Exotics Plays for the Florida Oaks

A talented and well-matched field of 11 three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Tampa Bay Downs turf in Saturday’s $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3). I feel that the affair is mostly wide-open, although I am looking forward to the return of Todd Pletcher’s #7 Time to Dream in the contest. A $750,000 yearling purchase in 2024 at Keeneland September, the daughter of Not This Time was very good in two runs at Saratoga to commence her career, led by a five-length romp in the P. G. Johnson S. in August. 

Florida Oaks Exotics

• $5 exacta key box 7 with 2,9,11 ($20)
• $1 trifecta key 7 with 2,4,5,9,11 ($20)

Time to Dream put in a strong late rally when missing by a length in third in the Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland, and she capped 2025 with an unplaced run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar. The Repole color bearer has been training steadily leading up to her return, and she will be tough with her best beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. 

#11 Laigina has elevated her game in a big way since moving to the lawn and has improved her Brisnet Speed rating with each grassy effort to date for Patrick Biancone. The Leinster chestnut was a good second in the Ginger Brew S. at Gulfstream Park two back prior to decimating state-bred allowance foes on the same course last time out. The Florida-bred will have to overcome the widest post in her toughest assignment to date, but she has speed and will be well placed throughout the event with Junior Alvarado on board. 

I’m not sure what #9 Kokomotion defeated in her first run, but the Beckman trainee went last-to-first in a commanding, 6 1/2-length romp here on Feb. 7. The Quality Road filly faces a much taller task on Saturday, but she posted two nice works in advance of her stakes bow and also picks up the red-hot John Velazquez, as well. The Kentucky-bred bay will be making one run from off the pace once again. 

Cherie Devaux’s recent maiden vixen #2 Alone Time, the Saffie Joseph-trained #5 Dandona, and Canadian stakes heroine #4 Bossy Candy are also interesting to me for the exotics.