Cotton Blossom cruises in Florida Oaks return

Dogwood Stables' COTTON BLOSSOM (Broken Vow) returned to the races with a

smart two-length triumph in Saturday's

$200,000 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs. Unraced since finishing third in

the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), the Grade 3-winning lass stamped

herself as a contender for this year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) while improving her

overall mark to 6-3-1-1, $463,380. The bay filly completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:45

over the fast track.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, Cotton Blossom was

favored at even money over seven rivals and paid $4, $3.40 and $3. She rated a

couple of lengths off the pace as Saint Barbara (Sweetsouthernsaint) established

early splits in :23 4/5 and :48, and launched her drive three wide on the far

turn. Desire to Excel (Mt. Livermore) surged to a narrow advantage through

three-quarters in 1:12 4/5, but Cotton Blossom easily cruised past her into the

straightaway, opening up by a length while passing the mile mark in 1:38 2/5,

and continued to extend her margin to the wire.

"It felt good to have her come back," Pletcher said. "She had a good, solid

career at two, and (Dogwood's) Mr. Campbell and I decided to freshen her up.

She's a big, scopey filly. I thought she ran huge in the Breeders' Cup last

year."

Suaveness (Suave Prospect), the longest shot on the board at 69-1, rallied

late for runner-up honors and returned $31 and $12.60. It was a length back to

the late-running Maria's Kitty (Maria's Mon), who gave back $10 at 34-1 odds.

The longshots generated sizable exotic payoffs of $140.20 (exacta) and $939.80 (trifecta)

with an even-money favorite, and 9-5 second choice Autobahn Girl (A.P. Indy)

completed the $4,502.80 superfecta (7-6-8-2). Desire to Excel, Trainee (Silver

Charm), Saint Barbara and Dinner Break (Tale of the Cat) rounded out the order

of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by J.D. Squires, Cotton Blossom was purchased for $210,000

at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale and hails from stakes winner For

Dixie (Dixieland Band), who is also the dam of Grade 3 winner and 2005 Louisiana

Derby (G2) runner-up Vicarage (Vicar). Cotton Blossom captured last year's

Schuylerville S. (G3) and finished second in the Spinaway S. (G1).

Pletcher said the winner would make her next start in either the April 6 Fantasy

S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park or the Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland on the following day.

In the

$75,000 Turf Dash S. at Tampa Bay, Ness Racing Stable's LOOKINFORTHESECRET

(Cimarron Secret) continued his amazing ascent with a victory in his stakes

debut, leading wire-to-wire for the 1 1/4-length decision. Claimed for $12,500

in January, the five-year-old has now posted a 3-1-0 mark in four starts under

the direction of Jamie Ness. He finished five furlongs over the firm turf in :56

2/5 with jockey Daniel Centeno.

The Florida-bred winner set a fast pace in :21 3/5 and :44 3/5 and improved

his overall mark to 19-8-3-1, $123,818. Lookinforthesecret paid $13, $6.20 and

$5.20 as the 5-1 third choice in the 10-horse field. Mr. Silver (Concorde's

Tune) rallied late for second at 7-1, and The Nth Degree (Distorted Humor)

closed for the show at 17-1. Next under the wire came Mighty Beau (Rainbow

Prospect), Steel the Glory (Saint Ballado), Hollywood Left (Wheaton), Chaotic

Achiever (Stormin Fever), Lord Robyn (Robyn Dancer), Dirtymoposse (Minister's

Mark) and Court Folly (Royal Academy). Tacirring (End Sweep) didn't draw in from

the also-eligibles list.