Sapphire Sky stretching out

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - If Sapphire Sky responds to added distance as much as she did to the addition of blinkers, she figures to be awfully tough in Sunday's $75,000 East View Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies at Aqueduct.

Sapphire Sky will face five rivals in the East View, which shares billing with the $75,000 Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred juvenile males at the same distance.

After Sapphire Sky finished fifth in the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes at Belmont in September, jockey John Velazquez suggested that blinkers be added to the filly's equipment. Velazquez told that to David Donk, who took over the training of Sapphire Sky after the Gimma.

Donk heeded the jockey's advice, and with blinkers added, Sapphire Sky recorded a half-length victory over Don't Forget Gil in a first-level allowance race run over a sealed, wet Aqueduct main track. That race was at seven furlongs. The East View is run at a mile and 70 yards around two turns.

"After Johnny rode her, he thought we should put blinkers on her," Donk said. "We did, and she handled the seven-eighths pretty easy. Obviously, it's new ground for everybody going two turns, but it's a good spot to try it. Obviously her speed doesn't hurt any."

Sapphire Sky's pedigree suggests she will handle two turns. She is a daughter of Sky Mesa out of the Silver Charm mare Strait Gate. Strait Gate is a half-sister to The Silver Move, who won the Remsen at 1 1/8 miles.

Ramon Dominguez will ride Sapphire Sky from post 3.

Submerge is another who is bred to handle two turns. She is by Fusaichi Pegasus out of the A.P. Indy mare Indy Glory, who finished second in this race in 2000. Submerge, who is coming off a 2 1/2-length maiden win on Nov. 12, will break from the rail under Javier Castellano.

Sarah Accomplished won the Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes going six furlongs on Nov. 9. In her only try beyond six furlongs, she finished a well-beaten seventh in the Maid of the Mist Stakes.

Don't Forget Gil was beaten just one-half length by Sapphire Sky when she made an early move to that rival along the inside. She got head and head with Sapphire Sky midway around the turn, but was outfinished by that one down the lane.

Soave, a maiden winner at a mile, and Seek On, a well-beaten fourth behind Sapphire Sky last out, complete the field.