Sands Point Stakes

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.

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]

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)
• 2- Chad Brown (2014, 2017)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2017	Uni (GB)	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, et al.	1:48.97
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 J. 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