Sands Point Stakes
SurfaceTurf
ClassGrade III
Horse raceSands Point Stakes
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1995
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Distance1 1⁄8 miles
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
Weight124 lbs. with allowances
PurseUS$200,000 (2021)

The Sands Point Stakes is a Grade III 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]

In 2026 the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association downgraded the event to Grade III.[5]

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

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
At Aqueduct– Sands Point Stakes
2025Ready for CandyRicardo Santana Jr.Phillip AntonacciLindy Farms1 1⁄8 miles1:49.44$200,000II[6]
2024SpalidayManuel FrancoChad C. BrownPeter M. Brant1 1⁄8 miles1:47.47$200,000II[7]
2023Eternal Hope (IRE)Jamie SpencerCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1 1⁄8 miles1:53.56$200,000II[8]
2022Skims (GB)John R. VelazquezClaude R. McGaughey IIIAndrew Rosen1 1⁄8 miles1:51.14$200,000II[9]
At Belmont Park
2021Fluffy SocksJoel RosarioChad C. BrownHead of Plains Partners1 1⁄8 miles1:48.48$200,000II[10]
2020Tamahere (FR)Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownSwift Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables & Wonder Stables1 mile1:35.21$150,000II[11]
2019New and ImprovedJoel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables1 1⁄8 miles1:48.44$203,200II[12]
2018CaliforniagoldrushFlavien PratNeil D. DrysdaleAlice Bamford1 1⁄8 miles1:54.06$400,000II[13]
2017Uni (GB)Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownMichael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable1 1⁄8 miles1:48.97$400,000II[14]
2016On LeaveJose L. OrtizClaude R. McGaughey IIIStuart Janney III1 1⁄8 miles1:47.82$500,000II[15]
2015Sentiero ItaliaJoel RosarioKiaran P. McLaughlinGodolphin1 1⁄8 miles1:48.83$500,000II[16]
2014Ball DancingJoe BravoChad C. BrownWilliam S. Farish III & Steve F. Mooney1 1⁄8 miles1:50.18$500,000II[17]
2013Discreet MarqJose LezcanoChristophe ClementPatricia A. Generazio1 1⁄16 miles1:42.50$200,000II[18]
2012Better LuckyEddie CastroThomas AlbertraniDarley Stable1 1⁄16 miles1:42.75$200,000II[19]
2011Winter MemoriesJose LezcanoJames J. TonerPhillips Racing Partnership1 1⁄16 miles1:42.61$150,000II[20]
2010Check the LabelRamon A. DominguezH. Graham MotionBrereton C. Jones1 1⁄8 miles1:47.16$150,000II[21]
2009Gozzip GirlKent J. DesormeauxThomas AlbertraniFarnsworth Stables1 1⁄8 miles1:51.24$150,000II[22]
2008Raw SilkAlan GarciaThomas AlbertraniDarley Stable1 1⁄8 miles1:48.46$150,000II[23]
2007Bit of WhimsyEdgar S. PradoBarclay TaggVirginia Kraft Payson1 1⁄8 miles1:48.53$109,000IIIDead heat[24]
RutherienneGarrett K. GomezChristophe ClementJoyce Young
2006Wait A WhileGarrett K. GomezTodd A. PletcherArindel Farm1 1⁄8 miles1:49.25$104,200IIIOff turf[25]
2005Melhor AindaJohn R. VelazquezRobert J. FrankelT N T Stud1 1⁄8 miles1:47.50$111,200III[26]
2004Mambo SlewEdgar S. PradoPatrick L. BianconeFrank Manganaro1 1⁄8 miles1:47.24$114,800III[27]
2003SavedbythelightRichard MiglioreRichard A. Violette Jr.Earle I. Mack1 1⁄8 miles1:49.18$114,600ListedOff turf[28]
2002RiskaverseRobbie DavisPatrick J. KellyFox Ridge Farm Inc.1 1⁄8 miles1:51.63$116,100III[29]
2001TweedsideRichard MiglioreTodd A. PletcherEugene & Laura Melnyk1 1⁄8 miles1:50.43$107,800ListedOff turf[30]
2000GaviolaJerry D. BaileyWilliam H. Turner Jr.Twilite Farms1 1⁄8 miles1:47.77$111,300III[31]
1999Perfect StingPat DayJoe OrsenoStronach Stable1 1⁄8 miles1:46.99$108,600III[32]
1998RecordingJorge F. ChavezJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stable1 1⁄8 miles1:48.93$116,000III[33]
Sands Point Handicap
1997Auntie MameJerry D. BaileyAngel A. Penna Jr.Lazy F Ranch1 1⁄8 miles1:46.65$111,200Listed[34]
1996Merit WingsRobbie DavisThomas J. SkiffingtonJames W. Phillips1 1⁄16 miles1:45.83$87,613Listed[35]
1995Perfect ArcJohn R. VelazquezAngel A. Penna Jr.Brazil Stables1 1⁄16 miles1:43.14$82,326Listed[1]

Legend:

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

  1. ^ "1995 Sands Point Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 23 June 1995. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Multiple NY-bred Champion Perfect Arc Dies at Age 28". New York Thoroughbred Breeders. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Sands Point Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  4. ^ "SANDS POINT STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  5. ^ "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2026". TOBA. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  6. ^ "2025 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 18 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  7. ^ "2024 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  8. ^ "2023 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 2)". Equibase. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  9. ^ "2022 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  10. ^ "2021 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. ^ "2020 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  12. ^ "2019 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  13. ^ "2018 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  14. ^ "2017 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  15. ^ "2016 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  16. ^ "2015 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  17. ^ "2014 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  18. ^ "2013 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  19. ^ "2012 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  20. ^ "2011 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  21. ^ "2010 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  22. ^ "2009 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  23. ^ "2008 Sands Point Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 May 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  24. ^ "2007 Sands Point Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  25. ^ "2006 Sands Point Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  26. ^ "2005 Sands Point Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 June 2005. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  27. ^ "2004 Sands Point Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 13 June 2004. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  28. ^ "2003 Sands Point Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 June 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  29. ^ "2002 Sands Point Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 June 2002. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  30. ^ "2001 Sands Point Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 17 June 2001. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  31. ^ "2000 Sands Point Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 June 2000. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  32. ^ "1999 Sands Point Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 June 1999. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  33. ^ "1998 Sands Point Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 21 June 1998. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  34. ^ "1997 Sands Point Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 June 1997. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  35. ^ "1996 Sands Point Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 June 1996. Retrieved 5 October 2020.