Sands Point

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Seven promising sophomore fillies will travel nine furlongs on the Belmont
inner turf in Saturday’s $150,000 Sands Point S. (G2). A trio of daughters of
leading sire Dynaformer all look legitimate in this field, but we’re looking
elsewhere for the win.

MAGICAL AFFAIR (Giant’s Causeway) has impressed a great deal since moving to
the lawn for Michael Matz. We loved the filly’s runner-up effort in the Edgewood
S. last out, where the chestnut overcame a rough beginning with a fine late
rally, nearly running down a clear Laragh (Tapit) while well clear of third. The
expensive Kentucky-bred romped in a pair of grass outings prior to that
encouraging stakes debut. With the lack of early speed in here, we’d like to see
the filly in the race early under Julien Leparoux.

Grade 3 grass heroine GOZZIP GIRL (Dynaformer) just missed when second in the
Ashland S. (G1) last out for Tom Albertrani, and the dark bay looks live once
again in here. The talented Kentucky-bred produced a fine closing kick in her
two races at Gulfstream prior to the Ashland and has been freshened for this
engagement. Kent Desormeaux will guide the likely favorite.

BLUEGRASS PRINCESS (Dynaformer) drew the rail and should be dangerous in here
with her best for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The Grade 3-placed bay ran a big
one when third in her lone try at Belmont, and she’s seemingly equally adept on
both firm and soft turf. John Velazquez will pilot the contender.

Recent maiden winner WARM SHOWER (Dynaformer) will be saddled by Angel Penna
Jr., who is winning at a 44 percent clip at present, and we always look twice
when the crafty conditioner puts one in the entry box. The Kentucky-bred filly
lost twice by a neck in New York as a juvenile and comes in off a dominant
maiden win on the Polytrack at Keeneland. We will definitely use this one in the
exotics, and possibly on the top spot if the price is good.

SAPPHIRE SKY (Sky Mesa) will make her grass debut for the capable David Donk,
who is best known as a turf conditioner. The bay filly is capable of flashing
sharp early speed and ran the race of her life last out, blowing her foes away
in the sloppy Bouwerie S. This is a really tough group to face in her turf bow,
but if the New York-bred is running free early, she can be a live longshot
beneath Ramon Dominguez.

FAST TIGRESS (Hold That Tiger) finished third in the Appalachian S. (G3) most
recently for John Kimmel. The consistent chestnut has a useful turn of foot but
lacks early speed, and we think that she will have too much to do against this
caliber of filly.

HOPEFUL IMAGE (Gulch), who has been beaten in all of her prior stakes
attempts, picked a tough spot to try to reverse her form. We can’t see it.