Insights on the American Racing Scene

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. Wednesday's Insights features the opening race from Belmont Park, a 5-furlong test for juvenile fillies.

1st-BEL, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, post time: 1:30 p.m. ET
Don Adam's Courtlandt Farm invested better than $3.3 million in a half-dozen yearlings at KEESEP last fall, including $500K acquisition CACHE (Distorted Humor). The bay is the second foal from Wait Til Dawn (Giant's Causeway), a stakes-winning full-sister to GSW Excited, who was purchased by WinStar Farm in foal to Stay Thirsty for $335K at KEENOV in 2013. Excited is herself the dam of SW & MGSP Thrilled (Uncle Mo). Cache's second dam is Path of Thunder (Thunder Gulch), a stakes-winning full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter Spain. On the Hassle (Orb) has been pegged the 8-5 morning-line favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher and the ownership team of St Elias Stable and MeB Racing Stables. The chestnut, a $150K KEESEP grad, is the first produce for her dam Maracuya (Big Brown), who was sold to John Moores and Charles Noell's Merriebelle Stables for $210K carrying this filly at KEENOV in 2014. Second dam Jealous and Jaded (Jade Hunter) produced Payton d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of the 2009 GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and later multiple Grade I placed. Best Performance (Broken Vow\fs21fs21 ) fetched $185K as a KEESEP yearling and was knocked down to West Point Thoroughbreds and partners for $300K at FTFMAR after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 3/5. The chestnut is a half-sister to My California (Calimonco), who broke her maiden by a pole at second asking and was stakes-placed at two last season. TJCIS PPs