Sape is not hit hard by google, it is just a speculation surrounded. Sape links are going good. Most probably some website hit because due to their link profile and anchor text diversity. But those can not blame them self, so they blame sape links.
I can clearly see that sape links are doing very good, if you maintain perfect ratio between anchor text diversity and link diversity.
If you only depend on sape links to rank, i do not think it will help you, you need to diversify your link building.
I will suggest that 20% of your link profile should be sape to see good serp improvement and with anchor text diversity must. and your main domain url should get 15-20% in anchor text diversity.