs. Alpyland drew the outside post in the field of nine 3-year-olds for the 1 1/16-mile turf test.

Scheduled as Race 9, the Secretariat is one of three graded turf stakes on Saturday’s 12-race Festival of Racing card. It joins the Grade 1 Arlington Million and the Grade 2 Beverly D. on an eight-stakes program worth $2.6 million.

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Trained by Mark Casse, Alpyland enters as the clear horse to beat after back-to-back victories in the American Derby at Churchill Downs and the Penn Mile (G3). In the American Derby, he pressed the pace before taking over entering the stretch and drawing away by 3½ lengths while earning a career-best 91 Brisnet Speed rating. The Vekoma gelding also captured the Columbia Stakes earlier this season and owns four wins from six starts as a sophomore. Javier Castellano retains the mount.

*Alpyland surged to a dominant score in the Grade 3 Penn Mile. Photo by Bill Denver/Equi-Photo.*

Alpyland will face a competitive cast that includes multiple stakes winners, two horses riding two-race winning streaks and several lightly raced colts with upside.

Chief among the challengers is Supercharger, the 7-2 second choice trained by Cherie DeVaux. The Constitution colt, owned by CRK Stable, has won his last two starts, rallying from well back to break his maiden before following with a first-level allowance victory at Churchill Downs, beating older horses in both wins. Manny Franco gets the call.

Conducted returns from a nine-month layoff for new trainer Jose D’Angelo after winning two straight California turf races last fall, including the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Del Mar. He led at every call in both victories and will be ridden by Paco Lopez.

Grade 2-placed Turf Star, trained by Graham Motion, drew the rail after winning the James W. Murphy Stakes at Laurel Park on the Preakness Stakes undercard before taking on Grade 1 company in the Belmont Derby, finishing 10th but beaten only 5¼ lengths. Jorge Ruiz has the mount.

With more than $900,000 in career earnings, Street Beast brings the field’s richest bankroll after winning last year’s Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile and finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). He’ll look to rebound from an 11th-place finish in the American Turf (G1).

Rounding out the field are Fuzzbuster, a maiden winner over a sloppy Churchill Downs track who makes his graded stakes debut after finishing second in his lone turf start; Infiltrate, a two-time dirt winner from Brendan Walsh’s barn who makes his turf debut; Redland Rebels, runner-up in Gulfstream Park’s Kitten’s Joy Stakes earlier this season; and Vino Solo, who steps up after competing in allowance company.

SECRETARIAT STAKES ENTRIES