How to bet the 2026 Sands Point Stakes

An overflow field of 13 sophomore fillies will run 1 1/8 miles over the inner turf at Belmont Park on Friday in the $200,000 Sands Point (G3), one of a trio of black-type races on an excellent day of racing in the Empire State. 

Sands Point Wagers

• $10 exacta box 2-5 ($20)
• $1 trifecta key 5 with 2,3,4,7 ($12)
• 50-cent superfecta key 5 with 2,3,4,7 ($12)

European invader #5 Vauntingly will make her first run in the states for Stonestreet Stables, and I expect her to be a formidable foe in the affair under Antonio Fresu. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the bay daughter of Night of Thunder had won or placed in her first five outings of the season before going unplaced at York running 1 1/2 miles over soft ground most recently, and she will appreciate the cutback in distance on Friday. Her narrow defeat two back to a colt who ran a nice fourth in the Nashville Derby (G2) suggests she is a fine fit in this one in her stateside bow. 

#2 Bless Her has been consistently pretty good on the lawn in 2026 for conditioner Graham Motion and rates an obvious chance. The Twirling Candy three-year-old was a smart runner-up to a fine filly at Kentucky Downs in her latest venture and will surely be in the hunt with even slight improvement on Friday. She will stalk the pace with cover under the guidance of the stout Manny Franco. 

Chad Brown’s #7 Crossover Capital was a fast-closing third in the deep Winter Memories (G3) in her latest and will go second time off the short layoff on this occasion. The Zarak filly has improved her Brisnet Speed rating in each career assignment to date and will be doing her best work late with Prat in the stirrups. 

#3 Americathegreat has moved forward since transferring to grass racing and adding blinkers, and the Mark Casse charge will be a factor with further ascension in her local debut. The $1.2 million daughter of Curlin was strong late in a Woodbine allowance score and wouldn’t be a major shock with Javier Castellano on board. 

Lindy Farms’ #4 Queen of Hawaii ran well in the Winter Memories most recently and has exotics appeal from off the pace with Jorge Ruiz taking the reins. The Group 3 heroine endured a wide voyage in her initial run on the local green and will get a more sensible trip from a better post in this spot.