Saturday's Racing Picks 10/12: Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes
The 25th running of the $200,000 Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf highlights one of two stakes races on Saturday’s 10-race card at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The field of seven is slated as race 9 with an approximate post time of 5:13 p.m. ET.
#4, Feel Glorious (GB), Junior Alvarado, 4-1
Having spent 2018 racing in England (5-1-1-0), 2019 started off with two straight wins in an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park (3/9) and a head win in the $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct (4/19). However in her last four starts, she has only finished in the money twice, including a third-place finish in her last in the Pebbles Stakes at Belmont on Sept. 14, behind Seek and Destroy and winner Blowout (GB). Today she stretches out to 1 1/8 miles for trainer Christophe Clement, which she could have used last time as she rallied from way back to get the show spot. Junior Alvarado is aboard for the first time. New jock, new approach, new win. The pick.
#5, New and Improved, Joel Rosario, 5-2
With two one-mile races on her resume, including a win in her first start, New and Improved with Joel Rosario aboard looks to be new and improved for her first graded stakes appearance in her third career start. In her last, she actually hit part of the gate from the outset and had a mild rally in the stretch to finish fourth in the $100,000 Riskaverse Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 22. With the addition of Rosario, I certainly do not see the start as another problem again (at least I hope not) and she will be ready to go for trainer Chad Brown, who also has No. 2 Olendon (FR) in this race. Runner-up.
#1, Dyna Passer, Jose Lezcano, 7-2
In eight career starts, Dyna Passer has finished in the money six times (1-1-4), including seven starts this year (1-1-3). Since posting her first win in a maiden special weight at Belmont on May 23, she has had a fifth-place finish in the G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes on July 6 and has posted two third-place finishes in her last two starts, including her last in the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes here on Sept. 7 behind Wonderment (IRE) and winner Edisa. Jose Lezcano returns to the saddle for his second straight start and that will help for trainer Thomas Albertrani as Dyna Passer will be at her shortest distance since April. Contender.
#6, Romantic Pursuit, Dylan Davis, 7-2
Romantic Pursuit is 2-3-0 in six starts this year, winning two of her last three and finishing in the money in five of her last six starts. In her first stakes appearance in her last, she finished fourth in the aforementioned Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes, a spot behind today’s entrant and third-place finisher Dyna Passer. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin likes what he has seen in training leading up to this and doesn’t feel the distance will be an issue. Romantic Pursuit is 2-2-0 in five starts on the turf. Dylan Davis will be aboard. In the mix.
PICKS: 4-5-1-6