Sands Point Stakes

Sands Point Stakes

Grade II race
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1995
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Belmont Park at the NYRA
Race information
Distance	1 ^1⁄8 miles (9.0 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-old fillies
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$500,000 (since 2014)[1]

The Sands Point Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York although that can change. A Grade II event open to three-year-old fillies, it is contested on turf over a distance of 9 furlongs.

Inaugurated in 1995 as the Sands Point Handicap, the first two editions were contested at a mile and a sixteenth before being changed to a mile and an eighth in 1997. In 2011, the race was once more set at one and one sixteenth of a mile. In 2014 it changed back to  1 ¹⁄₈ mile.

Records

Speed record:

• 1:46.65 - Auntie Mame (1997) at  1 ¹⁄₈ miles
• 1:42.50 - Discreet Marq (2013) at  1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Darley Stable (2008, 2012)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 2 - John Velazquez (1995, 2005)
• 2 - Robbie Davis (1996, 2002)
• 2 - Jerry Bailey (1997, 2000)
• 2 - Richard Migliore (2001, 2003)
• 2 - Edgar Prado (2004, 2007)
• 2 - Garrett Gomez (2006, 2007)
• 2 - Jose Lezcano (2011, 2013)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - Thomas Albertrani (2008, 2009, 2012)
• 2 - Angel Penna, Jr. (1995, 1997)
• 2 - Todd A. Pletcher (2001, 2006)
• 2 - Christophe Clemente (2007, 2013)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2016	On Leave	Jose Ortiz	Claude R. McGaughey III	Stuart Janney III	1:47.82
2015	Sentiero Italia	Joel Rosario	Kiaran McLaughlin	Godolphin Racing	1:48.83
2014	Ball Dancing	Joe Bravo	Chad C. Brown	Farish/Mooney	1:50.18
2013	Discreet Marq	Jose Lezcano	Christophe Clement	Patricia A. Generazio	1:42.50
2012	Better Lucky	Eddie Castro	Thomas Albertrani	Darley Stable	1:42.75
2011	Winter Memories	Jose Lezcano	James Toner	Phillips Racing Partnership	1:42.61
2010	Check the Label	Ramon Dominguez	H. Graham Motion	Brereton C. Jones	1:47.16
2009	Gozzip Girl	Kent Desormeaux	Thomas Albertrani	Farnsworth Stables	1:51.24
2008	Raw Silk	Alan Garcia	Thomas Albertrani	Darley Stable	1:48.46
2007	Rutherienne †	Garrett Gomez	Christophe Clement	Virginia Kraft Payson	1:48.53
2007	Bit of Whimsy †	Edgar Prado	Barclay Tagg	Joyce Young	1:48.53
2006‡	Wait A While	Garrett Gomez	Todd A. Pletcher	Arindel Farm	1:49.25
2005	Melhor Ainda	John Velazquez	Robert J. Frankel	T N T Stud	1:47.50
2004	Mambo Slew	Edgar Prado	Patrick Biancone	Frank Manganaro	1:47.24
2003‡	Savedbythelight	Richard Migliore	Richard Violette, Jr.	Earle I. Mack	1:49.18
2002	Riskaverse	Robbie Davis	Patrick J. Kelly	Fox Ridge Farm Inc.	1:51.63
2001‡	Tweedside	Richard Migliore	Todd A. Pletcher	Eugene Melnyk	1:50.43
2000	Gaviola	Jerry Bailey	William H. Turner, Jr.	Twilite Farms	1:47.77
1999	Perfect Sting	Pat Day	Joseph Orseno	Stronach Stable	1:46.99
1998	Recording	Jorge Chavez	Jonathan E. Sheppard	Augustin Stable	1:48.93
1997	Auntie Mame	Jerry Bailey	Angel Penna, Jr.	Lazy F Ranch	1:46.65
1996	Merit Wings	Robbie Davis	Thomas J. Skiffington	James W. Phillips	1:45.83
1995	Perfect Arc	John Velazquez	Angel Penna, Jr.	Brazil Stables	1:43.14

• † There was a dead heat for the win in 2007.
• ‡ In 2006, the race was run off the turf, but retained its GIII status.
• ‡ In 2003 & 2001, the race was run off the turf and lost its GIII status.

References

1. "Sands Point Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 17 September 2016.

• Sands Point Stakes history at the NYRA
• New York Times - July 1, 1996 article on Merit Wings winning the Sands Point Handicap