OLDSMAR, Fla. – Time to Dream’s 10th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf belied her status as one of North America’s top hopes in the race, one that is typically dominated by European-based runners.
To that point, Time to Dream had amassed a solid career, winning twice at Saratoga – including the P.G. Johnson Stakes by five lengths – before finishing a troubled-trip third in the Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland. Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Time to Dream, said there were issues with her shipping to Del Mar from the East Coast last fall, which may have impacted her Breeders’ Cup performance.
“She didn’t travel great, she didn’t settle in real well, she didn’t run her race at all,” Pletcher said.
After getting her to South Florida, the plan was to freshen her up and “put some weight on her and wait for the race at Tampa,” he said.
The race at Tampa is Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf race that drew a field of 11 3-year-old fillies. Last year, it was won by Nitrogen, who would become a multiple stakes winner on both turf and dirt and was crowned 3-year-old filly champion.
Time to Dream, who will break from post 7 under Irad Ortiz Jr, will be a deserving favorite, but there is ample competition.
Kokomotion was an eye-catching debut winner here Feb. 7, rallying from last, 13 lengths back in a 12-horse field, to win by 6 1/4 lengths under Jevian Toledo.
“We knew she was going to be a good little turf horse even though she worked well on the dirt,” trainer Whit Beckman said. “We wanted to get a comfortable spot, but she broke and took herself all the way back and then came with quite a run. We figured we’d go back to the track where we had success.”
John Velazquez rides Kokomotion on Saturday.
Laigina became a different horse when trainer Patrick Biancone switched her to turf after two dismal dirt starts. She won a maiden race Dec. 4 and was second to the streaking Sister Troienne in the Ginger Brew before winning a Florida-bred allowance going a mile on Feb. 7 at Gulfstream. She will have to overcome the outside draw in this 11-horse field.
Abigail, a New York-bred daughter of Constitution trained by Miguel Clement, has won twice over Tampa Bay’s turf course, though her figures suggest she will need some improvement to contend in this spot.
Mark Casse sends out Bossy Candy and Backgammon. Bossy Candy is making her first start since she won the Shady Well Stakes last November over Woodbine’s synthetic track. Backgammon comes in off two defeats in allowance company at Gulfstream.
Alone Time, a four-length maiden winner in her second start, is cross-entered in the LaCombe Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds, but trainer Cherie DeVaux said she is likely to run in the Florida Oaks.
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Columbia
Alpyland, who had a three-race winning streak snapped when beaten a length as the favorite in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes five weeks ago, looks to start a new streak in Saturday’s $125,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile on turf.
Two victories at a mile were part of Alpyland’s streak, including one in the Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park on New Year’s Day. In the 1 1/16-mile Kitten’s Joy, Alpyland was beaten one length by Thousandsticks, who was winning his third consecutive race.
“I thought it was just an okay effort,” Casse said of Alpyland’s effort in the Kitten’s Joy. “His race prior was better. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t run him back. I could have run him back at Gulfstream and I didn’t. I gave him a little more time.”
Javier Castellano rides Alpyland, taking over from John Velazquez, who rode him in his previous two starts. Casse said by the time he finalized plans to run Alpyland, Velazquez had taken the call on the Graham Motion-trained Proton.
Proton went 2 for 4 in 2025 with a win in the Laurel Futurity. Sent to California, Proton ran a good second in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on the undercard of the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup card at Del Mar.
He came back in the Cecil B. DeMille, where he had an odd trip in finishing fourth. Breaking from the rail under Juan Hernandez, Proton went to the front, got passed going into the far turn, regained the lead at the quarter pole, and was outfinished – all while being defeated by 1 3/4 lengths.
“He was a little too aggressive, the horse or the jockey or both, I’m not sure which,” Motion said. “He hadn’t done much wrong to that point and he was only beaten a length and a bit. He’s always going to be close. He’s always quite sharp.”
The late-running Mr. Mo’s Magic has won his last two starts on turf at big prices for locally based trainer Lynn Rarick, who also sends out the speedy Knick’s Honor.
Congressional, trained by Clement, and Beautiful War are both debut winners who are making their second starts in this spot.
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