The Sands Point Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of 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 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. Perfect Arc in 1995 was crowned New York State Horse of the Year.
In 1997 the distance of the event was increased to mile.
In 1998 the conditions of the event were changed from a handicap to stakes allowance race. That same year the event was classified as Grade III.
In 2001 and 2003 the event was downgraded to a Listed event when it was raced on the main track due to inclement weather.
In 2008 the event was upgraded to Grade II.
In 2020 the distance of the event was decreased to one mile and the following year the distance was reverted to miles.
In 2026 the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association downgraded the event to Grade III.
Records
Speed record: miles: 1:46.65 – Auntie Mame (1997) miles: 1:42.50 – Discreet Marq (2013)
Margins: 6 lengths – Tweedside (2001)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Darley Stable (2008, 2012) 2 – Head Of Plains Partners (2017, 2021) 2 – Godolphin (2015, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Chad C. Brown (2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Joel Rosario (2015, 2019, 2021) 3 – John R. Velazquez (1995, 2005, 2022)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Aqueduct– Sands Point Stakes2025Ready for CandyRicardo Santana Jr.Phillip AntonacciLindy Farms miles1:49.44$200,000II2024Spaliday Manuel FrancoChad C. BrownPeter M. Brant miles1:47.47$200,000II2023Jamie SpencerCharlie ApplebyGodolphin miles1:53.56$200,000II2022Skims (GB)John R. VelazquezClaude R. McGaughey IIIAndrew Rosen miles1:51.14$200,000IIAt Belmont Park2021Fluffy SocksJoel RosarioChad C. BrownHead of Plains Partners miles1:48.48$200,000II2020Tamahere (FR) Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownSwift Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables & Wonder Stables1 mile1:35.21$150,000II2019 Joel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables miles1:48.44$203,200II2018CaliforniagoldrushFlavien PratNeil D. DrysdaleAlice Bamford miles1:54.06$400,000II2017Uni (GB)Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownMichael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable miles1:48.97$400,000II2016On LeaveJose L. OrtizStuart Janney III miles1:47.82$500,000II2015Sentiero ItaliaJoel RosarioKiaran P. McLaughlinGodolphin miles1:48.83$500,000II2014Ball DancingJoe BravoChad C. BrownWilliam S. Farish III & Steve F. Mooney miles1:50.18$500,000II2013Discreet MarqJose LezcanoChristophe ClementPatricia A. Generazio miles1:42.50$200,000II2012Better LuckyEddie CastroThomas AlbertraniDarley Stable miles1:42.75$200,000II2011Winter MemoriesJose LezcanoJames J. TonerPhillips Racing Partnership miles1:42.61$150,000II2010Check the LabelH. Graham MotionBrereton C. Jones miles1:47.16$150,000II2009Gozzip GirlKent J. DesormeauxThomas AlbertraniFarnsworth Stables miles1:51.24$150,000II2008Raw SilkAlan GarciaThomas AlbertraniDarley Stable miles1:48.46$150,000II2007Bit of WhimsyEdgar S. PradoBarclay TaggVirginia Kraft Payson miles1:48.53$109,000IIIRutherienneGarrett K. GomezChristophe ClementJoyce Young2006Wait A WhileGarrett K. GomezTodd A. PletcherArindel Farm miles1:49.25$104,200III2005Melhor AindaJohn R. VelazquezRobert J. FrankelT N T Stud miles1:47.50$111,200III2004Mambo SlewEdgar S. PradoPatrick L. BianconeFrank Manganaro miles1:47.24$114,800III2003SavedbythelightRichard MiglioreRichard A. Violette Jr.Earle I. Mack miles1:49.18$114,600 Listed 2002RiskaverseRobbie DavisPatrick J. KellyFox Ridge Farm Inc. miles1:51.63$116,100III2001TweedsideRichard MiglioreTodd A. PletcherEugene & Laura Melnyk miles1:50.43$107,800Listed 2000GaviolaJerry D. BaileyWilliam H. Turner Jr.Twilite Farms miles1:47.77$111,300III1999Perfect StingPat DayJoe OrsenoStronach Stable miles1:46.99$108,600III1998RecordingJorge F. ChavezJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stable miles1:48.93$116,000IIISands Point Handicap1997Auntie MameJerry D. BaileyAngel A. Penna Jr.Lazy F Ranch miles1:46.65$111,200Listed 1996Merit WingsRobbie DavisThomas J. SkiffingtonJames W. Phillips miles1:45.83$87,613Listed 1995Perfect ArcJohn R. VelazquezAngel A. Penna Jr.Brazil Stables miles1:43.14$82,326Listed
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References