Raw Silk controls pace, then kicks home

ELMONT, N.Y. - Raw Silk was the least accomplished of the seven 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park. But she was also the one filly with the most early speed.

Able to get away with an uncontested lead through an easy six furlongs, Raw Silk, under Alan Garcia, had more than enough to finish with, rolling to a 4 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Sands Point. Life Is Sweet, the 6-5 favorite, rallied to nose out I Lost My Choo for second. They were followed in the order of finish by Alwajeeha, Ambidaxtrous, Queen of Protocol, and Lookalike.

Breaking from post 6 under Garcia, Raw Silk got away with fractions of 24.69 seconds, 49.13, and 1:13.75 while maintaining a two-length lead. She was prompted briefly by I Lost My Choo midway down the backside.

When I Lost My Choo and others tried to make a run at Raw Silk approaching the quarter pole, Raw Silk kicked clear turning for home and could not be caught. Raw Silk, a daughter of Malibu Moon owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable and trained by Tom Albertrani, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.46 and returned $18.80 to win.

"Alan rode her beautifully," said Andy Rehm, assistant to Albertrani. "To get three-quarters in 1:13 and [three], I knew we'd be really tough to beat because she can kick when she has to."

Rehm pointed out that in her last start, the Gaviola Stakes, Raw Silk was chased through an opening-half-mile in 46.79 seconds, which took away from her finish. Saturday, she was able to finish her last three furlongs in a solid 34.71 over an inner turf course labeled good.

Pebo's Guy: Cannonball gets up

In the $77,250 Pebo's Guy for New York-breds, Cannonball got up in the final jump under John Velazquez to nip Redefined by a nose.

Cannonball, a 3-year-old son of Catienus owned and bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Wesley Ward, covered six furlongs in 1:08.94 over good turf. He paid $11.

* Tasteyville ($5.50), away from the races since capturing the Grade 3 Sport Page Handicap last Oct. 27, won a stakes-caliber allowance race by 2 3/4 lengths under Mike Luzzi. Tasteyville, a 5-year-old son of With Approval owned and bred by Fox Ridge Farm and trained by Pat Kelly, ran 1 1/16 miles in the slop in 1:43.18.