Cotton Blossom

Led by 5-2 morning line favorite Rags to Riches, who drew post 11, Friday’s 133rd Kentucky Oaks drew a full field of 14 when entries were taken at the Churchill Downs’ Racing Office Tuesday morning.

Zayat Stables' High Again worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 under jockey Larry Melancon after the renovation break Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. The move was the 12th-fastest of 36 at the distance over a track labeled as "fast."

Melnyk Racing Stables’ Sealy Hill made her first venture over the main track at Churchill Downs Monday morning, galloping a mile and a half under Julia Brimo. The Point Given filly had vanned over from Keeneland Sunday morning.

AUTOBAHN GIRL/SILVER KNOCKERS - The Live Oak Plantation's Autobahn Girl and Elk Manor Farms and James Moran's Silver Knockers each gallo

Anita Ebert's High Heels, the runaway winner of the Fantasy (GII) in her most recent start, tuned up for her Oaks engagement by working five furlongs over a "fast" track in 1:00 under jockey Joe Johnson before the renovation break Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

High Heels, bred and owned by Anita Ebert, and trained by Gary "(Red Dog" Hartlage, blew past Cotton Blossom, the 1-2 favorite, in mid-stretch, and drew clear for a stunning six and three-quarter-length victory in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes before a crowd of 12,201 Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

The Grade Two Fantasy Stakes drew Tuesday with a field of eight 3-year-old distaffers, with shippers coming from all over the country to take on the locals.  Two of the more accomplished fillies, Cash Included and Cotton Blossom, figure to vie for favoritism in Friday’s feature, which kicks off Oaklawn’s Racing Festival of the South.

SOUTHEAST/PLETCHER'S COTTON BLOSSOM WINS FLORIDA OAKS IN '07 DEBUT - Dogwood Stable's Cotton Blossom, third to champion Dreaming of Anna

Cotton Blossom made a successful return to racing action with a 2-length win in the $200,000 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs, stamping herself as a serious contender for the Kentucky Oaks.

The 24th running of The Florida Oaks brings a rather diverse group of eight fillies together to complete for the $120,000 first prize. Here's a brief commentary on each filly.