Grade III winner Somali Lemonade seeks to get back on the winning track when she heads the eight-horse field entered in the May 28 Sands Point (gr. IIT) on the Memorial Day card at Belmont Park.
A daughter of Lemon Drop Kid —Chic Corine, by Nureyev, Somali Lemonade began her career for Cina Forgason and trainer Michael Matz by breaking her maiden on the main track at Belmont Park and taking the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland. The filly completed her juvenile campaign with a sixth-place effort, four lengths behind winner Stephanie’s Kitten, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IIT).
In her 2012 debut, Somali Lemonade finished second in Keeneland’s Appalachian Stakes (gr. IIIT). Topweighted at 121 pounds (four more than the 117 assigned to the other Sands Point starters), Somali Lemonade will break from post position 3 under regular rider John Velazquez.
Starting from post 5 under Javier Castellano is Regalo Mia, who has placed in three stakes since breaking her maiden on turf at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in her second career start. She has subsequently finished third in the Florida Oaks, second in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) and third in the Appalachian. The daughter of Sligo Bay —Shake It Up, by red Bullet, is trained by Michelle Nihei for owner Steven W. Ciccarone.
$200,000 Sands Point Stakes (gr. II, Race 7, 4:06 p.m.), 3YO Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles Turf
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Better Lucky (KY), E Castro, 117, T Albertrani
2. Modulate (KY), J Alvarado, 117, B Mott
3. Somali Lemonade (KY), J Velazquez, 117, M Matz
4. Dreaming of Cara (NY), A Garcia, 117, M Friedman
5. Regalo Mia (FL), J Castellano, 117, M Nihei
6. Preach Tome Daddy (KY), J Leparoux, 117, J Kimmel
7. Zultanite (KY), R Dominguez, 117, D Donk
8. Firehouse Red (KY), R Napravnik, 117, J L Jones
Somali Lemonade faces 7 in the Sands Point.
Mathea Kelley