La Coronel Returns in Florida Oaks

John C. Oxley's La Coronel (Colonel John) flashed significant ability over the turf as a juvenile, defeating eventual GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro) in her maiden victory at Saratoga and adding a convincing 4 1/2-length score in Keeneland's GIII Jessamine S. Oct. 12. The dark bay's smooth sailing came to an abrupt end at the Nov. 4 World Championships, rallying wide from far back to finish a respectable sixth behind the aforementioned winner. The filly has posted a steady series of works over the past month at trainer Mark Casse's Casse Training Center in Ocala in preparation for her return to action. La Coronel will be joined in the starting gate by Robert Masterson's 'TDN Rising Star' Tamit (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), recently an even fourth for Casse behind Rymska (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the Feb. 4 GIII Sweetest Chant S. at Gulfstream.

Compelled (War Front) and Fifty Five (Get Stormy), respectively second and third in the Sweetest Chant, also make the journey to the Gulf Coast Saturday.

Ballybrit Stable's Tampa-based Dynatail (Hightail) carries a three-race win streak into the Florida Oaks, and figures to be on or close to the early lead after wiring the field in the Jan. 24 OBS Championship S. The Mike Dini trainee has done no wrong since adding blinkers prior to her Dec. 3 maiden victory over the local lawn.

“They've made her more focused and kept her on her game,” Dini said. “She's just getting stronger all the time and doing everything right.”

Normandy Farm's Daddy's Lil Darling (Scat Daddy) brings a markedly different running style to the table Saturday. The late-runner closed from far back to capture the GII Pocahontas S. on dirt Sept. 17 and kicks off her sophomore season with a try over the turf.

“We've been very patient bringing her back to the races, and this is just one step of many,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “With her breeding, I don't think the [switch to turf] is going to hurt anything. The main thing I wanted for her was a two-turn race.”