Horse race
The Sands Point Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles on the turf track scheduled annually in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York . The event currently offers a purse of $200,000.
History
The event is named after Sands Point, New York , a village located at the northernmost tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula on the North Shore of Long Island .
The event was inaugurated on 23 June 1995 as the Sands Point Handicap and was run over the 1+ 1 ⁄16 mile distance with Perfect Arc ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey John R. Velazquez winning the event by five lengths over the odds-on favorite Miss Union Avenue in a time of 1:43.14.[ 1] Perfect Arc in 1995 was crowned New York State Horse of the Year. [ 2]
In 1997 the distance of the event was increased to 1+ 1 ⁄8 mile.[ 3]
In 1998 the conditions of the event were changed from a handicap to stakes allowance race.[ 4] That same year the event was classified as Grade III .[ 3]
In 2001 and 2003 the event was downgraded to a Listed event when it was raced on the main track due to inclement weather.[ 3]
In 2008 the event was upgraded to Grade II.[ 4]
In 2020 the distance of the event was decreased to one mile and the following year the distance was reverted to 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles.[ 3]
Records
Speed record:
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles: 1:46.65 – Auntie Mame (1997)
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles: 1:42.50 – Discreet Marq (2013)
Margins:
6 lengths – Tweedside (2001)
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a trainer :
Most wins by a jockey :
Winners
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Grade
Ref
At Aqueduct– Sands Point Stakes
2024
Spaliday
Manuel Franco
Chad C. Brown
Peter M. Brant
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.47
$200,000
II
[ 5]
2023
Eternal Hope (IRE )
Jamie Spencer
Charlie Appleby
Godolphin
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:53.56
$200,000
II
[ 6]
2022
Skims (GB)
John R. Velazquez
Claude R. McGaughey III
Andrew Rosen
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:51.14
$200,000
II
[ 7]
At Belmont Park
2021
Fluffy Socks
Joel Rosario
Chad C. Brown
Head of Plains Partners
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.48
$200,000
II
[ 8]
2020
Tamahere (FR )
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Chad C. Brown
Swift Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables & Wonder Stables
1 mile
1:35.21
$150,000
II
[ 9]
2019
New and Improved
Joel Rosario
Chad C. Brown
Klaravich Stables
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.44
$203,200
II
[ 10]
2018
Californiagoldrush
Flavien Prat
Neil D. Drysdale
Alice Bamford
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:54.06
$400,000
II
[ 11]
2017
Uni (GB)
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Chad C. Brown
Michael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.97
$400,000
II
[ 12]
2016
On Leave
Jose L. Ortiz
Claude R. McGaughey III
Stuart Janney III
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.82
$500,000
II
[ 13]
2015
Sentiero Italia
Joel Rosario
Kiaran P. McLaughlin
Godolphin
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.83
$500,000
II
[ 14]
2014
Ball Dancing
Joe Bravo
Chad C. Brown
William S. Farish III & Steve F. Mooney
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:50.18
$500,000
II
[ 15]
2013
Discreet Marq
Jose Lezcano
Christophe Clement
Patricia A. Generazio
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.50
$200,000
II
[ 16]
2012
Better Lucky
Eddie Castro
Thomas Albertrani
Darley Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.75
$200,000
II
[ 17]
2011
Winter Memories
Jose Lezcano
James J. Toner
Phillips Racing Partnership
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.61
$150,000
II
[ 18]
2010
Check the Label
Ramon A. Dominguez
H. Graham Motion
Brereton C. Jones
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.16
$150,000
II
[ 19]
2009
Gozzip Girl
Kent J. Desormeaux
Thomas Albertrani
Farnsworth Stables
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:51.24
$150,000
II
[ 20]
2008
Raw Silk
Alan Garcia
Thomas Albertrani
Darley Stable
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.46
$150,000
II
[ 21]
2007
Bit of Whimsy
Edgar S. Prado
Barclay Tagg
Virginia Kraft Payson
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.53
$109,000
III
Dead heat [ 22]
Rutherienne
Garrett K. Gomez
Christophe Clement
Joyce Young
2006
Wait A While
Garrett K. Gomez
Todd A. Pletcher
Arindel Farm
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:49.25
$104,200
III
Off turf [ 23]
2005
Melhor Ainda
John R. Velazquez
Robert J. Frankel
T N T Stud
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.50
$111,200
III
[ 24]
2004
Mambo Slew
Edgar S. Prado
Patrick L. Biancone
Frank Manganaro
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.24
$114,800
III
[ 25]
2003
Savedbythelight
Richard Migliore
Richard A. Violette Jr.
Earle I. Mack
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:49.18
$114,600
Listed
Off turf [ 26]
2002
Riskaverse
Robbie Davis
Patrick J. Kelly
Fox Ridge Farm Inc.
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:51.63
$116,100
III
[ 27]
2001
Tweedside
Richard Migliore
Todd A. Pletcher
Eugene & Laura Melnyk
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:50.43
$107,800
Listed
Off turf [ 28]
2000
Gaviola
Jerry D. Bailey
William H. Turner Jr.
Twilite Farms
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.77
$111,300
III
[ 29]
1999
Perfect Sting
Pat Day
Joe Orseno
Stronach Stable
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:46.99
$108,600
III
[ 30]
1998
Recording
Jorge F. Chavez
Jonathan E. Sheppard
Augustin Stable
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.93
$116,000
III
[ 31]
Sands Point Handicap
1997
Auntie Mame
Jerry D. Bailey
Angel A. Penna Jr.
Lazy F Ranch
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:46.65
$111,200
Listed
[ 32]
1996
Merit Wings
Robbie Davis
Thomas J. Skiffington
James W. Phillips
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.83
$87,613
Listed
[ 33]
1995
Perfect Arc
John R. Velazquez
Angel A. Penna Jr.
Brazil Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.14
$82,326
Listed
[ 1]
See also
List of American and Canadian Graded races
References