La Cara, The Queens M G to Square Off in Davona Dale

Grade 3 winner La Cara  is one of seven 3-year-old fillies entered in the $215,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 1, including another grade 3 winner in The Queens M G .

The one-mile Davona Dale offers qualifying points for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers.

La Cara most recently won the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 8 for trainer Mark Casse and owner/breeder Tracy Farmer. The 2024 Pocahontas Stakes (G3) winner will have Dylan Davis aboard Saturday, after he guided the daughter of Street Sense   to her win last out. La Cara ranks fourth in points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with 33.

"The Davona Dale comes back pretty quick for us, but I'm trying to set her up and getting her ready for the Ashland and hopefully the Kentucky Oaks," Casse said. "She's already in South Florida, so we'll just stay at home."

"If I didn't run her back in three weeks and didn't go back to a mile, I would have had to ship somewhere," Casse said. "I like the timing. I like the Davona Dale being five weeks until the Ashland."

Saffie Joseph Jr. sends out The Queens M G who will try to add to her six qualifying points to the Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Thousand Words   has been winless since her victory in the Adirondack Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 4 for owners C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable. She enters off a third-place finish in the Forward Gal Stakes (G3) Feb. 1 at Gulfstream.

"Her last race indicated that she's trained on," Joseph said. "I knew we didn't have her fully cranked, so I feel like she will improve this time big time. I think a mile will be fine for her."

Chad Brown will have Ballerina d'Oro , who was second in the Dec. 7 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) behind Muhimma . She was entered in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) Feb. 15, but scratched due to an illness. Tyler Gaffalione will ride for owners Rodeo Creek Racing.

Florida-bred My Denysse  looks to rebound after a disappointing effort in the Forward Gal for owner, trainer, and breeder Ruben Sierra of Just For Fun Stables. My Denysse closed out her juvenile season with a November win at Gulfstream in the My Dear Girl Stakes, a division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association Florida Sire series.