The 2026 American stakes schedule started at Gulfstream Park Jan. 1 with the $150,000 Cash Run Stakes, and if the results were any indication, then racing fans and horseplayers are in for an exciting year. Haute Diva, a 3-year-old homebred filly for JSM Equine, pulled off a closing 14-1 upset in the 1-mile event.
Shuffled back to last in the early stages, jockey David Egan relaxed the filly off a moderate tempo of :24.93 and :48.48. On the lead was the odds-on favorite Secane, who appeared to be coasting around the far turn. In pursuit was Nycon, a promising filly exiting her maiden victory.
It appeared those two would decide it in the stretch, but Egan kept moving forward and crashed the party as they turned for home. Holding the advantage of being on the outside, she wore down those rivals for a neck triumph over Nycon, who was another neck clear of Secane.
Completing the mile in 1:39.94, she paid $31.60.
After taking four starts at Gulfstream to break her maiden—which occurred on the grass—trainer Patrick Biancone sent Haute Diva to Keeneland to contest the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) in October. She was well beaten that day in sixth, but returned to the grass two months later to run a solid second in allowance company when beaten just a neck over a mile. Biancone said that the turf races were purely to give her more distance in her races.
"She's a very talented filly. We've had her for a long time, and we know that," Biancone told Gulfstream publicity. "The problem that she had is that she was very difficult at the track, difficult to saddle, difficult going to the start. She got better gradually by running and learning."
Next up for the filly will be the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail, as Biancone mentioned the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) as the next target with an eye on the March 28 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
WinStar Farm's Constitution , who stands this year for a $110,000 fee, had the honor of being the first stakes-winning sire of 2026.
Video: Fasig-Tipton Cash Run S. (BT)
Alpyland Continues Win Streak in Dania Beach
The year also started well for Spendthrift Farm's Vekoma , who will stand for $100,000, as his 3-year-old son Alpyland extended his win streak to three in the $150,000 Dania Beach Stakes.
The win capped a three-win day to start the year at Gulfstream for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, who then added a victory in Oaklawn Park's Oaklawn Sports Overnight Stakes with Nerazurri just minutes later.
Fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez was aboard the D. J. Stable-owned Alpyland and sat a perfect stalking trip in third as favored Honey Dutch raced off to set a :22.71 and :44.79 pace. When the field behind him began to move forward on the turn, Velazquez let his horse loose and drew alongside the favorite. Honey Dutch held tough in the lane, but Alpyland had the upper hand in the final sixteenth and drew away to a 1 1/2-length win. Stopping the clock in 1:31.89 for a mile over the firm turf, he paid $9.80 to win. Zeppelin was third.
After two defeats on dirt to start his career, the bay colt has come alive on the grass as he continued his win streak.
"This colt is improving mentally and physically each month. He's going to be one of the best-looking colts we have in the barn when all is said and done," D. J. Stable's Jon Green told BloodHorse.
Through six starts, Alpyland has yet to have the same rider in the saddle. Green praised Velazquez for his "masterful riding" despite having never been aboard the colt.
"He let Alpyland rate off the speed and pushed him to get the jump on Knoty Knicks into the turn," Green said. "Those two decisions made it an easier race to win. There's a reason why he's a Hall of Famer; he put on a racing clinic in this stakes."
Green said the next start for Alpyland will likely be either the $175,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes Jan. 31 or the $175,000 Colonel Liam Stakes Feb. 28—both races at Gulfstream—with the major targets being graded races in Kentucky in the spring.
