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Cotton Blossom rallies for Acorn victory
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Cotton Blossom bloomed in the Acorn
(Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) |
Dogwood Stable's COTTON BLOSSOM (Broken Vow) bobbled at the start of
Saturday's $250,000
Acorn
S. (G1) at Belmont Park and ran near the back early on as 3-5
favorite Dream Rush (Wild Rush) moved up to take charge of the six-horse
field. As the pacesetter posted splits of :22 1/5, :45 and 1:09,
jockey John Velazquez patiently guided Cotton Blossom closer and closer
to her mark. Coming four wide around the turn, the pair set their sights
on the Dream Rush, who was all alone on the lead, chasing her down late
and going on to post a length victory as the 6-1 fourth choice.
"It set up for her today," Velazquez said. "The speed went and she
had a really good trip. I couldn't do anything with Dream Rush out
there. I had to go out there and run my race. She pulled me up there and
turning for home, I was in good position. This horse runs her race at
any distance; today, it just really set up for her."
Cotton Blossom ran a mile on the fast dirt in 1:34 3/5 to return to
the winner's circle, having dropped her two starts prior to this one.
She captured the Florida Oaks in her 2007 bow in March, and posted a
victory in the Schuylerville S. (G3) as a juvenile. The Todd
Pletcher-trained bay, who also owns placings in the Breeders' Cup
Juvenile Fillies (G1), Spinaway S. (G1) and Fantasy S. (G2), increased
her earnings to $669,272 and her line to 9-4-2-1 with this victory. |
"She was a little wide throughout, but outside of that, she had a clear run,"
Pletcher said. "She had a nightmarish trip in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She wasn't
going to win, but she was going to hit the board. She was a deserving Grade 1
winner today. She's versatile enough where she can win between a mile and a mile
and an eighth. She dug in, and the filly she ran down is a very nice horse."
Cotton Blossom gave back $14.60, $4.50 and $2.80 while keying the $36
exacta and $78.50 trifecta. Dream Rush was easily best of the rest, 8
1/4 lengths in front of Christmas Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), to return $2.70
and $2.60. Show was worth $2.60 at 4-1. Boca Grande (A.P. Indy),
Princess Janie (Elusive Quality) and Officer in Pursuit (Officer)
completed the order under the wire. Bred in Kentucky by J.D. Squires, Cotton Blossom brought $210,000 from her
current owner as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Selected yearling. She is out of the
stakes-winning For Dixie (Dixieland Band), who has also produced Fat City (Carson
City), herself the dam of multiple stakes winner Miss Atlantic
City (Stormy Atlantic), as well as Grade 3 winner Vicarage (Vicar) and an
unnamed 2007 colt by Vindication.
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