Scarlet Sands Miss Gracie Stakes Challenge Shifts to Tapeta
Trained by Carlos David and owned by Raleigh Racing Stable, Scarlet Sands makes her stakes debut with growing momentum. After being claimed for $75,000 in February following a mishap at the break, the daughter of Omaha Beach has rebounded with two sharp wins on turf—first breaking her maiden with a decisive stalk-and-pounce, then backing it up with a hard-fought allowance victory on June 13.
“She’s done everything right since we claimed her,” David shared. “We were tempted to send her to Saratoga, but getting black type here made more sense. It’s all about keeping her confidence up while moving forward step by step.”
Scarlet Sands’ progression has been aided by the addition of blinkers and tactical placement in her races. Edwin Gonzalez, who recently celebrated his 2,000th career victory and was aboard for her maiden win, returns to ride from Post 4 in a six-horse field.
“She’s breezing well and hasn’t skipped a beat,” David noted. “Tapeta’s always a question mark first time out, but she’s happy and thriving. I trust Edwin to guide her through.”
Among those lining up against her is Crafty Collector, trained by veteran Gerald Bennett for Ad Hoc Stable Inc. After several close efforts on grass, the filly broke through in a one-mile claimer against older rivals on June 20. That win featured a gritty rail move under Gonzalez, who now switches mounts.
“She’s been improving steadily,” said Bennett. “She handles different scenarios well, and although this is her first real go on Tapeta, I think she’ll adapt. She’s professional and not hard to ride.”
Jose Ferrer will guide Crafty Collector from the rail, aiming to capitalize on her tactical speed and off-the-pace potential. Bennett emphasized that wide trips tend to be more favorable on Tapeta at Gulfstream, especially going long.
Special Aviator, for trainer Rohan Crichton and connections, returns to the surface where she earned her maiden win and multiple placings. Despite a recent losing streak, her form on Tapeta is consistent, and she’ll look to reignite that spark over a preferred distance.
Also returning to the synthetic track is Oxar, owned by Hutton ESK. After winning a maiden claimer in February, she was sidelined and returned to finish seventh earlier this month. Saturday’s effort could offer a clearer read on her current form.
The lineup is completed by Olivia Valentina—third in the Martha Washington last month—and Annie Goodbody, a Saratoga maiden winner who’s kept elite company in recent starts, including facing graded stakes talents like Abientot and Scythian.
Gulfstream’s Tapeta surface, introduced to add versatility and reduce weather-related disruptions, continues to offer a strategic layer to handicapping and race planning. For trainers like Carlos David and Gerald Bennett, adapting to synthetic footing has become an integral part of summer campaigns. The Miss Gracie, while modest in purse, provides crucial black-type opportunities for young fillies—especially those with turf-oriented pedigrees or inconsistent dirt performances.
Saturday’s stakes could also shape future travel plans. A strong showing by Scarlet Sands or Crafty Collector might prompt connections to target bigger stages at Saratoga or Woodbine later this season. With form translating across surfaces and divisions, the Miss Gracie often serves as a launching pad toward graded ambitions or fall turf finales.
For more stakes action, don’t miss our coverage of Fleet Treat Stakes 2025, where Game Warrior stole the spotlight at Del Mar.
