Tamahere takes off late to win Sands Point in U.S. debut
Tamahere briefly held up the start of Saturday’s $150,000 Sands Point at Belmont Park but she left little doubt who was best at the finish after exploding down the stretch to an impressive two-length victory over Speaktomeofsummer making her U.S. debut in the Grade 2 test for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.
Tamahere, who won two of six starts in her native France before joining trainer Chad Brown’s stable during the summer, got a little anxious behind the gate before the start of the Sands Point, a race shortened from a 1 1/8 miles to a mile for the first time this year. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. even had to step off Tamahere briefly before she was finally be coaxed into her stall by the gate crew.
Ortiz allowed Tamahere to settle near the rear of the seven-horse field, behind the early pace of Pure Wow, who posted splits of 23.87 seconds, 47.54, and 1:11.68 for the opening six furlongs. Tamahere angled widest while commencing her bid on the final turn then finished full of run down the center of the course, readily overtaking the leader a furlong out, and quickly opening a comfortable advantage before being taken in hand near the end.
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Speaktomeofsummer had to steady briefly behind horses in early stretch before rallying to be second best while never menacing the winner. Longshot Drop a Hint raced forwardly and held on to be third. Miss J McKay raced close up while pinned in tight quarters near the rail much of the way before falling back to finish a disappointing seventh as the tepid 2-1 favorite.
Tamahere, owned in partnership by Swift Thoroughbreds and Wonder Stables, gave Brown his fourth victory in the Sands Point and third over the last four years. She completed the distance over a firm course in 1:35.21 and returned $7.
“She’s been a little keen and temperamental behind the gate in the mornings, so we felt the safest way to get her started in the States was to run her out of her own stall [at Belmont Park],” said Brown. “She always trained brilliantly with a nice turn of foot. She’s a smart horse and the talent is there. She just needs to settle down a little.”
Ortiz said Brown told him to expect just that kind of kick from Tamahere at the end.
“She broke well and I got her in good position,” said Ortiz, who had won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup aboard Happy Saver one race earlier on the card. “Chad said to me ‘she had a big turn of foot, you’re going to love it’. I waited as long as I could, got her out in the clear and when I asked, she just took off.”