Vekoma colt kicks off 2026 with Dania Beach S. victory

Alpyland had a sensational start to the new year when the 3-year-old Vekoma colt won the $175,000 Dania Beach S. Jan. 1 at Gulfstream Park.

A winner of his last two starts of 2025 as well, Alpyland got a good stalking trip in Thursday’s one-mile turf affair. He sat in third as Honey Dutch went through a quick half-mile of :44.79. Around the final turn, Alpyland closed the three-length gap down to under a length. Honey Dutch still had the lead with a furlong to go, but Alpyland was moving better and took command to win by 1 ½-lengths.

The final time of 1:31.89 over the firm turf was just two ticks off the track record.

Alpyland, who was unplaced in his first two starts, both on dirt, has now won three of four turf starts and has earned $196,896 for D. J. Stable LLC., who purchased the colt for $185,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton October sale. Alpyland was bred in Kentucky by Denis Villella.

Vekoma is also the sire of last year’s Dania Beach winner Mi Bago. Vekoma finished 2025 as the leading Second-Crop Sire by nearly every metric. His $12.5 million in progeny earnings was more than $4 million than any other sire, and his 15 stakes winners far outpaced his competition as well. Vekoma will stand this year for $100,000 S&N.