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 Island Sand with Terry Thompson up after winning the Acorn Stakes. |
Dateline: 06/04/2004
Island Sand, who was an inner dirt track terror at Aqueduct over the winter, returned to Belmont Park on Friday afternoon with a new trainer and left a Grade 1 winner as she defeated favored Society Selection by one and three-quarters of a length in the 74th running of the $250,000 Acorn for three-year-old fillies at a mile. Trainer Larry Jones had misgivings about Island Sand handling a one-turn mile, hoping she would run well enough to warrant a start in the Grade 1, $300,00 Mother Goose at nine furlongs here on June 26th. After two seconds under Jones, the daughter of 1994 Belmont Stakes winner Tabasco Cat will now be a force to be reckoned with in that race after this victory.
"This worked out really well," Jones said "She wasn't all that far back and this race was loaded with speed. I was hoping that someone would be out there running. I'm not really used to this track, so I didn't know if :23 2/5 and 45 4/5 was quick enough to soften them up. When they went in 1:09 and we were still coming, I felt pretty good that somebody had to come back to us. This is my biggest win, absolutely. And where better to win it than in New York?"
Island Sand, who was previously trained by Anthony Dutrow and won Aqueduct's Busanda back in January, improved her record to 4-3 from eight starts before the crowd of 12,268. She returned $10 for each $2 win ticket. "This is my first mount at Belmont," Thompson said. "It set up just like we talked about. We didn't want to get pushed back like the Oaks; the gate hurt us that day. I knew there were like four or five out there cooking. In the turn I went ahead and swung down because it was a short field, was able to get inside of two horses and ease on out at the top of the stretch. It was just the perfect trip." Favored Society Selection had a less-than-perfect trip, but put in a late run late after she was clear.
"She ran very well," said Hall of fame trainer Allen Jerkens. "I thought she actually got a little tired at the end, but she ran her heart out. As long as she's okay, we'll go on to the Mother Goose." Friendly Michelle, Bending Strings, Magical Illusion, Victory U.S.A., Bohemian Lady and La Reina completed the order of finish.
Full results chart from Equibase ">Full results chart from DRF
Heading down the stretch to the finish with Island Sand drawing away. She will make her next start in the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes on June 26."
Island Sand and jockey Terry Thompson at the finish.
Second place finisher Society Selection before the race. Jockey Jorge Chavez said, "She went hard, but she ran a little too short. When I took her to the outside a little bit, she had a little run left in her. She tried hard, but the winner was much better."
On the undercard of the Acorn was the Grade 3 Flash Stakes for two-year-olds sprinting 5 furlongs on the main track. 4-5 favorite Primal Storm ran to expectations, going gate to wire to win going away by seven lengths in 57.49 over 5-1 shot Winning Expression. Primal Storm survived a stewards' inquiry to keep the victory.
Results Chart from Equibase.
Primal Storm and Shane Sellers returning to the winner's circle. Sellers said, "He broke well. We ran right into that turn, and I guess Edgar (Prado, aboard Winning Expression) wanted to get in there, but I had to hold my ground and we got a little tight. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to ride these kind of horses. All we wanted to do was stay off the rail."
