With no Vaulcluse, Florida Oaks is wide open

The unbeaten Vaulcluse, winner of the Suncoast Stakes last month, is out of Saturday's $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, leaving a wide-open eight-filly affair in the 1 1/16-mile event.

This race should come down to No Use Denying, Calico Bay, Awesome Chic or My Baby Baby in my opinion. With the exception of Awesome Chic, these fillies have proven their quality around two turns against stakes-level competition. Awesome Chic has a pedigree to excel around two turns, although she has never raced beyond seven furlongs, and she is a stakes winner over the local surface. She certainly has the credentials to jump up and take this on the stretch-out.

No Use Denying is a grand-looking gray daughter of Maria's Mon who ads the blinkers in her return to Tampa. She was a soundly-defeated third last out in the Suncoast but is eligible to move forward in her second start over the track. I think she's live at a fair price. The biggest hurdle may be overcoming the rail draw, as it's tough to know what running style she'll employ with the addition of the hood.

Calico Bay was as dominant as you'll see in the fillies' division of the OBS Championship last month, and her main track form around two turns has been impressive. The Three Wonders filly is the horse to beat in my estimation, as she's already earned $316,500 at the distance and likely still won't be the favorite Saturday.

That role will likely go to Suncoast runner-up My Baby Baby, whose connections had to have enjoyed not seeing Vaulcluse in the entries. My Baby Baby broke her maiden by 12 ¼ lengths in her first dirt start at Gulfstream Park before falling a length short in the Suncoast a month ago. She'll likely take up a nice stalking trip again behind the early speed and look to get first jump on the closers.

Elusive Lady will also take a lot of money in here as the only graded stakes winner in the field. Winner of the Tempted Stakes (G3) at two, Elusive Lady was badly beaten last out in her 3-year-old debut in the Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream and will look to get back on track Saturday.

It's a strong betting race with several different ways to go. But the big question is: Can it produce a player in the Kentucky Oaks division? Possibly, but it'll take a big performance. We shall see.