The Columbia Stakes

Purse $125.000 – For Three Year Olds

One Mile – Turf

Tampa Bay Downs – March 7, 2026

On the undercard of Tampa Bay Derby day, the 10th running of The Columbia Stakes once again offers a launching pad for developing turf standouts. For 4 years in a row now, the winners of this race have gone on to have success in graded stakes company. Nakamura Stables will be represented by three runners as the stable searches for its first win in the race. It’s worth noting among this year’s field, only New Yorks Finest, trained by Big Jd Racing, comes in with a prior stakes victory in The Bongard Stakes. So, with this being full of allowance winners, who will take the step forward? Let’s take a look at this year’s edition of The Columbia Stakes:              

1. The Pamplemousse – (Nakamura Stables, A A. Gallardo) Bought at auction for $37.810, this gelding by Cheveley Park comes in this race off a victory in an allowance at Fair Grounds. Although it was a sprint, The Pamplemousse has two route races under his belt. Nakamura Stables removed Bute and added a shadow role after acquiring this guy. He broke his maiden at Woodbine, going one mile against State Breds and two starts later failed to menace the field at Aqueduct. Looking at confirmation and past performances, I feel that this horse might run his best around one turn.

2. First Latte – (Riggins Racing, G. Maldonado) First Latte enters this race off a trio of strong turf efforts. Following his first two starts on the dirt, Riggins Racing made a series of major changes, removing the blinkers, gelding the colt, and giving him a try on the turf. This proved to be a good move considering he blew the field out by three lengths going gate to wire. His last race was also really impressive, powering away from allowance runners by two lengths. Something to keep in mind is a shadow roll will be added for this race. Being drawn down to the inside, I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy goes gate to wire.

3. Predicted – (D J C Racing Stables, P. Morales) Won his first race in the maiden claiming ranks but has improved to an allowance win in his last start. It was a perfect trip sitting off the pace and eventually found room on the rail in the final furlong to win by a nose. His best numbers have been from sprinting, so he will need to take a big step forward to be competitive with this group. The workouts aren’t particularly impressive and judging from his one and only route race he will likely be a long shot in this field.

4. New Yorks Finest – (Big Jd Racing, S. Elliott) Definitely going to be one of the favorites as this three-year-old has the most stakes experience and is the highest earner with $167.460. Other than his last race, which was not on firm turf, he has been pretty consistent. As we talked about earlier, New Yorks Finest won the Bongard Stakes at Aqueduct back in September. On New Year’s Day, he ran a decent one-mile race on the grass at Gulfstream Park where he was outkicked late. Is a route of ground going to be where this New York bred shines the most? Probably not, but he sure brings a lot of class to this field.

5. Westerly Invasion – (Nakamura Stables, F H. Da Silva) One of three runners for Nakamura Stables. Westerly Invasion will be making his turf debut, and the only clues to his grass ability comes from a lone public turf workout. An interesting note is that his sire and dam were both turf winners and he is a first-time gelding. His recent dirt form has been a little spotty, recently getting ninth in the Sunland Derby. He ran second in the Springboard Mile, so I don’t blame the connections for trying to get on the Derby trail. If Westerly Invasion can get some turf influence from his parents, he might be one to watch. This is going to be my longshot play.

6. Contact Sport – (Nakamura Stables, A S. Worrie) Another entrant from Nakamura Stables, who I think might be a little overlooked. This gelding has really put together some nice races ever since he was gelded back in September. Contact Sport cleared the maiden condition in impressive fashion, exploding down the stretch winning by three lengths. That effort was followed up by a second place in a first- level allowance at Belterra Park, losing just by a nose. Both of those races were two turns on the grass, so he won’t have a problem with the distance.

7. Simple Man – (Aer Stables, B. Curtis) Scratched out of the Colonel Liam Stakes at Gulfstream Park last week. Simple Man has raced exclusively on dirt through four career starts and now makes his first attempt on the turf. This colt scored an impressive victory in an allowance race going a mile, drawing off to win by four lengths. That performance prompted connections to take a shot in the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where the result was a sixth-place finish. That effort may be forgiven somewhat, as the race came at a shorter distance and was not a fast dirt track. Simple Man still appears to have some upside, though questions remain as to whether the turf will bring out his best

8. Harbor Lights – (Dh Stable, G. Corrales) Claimed for $20.000 last month at Fair Grounds, and it was surprising to see that Dh Stable was the only tag. This gelding out of Lion Command has some adequate turf form over the last four races. His first turf start came in the Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, setting the pace and getting fourth. Harbor Lights then backed down into allowance company and produced finishes of second and fourth. However, he is coming off a win where he went wire to wire. Looks like the one to set the pace.

9. Royally Great – (La Canada Racehorses, S X. Bridgmohan) A homebred for La Canada Racehorses, Royally Great put together a three-race winning streak while progressing through the allowance ranks. His most recent effort in The Kittens Joy was a headscratcher after fading in the stretch to finish tenth. The tactics were definitely changed because he dictated the pace in all three of his wins. Recent workouts indicate he’s coming into the race in good form. The weather on Saturday will play a big part in what effort he’s going to put forward.

10. Montauciel – (Waldo, I. Castillo) Interestingly, the only colt in this field of three-year-olds. Only having 4 career starts, Montauciel has handled the turf well in prior starts. He notched his first victory at Del Mar, winning comfortably by a length. The connections then took a shot in the Eddie Logan Stakes, where he had a legit chance to win at the top of the stretch, but couldn’t close fast enough on the leaders. He didn’t like the soft ground last time out at Gulfstream Park, and with some bad weather in the forecast, firm turf will be preferred.

– AJM

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded