Omixochitl holds off Miss You Ella in Miss Gracie

Omixochitl got first run on favored Miss You Ella before holding sway for a one-length triumph Saturday in the $75,000 Miss Gracie at Gulfstream Park in South Florida.

Edgar Perez secured a perfect stalking trip aboard Omixochitl in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race, taking over for Margeaux Romance before striding clear down the stretch for her first stakes win. She paid $14.20 after finishing in 1:45.18.

Omixochitl is trained by Fausto Gutierrez for the St. George Stable of Mexican billionaire German Larrea, the same team affiliated with Letruska, the 2021 Eclipse champion filly-mare dirt runner. Gutierrez, who currently has Letruska and some of his other top horses stabled in Kentucky, was on hand at the South Florida track for the Miss Gracie.

Miss You Ella, the 19-10 choice under Edgard Zayas, followed just behind Omixochitl for much of the trip before finishing another 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Therearenorules in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies. Margeaux Romance faded to fourth.

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Omixochitl, a Kentucky-bred by More Than Ready, now has won four of nine starts, including at least one win on dirt, turf, and synthetic.

The $2 exacta (5-6) paid $55.60, the $1 trifecta (5-6-8) returned $113.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-6-8-7) was worth $39.