Insights on the American Racing Scene: May 13, 2017

Insights on the American Racing Scene, brought to you by Alex Nichols Agency, turns the spotlight on the best U.S. races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses, other horses of note returning to action and/or notable results from sales pavilions around the world. Saturday's Insights features a full-sibling to an Oaks winner and a much-anticipated return to action for a recent TDN Rising Star.

3rd-BEL, $75K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 2:32 p.m. ET
While the third race field will all have $500K FTMMAY graduate Switzerland (Speightstown) to neutralize, a couple of firsters bring plenty of pedigree to the table. Jay Em Ess homebred WONDERFUL LIGHT (Tiz Wonderful) is the latest to make the races out of By the Light (Malibu Moon), whose daughter By the Moon (Indian Charlie) landed her career debut before causing a 24-1 upset in the 2014 GI Frizette S. The latter recently padded her account in this track's GIII Vagrancy H. Stonestreet Stables bred D'ambrosio (Tapit) from the stakes-placed Christine Daae (Giant's Causeway), who they acquired for $335K in foal to Lonhro (Aus) at Keeneland September in 2012. Christine Daae graduated by better than eight lengths at second asking, while second dam Descapate (Dehere) was a stakes winner and Grade III-placed during her career. TJCIS PPs

2nd-SA, $54K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, post time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Secure Investments went to $360K for THORPE D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro), a full-brother to 2011 GI Kentucky Oaks victress Plum Pretty, at KEESEP in 2015, and ultimately elected to hang on to the colt after withdrawing him from a pair of juvenile sales last spring. Tami Bobo's operation races the son of Liszy (A.P. Indy) in partnership with WestsideRentals.com and trainer Doug O'Neill, who has given the call to Tiago Pereira. Alpha Kitten (Tale of the Cat), a Grade II winner for Jerry and Ann Moss, produced foals by Malibu Moon each year from 2012 to 2015 and the mare's current 3-year-old, the ridgling Omega Moon, debuts here for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bob Baffert. The bay, a $500K KEESEP graduate, has typically lively morning works and will be partnered by Martin Garcia. TJCIS PPs

3rd-SA, $56K, Alw/Opt. Clm., 5 1/2f, post time: 5:00 p.m. ET
AMERICAN PASTIME (Tapizar) was crushed all the way into 3-1 favoritism despite drawing post 11 in a field of 13 for his Mar. 11 debut, but despite sitting a three-wide trip on a hot pace, the $135K KEESEP yearling accelerated away in the final furlong to score by 4 1/2 emphatic lengths to become a 'TDN Rising Star.' With plenty of recovery time since, he shows a best-of-76 half-mile in :46 1/5 May 6 and anything close to his last earns him a return trip to the winner's circle. His 5-year-old stablemate Supreme Venture (Forestry), unraced since a big-figure debut score of his own just over a year ago, looms the danger. TJCIS PPs